I am a sucker for gadgets. When I spotted the HydraCoach Intelligent water bottle at Big 5, I thought of a dozen practical uses for this product and deemed it a must-have. Two months later, I still find it pretty cool and useful.
The water bottle acts as a digital clock, a timer, and a water intake counter. The bottle isn’t always accurate on water intake, but when the bottle does correctly count the intake, it’s a good reminder for me that I’m never drinking as much water as I should. It tracks water intake both by ounces and percentage. The clock and the timer are most useful for me. I use it throughout the workday as a quick time or date reference, or during a hike, so I know about how long I’ve been on a trail. Best of all, it doesn’t retain any yucky plastic taste, so I can refill to my heart’s desire, which is one of the only reasons I kept returning to disposable plastic water bottles. I’m happy to do my part to find a reusable container for my daily water bottle.
The water bottle comes with a one year warranty and is dishwasher safe. I bought mine for $30 at Big 5 Sporting Goods. It is listed on Amazon for for $37.95.
Last time I ran out of mascara, I picked up Maybelline’s pink and green Great Lash. I had tried it a couple years ago and found it too clumpy. But since it is so often referred to in beauty magazines, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would change my mind. I didn’t. It’s still too clumpy for me. Any second I have to spend declumping my eyelashes is one second too many. Surprisingly, I am happily using another Maybelline mascara, Sky High Curves. I don’t get any clumps from this mascara, just a little bit of definition. It’s perfect for the quick work morning make up routine. One of these days I’d like to try Dior Show mascara. It always gets rave reviews. For now, I am happy with Sky High Curves.
In my quest for makeup inspiration, I picked up Carmindy’s 5-Minute Face from Border’s bookstore the other day. The book is built on the concept that every woman should master the five-minute basic, everyday makeup look, and then can build on or play off of that polished canvas to incorporate trends or more dramatic looks.
The five-minute routine is shown here:
I like the five-minute face on me, but I find the eyeliner does less for my eyes than the eyeshadow does from Tyra’s routine in yesterday’s post. I feel much prettier with the little bit of eyeshadow than I do with the lined eye. What I love about Carmindy’s routine is the incorporation of highlighter and the use of brighteners under the eyes instead of concealers.
I had never found an adequate under eye concealer. I find I am much more pleased with the results of a lightening concealer than a true concealer. I’m currently using The Body Shop Lightening Touch. I thought it was the concealer Carmindy’s book recommended, but it turns out the book meant for me to pick up The Body Shop Concealer pencil or Benefit’s Bright Eye. I am actually quite pleased with Lightening Touch. Target’s Boots No. 7 has a similar concealer, Radiant Glow, and while I like The Body Shop’s slightly more, I am using Radiant Glow for my travel kit. They are both good options. I like them much more than the various MAC and Clinique under eye concealers I have used in the past.
Other than the five-minute face, the book offers guidance for additional looks, such as creating the smoky eye or a sixties face. This is why I bought the book. I already viewed the five-minute face how-to on YouTube.com, but hoped that the additional information would prove useful. There’s also a list of beauty products, both drugstore and high-end, that are listed for look, age group, and coloring. But it is unclear whether they are the products used in the photos and whether they are products Carmindy herself chose.
Was it worth the purchase? I haven’t decided. I figure I can always resell the book on half.com, so the most it will cost me in total is the cost of a magazine. At that rate, it is worth it. At $20, I expected more. I usually sell the fashion and beauty books I purchase since the information is so basic. This is one that will most likely fall in that category. I would have liked more information about application of the trend looks. All of the true meat of the book is captured in the YouTube video above.
By the way, the one beauty book I haven’t sold is Bobbi Brown Beauty. I’ll often pull it out to look over for reminders and inspiration during a bubble bath. It’s a great resource and a definite keeper.
I’ve been playing with my makeup routine. When I get into a rut and quit applying a basic everyday look, these five-minutes-and-your-face-is-done instructionals inspire me to put my blush on once again. I stumbled across this one from the Tyra Banks Show. Out of the videos and articles I found, this one was the best! The immense amount of powder she uses under the eyes scared me, but I was really happy with the end result. Here’s the routine:
I wish I could remember the blog where I first read about Dr. Pia Lieb’s SexySmile. I did a random search of some archives, but couldn’t find where I had first heard it announced. At the time, no one had tried the product, it was just on the radar. I had heard of similar items and the new marketing of tooth whitening as a part of one’s daily hygiene, so out of intrigue I went ahead and ordered the gloss.
The gloss is nice. A little bit on the tacky side, and without any of the peppermint oil I’ve come to love in my C.G. Bigelow glosses, but the sheen is very pretty and the staying power–for a gloss–is not bad at all. The color is very sheer. If I had realized that, I might have tried a bolder hue than Cafe Latte, but then again, it is a nice shade for my skin tone.
The whitener is very handy and easy to use. The first time I used the whitener, I accidentally retrieved double the amount needed, but ever since it has been very easy to apply. The whitener is similar to the Crest Night Effects Whitening System, but the whitening fluid is less clumpy, easier to apply, and not as distasteful as the Night Effects. Unfortunately the tip of the applicator is getting a little bushy from the tube, but I suppose that comes with use.
Overall, the product might be a little gimmicky, but useful for someone who is trying to keep on top of newly whitened teeth by applying after a coffee, dark tea or soda.
