Marissa's Pick of the Week - Anti-pollutant Cleanser

My pick this week will definitely put a dent in your bank account if you use this product regularly. Mousse Douceur by Chanel ($45) is by far the best cleanser I have ever used! Less than a pea size amount creates more lather than you need for your face and neck. The creamy plush cleanser (recommended for normal/combination skin) is gentle enough for dry skin, but cleans well enough for oily skin.

What makes this cleanser unique is Chanel's use of tulip tree extract and tulip tree concentrated water. The beautiful and amazing tulip tree has a natural resistance to pollution and bugs due to its waxy shield. Its water and extract attracts impurities like a magnet and traps them. So basically, this is the only cleanser that washes the dirty air off your face!

Chanel does not spare any expense when it come to fine ingredients. Bio glucan, a sugar/protein complex, boosts the cleansing action and balances combination skin without stripping the natural barrier. Mallow Extract is an anti-inflammatory that when combined with water, creates a protective gel.

Mousse Doucer is part of Chanel's Precise Skincare line. I have also tried the Mousse Exfoliante Purete exfoliating cleanser for oily skin, and I love it just as much. Mousse Confort is for dry and/or sensitive skin types.

Brand Spotlight: Urban Decay

Urban Decay is a Newport Beach, CA based cosmetics brand that catches the eye of funky, offbeat fashionistas across the globe. The cleverly branded line was created by Wende Zomnir in 1996. Her distaste for mainstream makeup exploded into an entire collection of grungy greens, blazing blues and punky purples. Urban Decay is available at Sephora, Ulta and Macy's.

My Urban Decay Faves:

Eyes

Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($17) - This was the first eyeshadow primer that I got excited about. It matched my warm skin tone (most primers are too pink on me) and kept my eyes popping all day long.

Sustainable Shadow Box ($36) - This eye shadow palette has a lot of my favorite colors such as Flipside, Oil Slick, Kiddie Pool, Grifter and Uzi

Eyeshadow ($16) - Aside from the colors mentioned above, I also love these; Chains, Gash, Mildew, Minx, and Mowie Wowie

Deluxe Eyeshadow ($18) - My favorites are Graffiti, Electric Blue, Peace and Ransom

Loose Pigment ($20) - I prefer loose powders to pressed because the colors appear more vibrant. My favorite shades are Rockstar, Protest, Shattered and Goddess

Ink for Eyes ($22) - This cream eyeliner has 6 colors to choose from. It glides on smoothly and absorbs oil, so it stays on all day.

Lips

Lipstick ($22) - My favorite shades are Confession, Gash and Oil Slick

Lip Envy ($17) - I love lip stains! I like to put them on under my gloss as a backup because I hate re-applying makeup.

Beauty on a Budget Tip #2 -Vaseline

Vaseline should be in everyone's medicine cabinet, diaper bag and purse. Here are some uses for this wonder jelly:

Don't waste money buying those expensive glove treatments for hands and feet. Slather on the Vaseline, slip on some socks and gloves, then wake up to baby soft skin.

Vaseline smoothes rough patches, knees and elbows better than any body butter I've ever tried.

Vaseline is also a great lip balm. Mix in some colored mica and sweet almond oil and you've got a tinted lip gloss!

If you have dry skin, Vaseline is great for removing makeup. I don't, however, recommend keeping petroleum jelly on your face over night.

Apply Vaseline around your hair line before coloring your hair. This will prevent the dye from staining your skin.

Mix dark eye shadows with Vaseline and apply to eyes with your finger. This gives that Old Hollywood glamour look.

Got anymore ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Makeup Mondays: Unpenciled Eyeliners

I love cream, gel, powder, and liquid eyeliners. They last longer, glide on smoothly, and are easier to manipulate. "Unpenciled" eyeliners are perfect for creating shapes and effects such as cat eyes or smokey eyes. I generally use an angled liner brush for all these formulas (except liquid), but most companies have a brush specifically made for their cream/gel eyeliners. When it comes to liquid eyeliner, I prefer the foam tips as opposed to the brush applicator. It's less messy and more precise. Here are some of my favorites:

Liquid eyeliner:

Artliner (Lancome, $28)

Liquidlast Liner (M.A.C., $16.50)

Metal Eyed Liner (Too Faced, $17.50)

Cream eyeliner:

Brush On Cream Liner (Clinique, $14.50)

Ink for Eyes (Urban Decay, $22)

Aqua Cream Liner (Make Up For Ever, $20)

Gel eyeliner:

Fluidline (M.A.C., $15)

Ink Artliner (Lancome, $23.50)

Powder eyeliner:

Carbon Eye Shadow (M.A.C., $14.50)

The New Black Color Design Eye Shadow (Lancome, $16.50)

Brushes:

266 Small Angle Brush (M.A.C., 19.50)

Get Bent Brush (Benefit, $16)

Smudger Brush #10 (Lancome, $24.50)

Marissa's Pick of the Week - 18 Uses for $15

It's gratifying when you find a product that exceeds your expectations at a great price. It's even better when you find one that works 18 different ways! Peach Nut Oil Liquid Soap 18-1-Uses (C.O. Bigelow, $15) is a must have in every home! I have used this wonder soap on my face, hair, and body, and I've given my children a bath in it. It's great for sensitive skin and smells so good! I've also used it to clean my leather couch and car dashboard. The oil makes the leather and vinyl soft and shiny while effectively cleaning.

