New: My Life by Mary J. Blige

I think the bottle is cute.

Mary J. Blige launched her perfume today exclusively on HSN and word on the street is that it is is a smashing success. The perfume is made by Carol’s Daughter, who also make a couple of perfumes that I’d love to have: Almond Cookie Eau de Toilette and Pearls. Although, it seems that Pearls has been discontinued unfortunately. It is interesting that Carol’s Daughter and Mary J. Blige choose to launch this perfume on HSN. I wonder if many more perfumes will be launched this way in the future.

Notes: gardenia petals, bartlett pear, white freesia, tuberose, jasmine, golden lily, apricot blossom, cashmere woods, praline, sesame, and incense.

RIP Beloved Beauty Products

Trends move quickly in the beauty world and it is inevitable that some products are discontinued. What do you do when your favorite products end up on clearance… then just… gone? Before the internet age one would have to drive all over town and buy up the last remaining product. Now it is possible to find many old beauty items on ebay. Some distraught beauty lovers have even started online rescue campaigns to bring back their favorite products. I usually pout like crazy when something I love is discontinued then ration every last bit of the product. What do you do? Do you flip out when your favorite lipstick is no longer in stores?

Here are a few products that I’ve loved and lost in the past:

Alert, Alert: Paul & Joe

Now hear this! Paul & Joe’s adorable (or frightening depending upon your point of view) kitten lipsticks are now available from Beauty Habit. I need a huge stock pile of these so I can quickly replace them as the kitten face wears off.

Wrinkles? Kill Them With Acid

These Alpha Hydrox items will make me awesome.

Even though I oftentimes act as though I’m 7 years old, I’m actually 32. I’m starting to get some wrinkles now which is really annoying. This week I’m road testing some of Alpha Hydrox’s most popular products with the hope that they’ll melt the wrinkles right off my face (or at least come close).

My overall first impression of the line is that these seem to be no-nonsense products that work. I’m annoyed by many skin care products that make huge promises and contain magical, high tech ingredients (usually with hilarious made up names).

Review: Prestige Liquid Glitter Eyeliner

No sir, I don't like it.

I picked this up at the college bookstore because the display said NEW and GLITTER. These are words that I like to see. But really, this stuff is trash and embarrassment. I admit, I haven’t tried other brands of glitter eyeliner. Maybe my issues with this Prestige liner would be typical of all glitter liners (let me know if this is the case). Anyway, why didn’t I like this glitter liner, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. I dislike the stuff because it is clumpy, not very glittery, and a big chunk of it fell off halfway through the day, making me look like a psycho.

Step Away From The Pink Sugar

Can we use something else?

Aquolina’s Pink Sugar has a great marketing strategy. It is one of the most popular fragrances at Sephora and one that I frequently come into contact with on a daily basis in college. And it isn’t that I don’t enjoy candy scents, in fact, I probably like them at least 700 times more than the average person. I have been told that I am not unlike a Christmas elf in my love of all things sweet. But even I have had enough Pink Sugar. Ladies (and Gents) it is time to move on from your trusty Pink Sugar onto one of these superior sweet scents.

Ten scents that are better than Pink Sugar:

Godzilla Will Mess You Up

Don't mess with Godzilla.

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures released an image showing Godzilla’s new look at Comic-Con in San Diego. The film is slated to be released tentatively sometime (perhaps, who knows, maybe) in 2012. Not much more info is known other than that. I like this new look for Godzilla. He looks more like himself and more menacing than the trash unleashed upon Matthew Broderick in 1998. I like to forget that movie ever existed. You should too.

Perfume Review: Tea Rose

Tea Rose, a discount find.

I picked up a gigantic amount (4 oz) of Tea Rose by The Perfumer’s Workshop when I was at TJMaxx the other day. I bought it unsniffed because, well, it was only $9.99. I’m not sure if this price was a mistake or not but definitely check out designer discount stores in your area for some great perfume deals. I first heard of this fragrance when Katie Puckrik mentioned it in one of her videos detailing her massive perfume collection.

My Favorite Drugstore Makeup

What drugstore items have become your beauty staples?

Drugstore beauty items have improved greatly in recent years. There are many products that I simply adore that can be found at your local drugstore much, much more cheaply than over-hyped high end products. Here are some of my favorites…

Perfume Review: Kenzo Amour

Kenzo Amour

Notes: Frangipani Blossoms from Bali or Borobudur, Cherry Blossoms from Japan, Tanakha Wood, Incense, Thai Rice Steam, Vanilla of La Réunion, White Tea from China.

A nice sales associate at Sephora made me a sample of Kenzo Amour after seeing me attempt to detect this fragrance on my arm. I had already sprayed at least seven other scents near it. In the cloud of Sephora stench, I couldn’t really make out Kenzo Amour much at all. I happily accepted the sample so I could try this one at home.