It's My One Year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been one year since I got the idea to put all of my beauty product know-how and advice into a blog.

Since then, I have gotten to meet some of my beauty favorites, like Leslie Blodgett, Paula Begoun and Jan Marini. I've gotten to do some interesting things, like roll down a hill in a hamster ball filled with water to test Tarte makeup. I have also mastered the art of writing a sponsored blog post using a words and phrases specified by the company, despite the fact there is no link between them and the product I am reviewing.

I have gotten myself into some odd situations, like getting ready to interview a certain MTV celeb on the spur of the moment and then forgetting who she is and what her name was, as I was walking up to speak with her. Luckily, my two sisters-in-law were there to answer when I whisper yelled, "Why is she famous?".

Since then, I have written over 400 posts and made some really amazing friends, despite the fact I have never met most of them. Loxy, my most loyal reader, has learned more than he ever wanted to about makeup. The coolest/weirdest/least expected thing? Having strangers approach me and call me Gouldylox.

Since I can't pick one favorite post, I asked Loxy to pick one. And in a turn that surprises me and doesn't surprise me at all, he picked the post where I get to use his mistake to help everyone learn what not to do when you get a bad haircut.


Thanks for all of your comments, for reading my reviews daily and for not openly mocking my grayish roots or minuscule lashes. You're the best!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Giorgio Armani Beauty

by guest blogger, Anne Houseman, of Beauty Xpose

When we think of Giorgio Armani, many of us picture impeccably tailored suits and stunning fashion accessories. But the company’s beauty brand (aptly named Georgio Armani Beauty) is just as covet-able.

This past weekend, Kristin and I had the pleasure of getting an up close and personal look at the collection of Giorgio Armani Beauty products, which we had never encountered previously. I know. Ridiculous, isn’t it? We’re not sure how we missed out on this amazing makeup brand until now.

Thankfully, our beauty blogging friend Charleston Girl, from Best Things in Beauty, clued us in and helped set up an expert makeup application from the talented staff at the Armani cosmetics counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland. And while you all know how much we love playing with makeup itself, we were equally as thrilled to speak with the brand’s National Creative Director and Celebrity Makeup Artist, Tim Quinn.



Kristin preparing to be Armani-fied.

After a warm welcome from the crew, we began our introduction to the brand with the application. With Kristin as our model and muse, Giorgio Armani Face Designer Giannina Davis began to transform her already-gorgeous makeup-free mug into a masterpiece.

After first prepping Kristin’s face with Fluid Master Primer ($56) to ensure a smooth “canvas,” Giannina began to gently blend in Luminous Silk Foundation ($59) in shade 2. With a sheer to medium, matte coverage, the foundation evened out Kristin’s porcelain skin, which already has a great complexion to begin with (don’t you just hate her?).

Moving on, Giannina spent some time prepping Kristin’s eyes by dabbing on Crema Nera Reviving Eye cream ($150) to help reduce puffiness and dark circles. She also swiped on Master Corrector ($36) in pink to even out some darker areas (note: orange is better for darker skin tones).

With her canvas ready for some color, Giannina moved on to add some warmth and depth to Kristin’s face. She started by sweeping on Sheer Bronzer 1 ($49), a cool-colored bronzer, along Kristin’s temples, cheeks and jawbone, forming the number “3.” Then, she added a pop of color and radiance to the apple of her cheeks with Sheer Blush 10 ($43).



You’ll have eyes to kill for with this mascara!

Then it was time for the fun part — the eyes. To set a base for further color and to “set” the concealer she used earlier, Gianna swept on a bone color Maestro eye shadow ($29) all over the lid and up to the brow. Then, she pulled out her secret weapon — the new Bronze Mediterranean Palette ($85), which features four gorgeous shades along with a bronzer.