C.O. Bigelow has been selling this product since 1905 in their little West Village apothecary in New York City. The main ingredient, peach kernel oil, is a fast absorbing moisturizer perfect for sensitive skin. This essential oil soothes itching and irritations such as eczema. Lavender extract is an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic that balances, soothes and heals. This added ingredient can help treat acne and balance oily skin. Since ancient times, Lavender extract has been used as a household cleaning agent. Other ingredients include glycerin to retain moisture and vitamin E for antioxidant protection.

List of uses:

1. body wash
2. shampoo
3. face cleanser
4. shave soap
5. hand soak
6. nail soak
7. foot soak
8. dish soap
9. laundry soap
10. floor cleaner
11. car washing
12. boat washing
13. surf board wash
14. pet baths
15. jewelry cleaner
16. comb and brush cleaner
17. household cleaning
18. carpet shampoo

Beauty on a Budget Tip #1

Baby wipes are great for removing makeup. The best ones are cotton and fragrance free. My favorite wipes are Parent's Choice Organic Baby Wipes (Walmart, around $2 for one pack or $8 for a wholesale box of 6 packs). These biodegradable wipes are made with organic cotton. If you want to "splurge" a little, Pamper's Sensitive Wipes (drugstores, around $3 for a tub of 60 or $13 for a wholesale box of 6 packs). These alcohol free cotton wipes are hypoallergenic and soothes irritated skin with chamomile.

Makeup Mondays: The Matte Movement

Remember when the cool, special makeup colors had shimmer, and matte color was the normal boring stuff? Nowadays it's the opposite. Of course shimmer and glitter and sparkle are everywhere! The girls love it! Supply and demand, right? I'd like to present a challenge to all you millennium kids: leave the shimmer behind. Don't get me wrong, I love shimmer too, but there comes a time for change. I personally think matte makeup is more sophisticated and does a better job at defining facial features. Maybe it's my inner goth, but deep merlot lips and black shadowed eyes exude seductive, mysterious and inviting. My softer side thinks matte neutrals are perfect for achieving a romantic, vintage look. The best brands I've seen for matte makeup are Make Up For Ever and M.A.C. Matte will probably be a new trend this fall, so keep a look out for limited edition matte makeup from your favorite brands.

My faves!

Eye shadows:

Carbon (MAC, $14.50) - the blackest black. I also use this as an eyeliner.

Orange (MAC $14.50) - the perfect orange.

Fuchsia (Make Up For Ever, $19)

Teddy Bear Colour Surge Eyeshadow Quad (Clinique, $25) - I wear this quad on simple days to brighten my eyes. It enhances a very naturally.

Lipsticks:

Plum (Make Up Forever, $19) - a deep burgundy

Rust (Make Up For Ever, $19) - warm nude

Pink Chocolate (Clinique, $14) - neutral warm pink

Diva (M.A.C., $14) - reddish burgundy; this is my favorite plum ever!

Viva La Glam I (M.A.C., $14) - intense cool red; %100 of the profit goes to M.A.C.'s AIDS find

Viva La Glam III (M.A.C., $14) - warm plum; %100 of the profit goes to M.A.C.'s AIDS fund

Sephora Flame (NARS, $24) - the perfect red for warm skin tones

Blush:

Peach Apricot (Make Up For Ever, $19) - a light coral for a natural look

Pumpkin (Make Up For Ever, $19) -orange for bright and kind of crazy

Dusty Pink (Make Up For Ever, $19) - warm dusty pink for a natural look

Fever (M.A.C., $18.50) - Intense reddish burgundy for a vampy look

Melba (M.A.C., 18.50) - soft coral

Foundation:

Teint Idol Ultra (Lancome, $40) - oil free, buildable coverage, and wears for 14 hours

Perfectly Real Makeup (Clinique, $23) - long wearing, light weight, natural finish

Studio Tech (M.A.C., 29.50) - compact makeup that diffuses light and had a powder finish

Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation (Make Up For Ever, $34) - oil free, controls shine, water-resistant

Dream Matte Mousse Makeup (Maybelline, $8-$10 available at drugstores) -super matte finish, light weight, buildable coverage