Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit

Recently, I was hunting for some summer makeup. In all honesty, I am a mineral foundation girl, but in the summer, I can't wear my Bare Escentuals because it contains bismuth and I am one of the unlucky ladies who itch in humidity when wearing it. I wanted something easy, with a little coverage that didn't feel too heavy. After trying on several brands, I opted for the Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit. For the right price, it comes packed with a tinted moisturizer, 2 concealers, a powder, a primer, a puff, a sponge and 2 brushes- all in a little bag. As I mentioned before, I was having concealer issues and thought after playing with it in the store, it might be the right one for me. After wearing it for several weeks, here are my thoughts.

I love the brushes and tools this kit comes with. They alone are probably worth the price of admission. The powder is top notch, but comes in a pot that is so small, I am perplexed how to easily use it, without shaking some on to the puff or using the medium sized flat brush it comes with. When used with the concealer, the brush and powder combo are wonderful together. But just shaking some powder onto the puff for a full face application seemed really wasteful. The tinted moisturizer is really nice for weekends or days when you don't need any real coverage.

When I first put this on, I LOVED how my skin looked. Dewey and fresh, I was a happy camper. However, I did notice that my makeup slid off rather quickly when I wore the tinted moisturizer, which is a bummer, since I took the time to apply it. If I just needed to run out quickly and wanted a little polish, then this is perfect. But when I applied blush and the rest of my face, it had no staying power. I also wasn't thrilled with the primer. Perhaps I prefer the more silicone/satin feel of primers like Prime Time. But even when I used the primer with the tinted moisturizer together, my face still slid south super fast.

For a quick, vacation no-mess face, this kit might be right for you. If you need more coverage then this might not be the best option.

I'm ehh on this item. I bought it. You should test it first. (unless you need the tools and the concealer, then it's a steal.)

Benefit Coralista Blush

It is officially summer and one thing you can't live without is Benefit's Coralista blush. First, it is the most beautiful and universally flattering pinky-coral color. It comes with a cute little brush and even smells divine. Normally cosmetics that are scented really bug me (why bother with a fragrance, I ask you?) but not this one. The color just screams summer, without being fussy or too made up. By itself, it has a semi-matte finish, but paired with a highlighter or some Bare Escentuals Flawless Radiance, it really comes alive. It's a little pricey IMHO at $28, but it will last forever and looks amazing! My pal, Erin Chado, suggested this for me and I couldn't get over how much it made my cheeks pop. I am in love!

I love it. I bought it. You need it.

Pop Beauty: Cat Eyes Liner

I was in Ulta the other day and stumbled upon a little company I was not particularly familiar with, POP Beauty. POP proclaims they are " a make-up brand that encapsulates all that makes London “Swing”, Cool Britannia indeed! Innovative and inspiring, POP is a brand that is renowned show-stopping results. Silky, long lasting, uber flattering textures in punchy, punky must have shades." Apparently they are known for their Neon Lid colors, which may be a little much for me personally.



But for summer, they might be fun and those blues and greens might be right up my alley. However, what really caught my attention were two products. One is a lip primer that I'll discuss later. The other is their eye liner, Cat Eyes.

What makes this liner different is the shape of the pencil. Normally, a liner is rounded, like a pencil. This is actually rectangular, in an attempt to help you do a really nice cat eye.



I realize the chance of me rocking a Star Trek cat eye at work or while volunteering for Karma Dogs isn't likely. But a tamed down little kitten eye, now that would be nice. After a few tries, I think I got the hang of it. You have a few options:

Option One: You can line your eye using the long side of the pencil. This makes a thin line and a little flip of the fingertips at the corner will make a nice kitten eye. What is nifty about this is that the size of the line is uniform all the way across and it's rectangular, not round, which is kinda cool.

Option Two: Start slightly out from the outer corner of your eye (where you want the cat eye to end) and hold the pencil so you get a really wide line. Draw from where you want the line to end to the middle of your eye, above your iris, for a really dramatic look.

I got this liner in Black Dahlia, which is a lighter black mixed with plum. I love this color for blue eyes. After a few days of trying this out, I am happy to report that it stays put all day!

I love this. I bought this. You should check it out!


Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews

Benefit's Erase Paste & Powderflage

I am very pale and have a little bit of darkness under my eyes, not too bad, but it bugs me. I also have very dry skin, so I was having a hard time finding the right concealer to make my eyes look flawless. You know what I mean. Magazine perfect eyes. Since I work in advertising, I know that real people don't achieve this in their daily lives. You need serious lights and the right angle to get that flawless look. Ads lie and some part of me understands this, but I just can't get that image out of my mind.


Makeup artist pal, Erin Chado, convinced me to give Benefit a try. I haven't tried a lot of Benefit- their cutesy names turn me off a little. But if the product delivers, than I won't let a little cutesy stop me. Erin insisted I try their Erase Paste in combo with Powderflage. Erase Paste is a thick-ish concealer that needs to be warmed up and dabbed on. Powderflage is a white-ish, pinky powder that you apply with a fan brush (which it comes with). Honestly, I don't care for the brush - it's a little too ouchy to use. But with my Sonia Kashuk dome brush, it's just lovely. The end result? Pretty close to magazine perfect eyes.



I love these. I bought these. You should try these.

Recession Friendly Beauty: New! Sephora Nano Lip Liners

I have decided I need to expand my horizons from pinky brown colored liners to include some peaches on my lips. I have a few glosses that I am loving for the summer, but couldn't find the right liner to go with them. I didn't want something that is matte or dry or that would smear off in a matter of lip smacks, either.