To play up Kristin’s blue eyes, Giannina used the palest sea-foam color on the lid itself. Then, she contoured the eye with the bronze/brown shade, blending it all along the crease to both corners using a large contour brush. To highlight the inner corner of the eye (tear duct area) with a pop of fresh color, Giannina used the golden/green color in a “v” shape, which slightly lined the bottom lid.

To create that extra oomph, she lined the entire upper lid with Maestro Eyeliner 1 ($31), an easy-to-use liquid liner that glides on like a very fine tipped magic marker. This was so fabulous that I bought one on the spot — a serious consideration for those who have trouble applying liquid liners. To keep Kristin’s look soft and smokey, she smudged on the Smooth Silk Eye Pencil ($27) in 12 (brown/black). She completed the lashes with a swipe of the new Eyes to Kill Waterproof Mascara in 1 ($30).

To complete the look, Giannina decided on a soft nude pink look for Kristin’s lips, which naturally have a darker pink look to them. She used Smooth Silk Lip Pencil in 10 ($26), Rouge D’Armani Lipstick in 103 ($30) and Lip Shimmer Gloss in 16 ($27). A final sweep of some Fluid Sheer in 7 ($59) for some red-carpet-ready face highlights, and Kristin was completely Armani-fied. Giorgio gorgeous!





Kristin and Giannina Davis



Tim Quinn works his magic

Speaking of red carpets, it was time for the two of us to chat with the man who gets some of the most famous stars ready for their big nights — Tim Quinn. While he adores working with celebrities like Michelle Trachtenberg (who he loves because she lets him do anything with her makeup, from bold to playful), Tim’s passion is working with everyday women at Georgio Armani Beauty makeup application events. He says that’s where he has the most opportunity to translate a look you might see on the runway or a celebrity into everyday wear, which is different for each person. And his clients have a very clear idea of what they are looking to achieve, so he aims to please.

Of course, just because you aren’t a celebrity doesn’t mean you can’t look like one. In fact, Tim commented that Kristin looks like Reese Witherspoon (she really does — especially in person).

So what’s hot right now? Tim says he’s loving teals for eye color, which he says can look good on everyone. He suggests Maestro Eye Shadow 14 as the perfect choice.

And with that, we were fully introduced to the gorgeous Giorgio Armani Beauty brand. We want to send a special thanks to the entire team, who were courteous and looked as though they were genuinely enjoying the experience with us and their other customers.

Check the brand out yourself, and let us know what you think!




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Beautyland Tour; Week of 5/24

As we head into a holiday weekend in the U.S. and U.K., let's relax with the best of beauty!

Kari at Fabulous Over Forty compiled her favorite classic beach beauty looks. See what brands she takes along to the beach (Edward Bess, Lancome, NARS, and more). You might want to join her!

It was all about Armani Beauty in the DC area last weekend when Tim Quinn spent two days at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Armani fans have Armani Beauty makeovers, news flashes, and tips to savor! You can read about Kristin's makeover, courtesy of Giannina Davis (herself an Armani beauty), at BeautyXposé. Then head over to Best Things in Beauty to see Lexi's makeover by Loyd Cassler and Tim Quinn. Both enjoyed their Armani glamour sessions! You will too.

Gaia at The Non-Blonde gave us a must-read look at Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils in two very different green shades. She told us why they will become her summer staples. Will they become yours too?

Kelly is letting her hair grow; she wants long hair again. She treated us to a fascinating interview with Peter Lamas, accompanied by an end-of-May progress report, at Gouldylox Reviews.

Great post on summer's bright lip trends at Prime Beauty! Find out what products Cindy used to brighten up her look.

What does KarlaSugar at The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself use to get luscious curly hair? Fekkai’s Luscious Curls Shampoo and Conditioner for a start!

Been tempted by Makeup Forever's Beauty in a Box Aqua Essentials at Sephora? Find out what Lianne thought about the set at The Makeup Girl.

Carla at Product Girl tempted us all when she showed us the new Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment. If you like the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, you will love this new one!

Find out from Annieytown at Blogdorf Goodman why the lemming frenzy is in full force on the Makeupalley boards. Hint: MAC and a seahorse.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Check back! There's always something happening at our favorite beauty blogs.




Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

The Summer Soiree at the Red Door Spa: Finding Your Summer Style

Last night, I was invited to an event at the Red Door Spas in Cross Keys to see what was new for summer. The spa looked amazing and offered a sample of what their talent stylists, artists, estheticians, nail technicians and masseuse can do. Of course, I made a bee-line for the make up studio to see what was hot this summer.

I was happy to see celebrity makeup artist Lindsay Ebbin, who had given me a fall makeover last year, and I couldn't wait to hear what looks he would dish out for the upcoming season.

"Summer is about lightening everything up. Let your skin look radiant and bright, but with a sun kissed glow. Emphasize your eyes, but in a subtle way."

He took off my sadly smudged face from a day of busy, busy (read: stressful!) tv production. The first thing we discussed was how difficult it is for makeup artists to match my foundation. (I have almost gotten into many a fight at the MAC counter. They don't get it.) My neck is several shades lighter than my face. The added yellow blotches, melasma and smattering of freckles, don't make it any easier. Lindsay had the perfect solution, "Red Door has a custom blend foundation. We use a special camera to capture your perfect foundation. No two are alike. You can't get a more perfect match than this."


I worked with Deidra to create the perfect blend. I chose my skin type (dry) and the finish I wanted (natural). Then we held the camera up to the area right on my jawline. In less than 2 minutes, I had a sample size jar of perfect foundation. It was amazing! The Red Door in Cross Keys is the only location (that I am aware of) in the Baltimore area to be able to blend such a custom foundation.

I headed back to Lindsay to see what colors were in for summer. To create my bright, lifted complexion, Lindsay used the custom foundation and sealed it with their Pure Finish Mineral Powder. He then used their Pure Finish Bronzing Powder to create cheekbones and a sun-kissed glow in one quick step. For my eyes, he used a light golden shade and Bubbles, a beautiful blue in the crease. He lightly lined my lower lashes only and finished with a touch of mascara.


On my lips, he chose a color unlike anything I own. (Where was he when I was wandering in Sephora looking for something unlike anything I own?) He picked out Bronze Berry Pearl lipstick and finished with their lip gloss in Honey Glaze. The overall look was beautiful!


Next, I was on to hair. I was so curious to see if anyone new had some thoughts on what to do with my hair helmet. The stylist suggested I add a light, volumizing pomade after I flat iron my hair. She showed me how she would tousle my hair to give it a more lived in, less conservative mom vibe. The end result was messy, but really cute.


Much to my surprise, the Red Door has several massage and facial rooms, to de-stress and purify your face. I knew they had rooms, but not 20 of them. Now I know where to go when I need to relax, stat! I got in a quick seated massage and was once again told that your shoulders don't belong around your ears. I am not sure that is correct. My ear lobes rest on my shoulders naturally. I can't help it.

Not sure what to do to get your look summer ready? Check out the Red Door Spa for a head to toe makeover! And if you are in the DC area, check out the Red Door at the Willard. I am told they have amazing mani/pedis available on their gorgeous terrace. It's the perfect treat!


Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

I Grew Up With Bees as Pets. Sort of.

(The cows that came in our backyard looked like this and were just as serious.)

I grew up in the middle of the country. We didn't have livestock (the first question I am always asked) although I did wake up to my Mom chasing cows out of the backyard with a stick on more than one occasion. I also DID NOT drive a tractor to school, despite what Loxy says. (Although it is true I lettered in chorus.) I had your usual domesticated pets and a few hundred unusual ones.

(Killer and Rodan looked just like this, but Rodan had red eyes. He was the epitome of evil.)