How pleased was I to discover that Sephora now has these adorable half size liners called Sephora Brand Nano Liners? They come in 20 different shades and feel luxe, thanks to the shea butter and jojoba oil infused pigments. The best part? It lasts longer than most "softer" liners I have tried. Plus, Cool Coral is perfect under my Clinique Maxi-Melon gloss and MAC's Utterly Posh Dazzleglass. For $5 each, I am trying to restrain myself from going back for many, many more.



Love it. Bought it. You should check it out.

About Face Cosmetics- Miss Julia The Mermaid Color Collection

I love a colorful eye. Especially for the summer, color is in and figuring out how to realistically wear all of the brights can be tricky. But it is totally do-able, if you have a little help. That's why so I was excited to see Heather Hanson, the brilliant beauty behind About Face Cosmetics, put together several "looks" in the newly added color gallery on her website.

Miss Julia The Mermaid is one of my faves. Heather provides step-by-step instructions and pics to help you rock this look all on your own. And for $22, you get all six colors you need to become your own siren of the sea. The best part? Shipping is under $4! The colors look crazy, but don't be afraid. Embrace your inner mermaid!


I love this. I bought this. You need this.

If You Only See One Movie This Summer, See

I was lucky enough to catch a sneak peek at the new Disney/Pixar movie Up earlier this week. Since I don't have kids, I don't pay attention to animated movies. Call me crazy, but I never think they are talking to me, so I don't listen. However, my movie-obsessed hubby was looking forward to it, so when the opportunity came Up, I couldn't refuse.

From the second the Disney logo pops on, this movie was a visual stunner. Up is the first Disney Digital 3-D movie made by Pixar. And since I missed The Jonas Brothers, The 3D Concert Experience, I had no clue it could look like this. Did I mention it looked good? WOW. The 3D is used in a way that is natural and beautiful, not in a cheap-shrapnel-is-coming-at-your-face-right-now kind of way. WOW. I was totally lost in this world in the first five minutes.

Up is the story of a man who needs a change and, unhappy with his current situation, goes for it. He is joined by a young boy, a Weeblo of sorts, who just wants to help. Along with a goofball named Kevin and a dog named Doug, they have quite an adventure. Side note: Those who live in Baltimore (or watched The Wire) will understand why a dog named Doug makes me laugh every time.

I double dog dare you not to get caught up in this emotional and amazing journey. No, wait, I triple dog dare you! Up opens across the country in theaters this Friday, May 29th. Drop what you are doing and go see it.

I loved it. I can't wait to see it again.

Another Beauty Blog?

Hey there! My name is Kelly Gould and I am obsessed with beauty products (and a few other things). I have been a television producer, a jewelry designer, a makeup artist in a salon and for print and television. I spend a lot of time checking out new products and advising my friends. Since I'm very opinionated and, quite honestly, tired of sending my friends my thoughts in e-mails, I decided to post them here. Before I tell you what I really think, here are some things you should know about me.

1. I am a producer who makes television commercials for a living.

2. I love to play with color and texture where it concerns hair and makeup. A lot. In fact, my look changes almost daily.

3. I like to know that the products I use actually do what they claim. One of my hobbies is researching how the chemistry behind the beauty works.

4. I watch way too much tv.

5. When I am not working, watching tv, playing with makeup or looking for a new hairstyle, I founded a non-profit called Karma Dogs. We help rescued dogs become therapy dogs who help kids with different needs. What goes around, comes around. See how that works?

Thanks for checking out my blog. Subscribe and come back often!

Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush

Clairsonic. Clairsonic. Clairsonic. I know- it's wonderful. I can't find a single person who will say a bad syllable about the "sonicare toothbrush for your face". But at $195, I can't get one. But I really, really wanted one. So I started scouring the interwebs to figure out how I can get my hands on one. Assuming an easy pay option on the Q was not in my foreseeable future, I started reading reviews of other similar products.

The one that caught my eye was the Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush. This brush made all of the same claims that the Clairsonic did- smoother skin, dual speeds, better product absorbtion, built-in timer, microfiber anti-microbial dual heads, water resistent, and deep cleaning that you can't get manually. You had me at hello, Pretika. Whoever you are. For $50, a coupon I found trolling on the interwebs and free shipping, my Pretika arrived NEXT DAY from the great folks at drugstore.com.

I love it. When used in combination with Kate's Quench, it is heavenly. Granted, the packaging is lacking. I am sure it won't last as long and doesn't feel as high quality as the holy grail of sonic facial cleansing. But for $36.80, shipped, I am in luerve.

I love this. I bought this. You need this.

Recession Proof Beauty : Rimmel Glam Eyes

I have no lashes. I mean, I have them, but they are almost non-existent. Thin, straight and short, they barely show up. I am always on the prowl for some new way to make my blue peepers pop. Recently, on a trip to Targe', I could not help but stop in my tracks when I saw a new Rimmel mascara that boasted it would make your lashes 7 times more spectacular. My current lashes are far from spectacular, so how could I not try this out?

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Rimmel Glam Eyes did make my lashes look longer and thicker. I also find that when I curl them before applying the mascara, it holds the curl for the whole work day. It didn't flake off or smudge under my eye and still looked great when I went to take it off about 14 hours later. Plus it comes in Extreme Black, which means either their regular black isn't, or this black is really, really black. I am loving my longer, thicker, darker glamorous lashes! I picked this up for under $8, so how can you resist?

I love this. I bought this. You should try this.