We almost always had two dogs and for awhile, I had two evil birds, Killer and Rodan. I suppose the bird's personalities were my fault for giving them those names. But I was in third grade, how was I supposed to know a name meant so much to a bird? I am told that when they went to live with my cousins and were renamed Lovey and Doodle (or something like that) and that they were beautiful, sweet birds.


When I was in middle school, my dad, out of nowhere, became a bee keeper. A full on white suit, honey-making, candle-creating bee keeper. At one point, he was even the go to guy in our county if there was a swarm in the area. He would suit up, get his smoker and come back with another hive.

My father is now gone (although we still have honey and candles) and the hives in my childhood yard are empty. But the bees who were so important to my Father, continue to play a big part in all of our lives in one way or another.

So it's kismet that I recently discovered a brand called Beecology. This brand, inspired by another accidental beekeeper, mixes bee byproducts like Honey and Propolis Extract with organic and natural ingredients to make honest products that work. I really dig their hand lotion and my shower hasn't been the same since I discovered their Honey and Oatmeal Peppermint Morning Soap.

But the best part is that each sale comes with a code that enables you to choose a charity to receive a contribution from your sale. You can choose from a variety of charities like Life Beat, Autism Speaks, United Jewish Communities and Beyond Pesticides. What a brilliant idea!

Beecology offers sulfate- and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner, an array of Natural Soaps (my faves are the Lavender and Honey & Oatmeal Peppermint), Hand and Body Lotion and Lip Balm.

These products are good for you, natural as they can be and give back to the community. What more can you ask for? Check them out! Start with the Honey and Oat Peppermint soap - it's the best way to start the day!

These products were sent to me for the purposes of review.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Lily Lolo Waikiki Bronzer and Shimmer + 20% Off Checkout Code!

As the warmer weather hits, I have been spending a lot of time looking into what's new on the bronzer market. I'm super fair and don't really spend too much time trying to fake it, but every now and then, it's a nice change from my normal pale self.

The first bronzer I found that I am currently digging comes from a Brit-based mineral makeup line, Lily Lolo. This bronzer and shimmer, aptly titled Waikiki, falls into the truly bronze (although on the light side) category. This is the kind of bronze you reach for to add a little sunny sheen, mimic that high fashion sunset gleam or emulate JLo. It's great for fair ladies like myself who want to add a glow, not a muddy streak of dark bronze.

This shade is a light yellowy-bronze and has a serious sheen. It looks different in every lighting situation, so it's hard to take a photo that actually captures the color. It's $22 and is available at www.lilylolo.us.


(In natural light, by a window.)



(Outside, on an overcast day. I'm also wearing Skinny Latte gloss.)


I am known for making Loxy nuts, constantly stopping the DVR during a show and saying something like, "Hey Loxy! Doesn't that look like the lip gloss I just reviewed last week?" Loxy tries to be helpful, but usually says something like, "Yeah! It looks like the new color from Bare Tarina or Smashmouth. I don't know. I'M A BOY!" Needless to say, I spend a lot of time hunting down who wore what or something like it on a variety of TV shows.


(Gabrielle Anwar at a Marie Claire event. Photo courtesy of Marie Claire)


One of the glosses I covet is worn by the character Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) on Burn Notice. While she does need to eat a sandwich, she always looks hot. She wears a nude/bronze/natural gloss quite often on the show. It's slightly reflective, but not too much. It has a little color that makes her bronze skin stand out, but she looks natural. While I have no proof that it is the color Gabrielle wears on the show, it certainly looks like Skinny Latte, by Lily Lolo. The gloss is on the thicker side, so it fills in faint lip lines (when you aren't puckering!) and it hugs the lips. It's made with Vitamin E and Jojoba to keep your lips soft. It is more smooth than tacky, so I don't think it would be an extreme hair magnet for my long haired friends (I am getting closer to joining you every day!) This gloss, for me, wears for an extended amount of time. And by extended, I mean I am getting about an hour out of each application. Not too shabby!


(Skinny Latte Lip Gloss)

The gloss is available from Lily Lolo for $15.98. The gloss and the bronzer are both cruelty free, which I am appreciating more and more every day. Even better, save 20% on everything until 7/30/2010 by using checkout code LILIYLOLOSPRING2. Happy shopping! Let me know what you hauled or what bronzer I should check out next!

P.S. - After watching the AI finale, Skinny Latte also reminded me of what Carrie Underwood was wearing in the big group number. I'm not saying Carrie was wearing Lily Lolo, but it looked like she could be!

This product was provided for the purposes of review.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Aromaleigh's Victoria's Revenge: My Tarnished, Private Freakshow

Despite the fact that I have a schmillion other products to get to, I can't stop experimenting with the new Aromaleigh collection, Victoria's Revenge. If you don't already know, it is a collection of 25 new colors, inspired by John Galliano and all things Steampunk. You have to check it out - I can't stop obsessing over what colors I can't live without. I know I love purples, grays and blues. But I don't wear a lot of greens and decided to give these a shot.


For this look, I used:
Airy Ethos in the inner corner to the middle
Private Lunacy in the middle to outer eyelid
Freakshow in the crease
Tarnished Strychnine as a liner, dry







Greens are definitely not the first color I gravitate to, but I rather like this. What do you think? What colors are on your must have list?

This product was sent to me for the purposes of review.
Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

End of May Hair Update: Peter Lamas Chinese Herbs Care

Impatient with trying to grow my hair to bombshell lengths, I recently sought help from Peter Lamas, a renowned hairstylist and creator of the Chinese Herbs line. His impressive clientele includes the likes of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy.


(My hair, at the end of April.)



(My hair now, at the end of May.)

Peter's line, Chinese Herbs, helps stimulate the scalp to grow thicker, healthier hair. But can a shampoo and conditioner really make a difference for me as I try to grow my hair longer and faster? According to my research, hair grows about a half inch (on average) per month. So after 32 days of using Chinese Herbs, how much growth did I see?

Before I tell you, I have to explain that typical results with Chinese Herbs are usually apparent after two to three months, but users can often see results much faster than that. My hair normally grows slightly more than a half of an inch per month. I usually have to color my hair every three to four weeks to keep up with new growth.

In the month I used Chinese Herbs, my hair grew about 7/8 of an inch. (Yes, I pulled out hair and measured!). That is fast! So fast in fact, my hairdresser jokingly mocked that if my hair is growing too fast for me to financially keep up with coloring it, I should stop using the Chinese Herbs! For the record, I am using only the Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling Cream and Revitalizing Mist. I am not using the Serum.


(My hair growth after 32 days using Chinese Herbs. Now let's pretend you never saw that color hair coming out of ME, ok? Thanks.)


As I was seeing such amazing results I wanted to chat with Peter to find out exactly how the Chinese Herbs line works. Here's a portion of our chat:

GR: So far, I am seeing some pretty amazing results after using the Chinese Herbs Shampoo, Conditioner and Spray for a few weeks. I understand it is stimulating the scalp, but I'm already seeing results! How does it work?

PL: Chinese Herbs products are based on the known results that Chinese medicine has yielded for centuries. We combined smart science with natural ingredients to help create a product that gives men and women thicker, stronger, more beautiful hair. The fact that your hair is growing faster is a side effect of having a healthy, stimulated scalp. You need both smart science and natural, proven ingredients. Nature can't do it alone. Together, the two can produce amazing, beautiful hair.

GR: What makes Chinese Herbs different from other scalp stimulating products?

PL: Simply put, the formula we have created acts similar to the way that the cholesterol- lowering drugs work. It breaks up the sebum that is clogging your follicle, allowing your hair to grow in a healthy manner - revitalized, strong and beautiful. Our hair ages like our bodies do and this formula is like serious skin care for your hair.

GR: What is one thing women can do to improve the quality of their hair?

PL: Never, and I mean ever, wrap a towel around wet hair. Hair becomes like barbed wire, sticking to itself. When you brush through your hair after removing the towel, you literally rip and tear strands of your hair. It is one of the most damaging things women do without realizing it.

GR: With so many products on the market, what inspired you to create something using Chinese Medicine instead of some of the current chemical ingredients showing up everywhere?

PL: I had watched environmental factors play a detrimental role in the lives of many women, including my own mother. We have to be very careful of the products we use. Some ingredients, like parabens, are still approved for use, despite the building evidence they may in fact be harmful. I want to help women be their most beautiful self; healthy, strong and vibrant. I create products to safely do just that.



(photo courtesy of The Court Yard Hounds & Sony Music)


I can't believe how fast my hair has grown. At this rate, it should hit my shoulders by Thanksgiving. I think my new hairspiration is going to be Emily Robinson from the Court Yard Hounds. I have no clue how you deal with that much hair, but since it's growing this fast, I might just get there and be forced to learn! Have you tried any of Peter Lamas' products? Tell me in the comments!

Products were sent to me for the purposes of review.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Smashbox Makeover with Artist Tyler Deschanel + 20% Off of Everything Online!

I recently had a chance to get a makeover from Smashbox Artist Tyler Deschanel. I had popped by the counter to check out a foundation to cover the blotchy mess my skin had become and ended up getting a really fun look for the season. Sadly, the after pics don't do it justice, but here is what Tyler used:

Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation
Brow Tech in Auburn
Naked Beauty Highlights Cream Blush duo
Halo Perfecting Bronzer
Cream Eye Liner in Midnight Purple
Delightful Lipstick
Limitless Wear Lipgloss in Nonstop


(It looked great. You will just have to trust me. My new phone cam lacks ability.)


I loved the foundation! Loved it! (I have been wearing it almost daily for a few weeks!) It gave me full coverage, which means none of the blotchies showed through while still looking totally natural. I have been having a problem with foundations staying a true color on my skin lately and this wore beautifully. I don't really wear heavier foundations often, but this was really nice! And much to my surprise, it lasted through the day and when I went out for dinner. The gel liner also had great staying power, as did the eye shadow.

He also gave me two great tips. The first is applying the perfect eyeshadow. Take a soft domed brush and apply your crease color by touching the top of the domed brush into the outer corner of your eye. Then lightly fan a bit of it in towards the middle. It gives you a perfect crease every time!

His other suggestion was about blush. Tyler said he likes to put a pop of color on the apples of the cheeks, not swept back towards the hairline. "It doesn't look modern to apply a bright color to the back side of your cheek bone. I like to add a little bronzer there to help make the apple pop and the cheek bone look sculpted." Blush is one thing I get a lot of questions about and this tip is definitely an easy way to get gorgeous, defined cheeks!

The two products that piqued my interest? The claim that the Halo Bronzer can plump fine lines because of hyaluronic acid and the claim that their new lip gloss, Limitless Long Wear, lasts six hours. If it lasts for 3 hours without a primer, then it should get a medal. I would love to test these claims in a Prove It! post. Stay tuned- I will let you know if their products live up to their promises!

Stock up online between now and Friday (the 28th) and save 20% off with checkout code FF2010!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Aromaleigh Victoria's Revenge Eye Shadow Collection

Aromaleigh just launched their first new eye shadow collection since last year. It's a 25-shade collection called Victoria's Revenge, inspired by John Galliano's Spring 2010 Collection, Emilie Autumn's steampunk girlie asylum girl Victoriana stage set and show and a stunning spread in Numero Magazine.


(photo courtesy of Miss K's Blog and Numero Magazine.)

The colors all have names like Ruthless Indulgence, Skeleton Key, Phantasm, Freakshow and Cyanide Sorrow. The colors, for the most part, glitter in their darkness and evoke all things steampunk. These colors are seriously complex and are one of the most intense, fashion-inspired collections to come out of a house of makeup, let alone indie mineral makeup. For more info on what inspired this collection, check this out.



(Top: Poison Utopia, Bottom: Gaslight Tears. Both are shown dry.)


I fell in love with the first two colors I picked up - Poison Utopia and Gaslight Tears. Poison Utopia is a deep, dark purple that glitters intensely with shards of lavender and fuchsia. Gaslight Tears is a lighter purplish gray that also teems with sparkle.

Here is a quick look I did using Poison Utopia, Gaslight Tears, Mania's Locus and Ruthless Indulgence. Gaslight Tears is in the inner corner, Mania's Locus is on the outer corner, Ruthless Indulgence is blended slightly into the corner and Poison Utopia is used as a liner (wet) along the top row of lashes. While these colors are strong on their own, for this look I blended them out to be slightly more sheer.


I also used Ruthless Indulgence on the tips of my lashes to add a little sparkle and thickness. I first applied a mascara with a long dry down time (I used Mally's Volumizing Mascara) and then touched my lashes to a flat brush. The lashes still looked dark, but when the light hit them in a special way, they glinted with deep purple. Because the mascara was wet when I applied the shadow, I had no problem with fallout.


I love this collection and will try to swatch the colors for you as soon as possible. It should be available on Aromaleigh's website any second and should be scooped up before you can say Oscar Wilde.

Update! Aromoleigh has now added detailed photos and swatches here. Love this!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

It's Not in Her Nature: New Hair from ARROJO Studio

by guest blogger, Anne Houseman of Beauty Xpose


The hazy nights of summer are on the horizon, and the staff at the renowned NYC hair salon ARROJO Studio are feeling a little retro. To celebrate the free spirit of the 70s, when individuality reigned, they have recaptured the sentiments of the time with the editorial photo shoot, And It’s Not In Her Nature.

Showcasing heavy textures and the intricate mixing of patterns in styling and coloring, the highlight of And It’s Not In Her Nature is the hair. With loose, free-flowing lines and “organic” shapes for a lived-in, sexy feel, the models’ hair features rustic tones of blonde, brunette and auburn, blending slice and weave highlights with single process color for unique color combinations.

The lead stylist for the shoot, ARROJO colorist Antonia Troiano, says she was inspired by today’s sociological climate, which mirrors the 70s in many ways.

“I feel like there’s a certain tone and spirit of today’s time which reflects the emotional energy of that era, particularly with the political and social movements of the 70s,” she explains. “Just as there was back then, current times seem to have a similar strong feeling of hope, change and uneasiness all in one.”

And It’s Not In Her Nature












Products Used (all ARROJO): Set and Style Spray, Holding Spray, Volume Foam, Styling Creme and Texture Paste (all ARROJO).

Hair: Antonia Troiano, Hillary Bilstad, Carmel Lawless

Styling: Antonia Troiano, Kelly Wright (using ARROJO product)

Wardrobe Styling: Antonia Troiano

Makeup: Liz Marz

Photography: Mario Valentino



Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Beautyland Tour, Week of 5/17

We've all been enthralled with Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful campaign. Well, Charlestongirl from Best Things in Beauty took a young friend to a Nordstrom Bobbi Brown counter for her own Pretty Powerful makeover. See the glowing results.

Primers are an important addition to the makeup routines of many of us. See what Gaia from The Non Blonde finds out when she test Cle de Peau Beaute Luminizing Enhancer Base.

Kari at Fabulous Over Forty shares with us her interview with Liz Earle, creator of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare. See what expert advice she has for us.

Ready for some sun-loving fun? Kelly at Gouldylox Reviews shares with us some of her fun, fresh summer finds that will keep your skin in youthful shape.

Wouldn't we all love to own a Chanel bag or a Hermes skirt? As spendy as they are, Lauren from BeautyXposé teaches us why these luxury pieces can cost us so much of our hard earned money.

Custom makeup or already pre-packaged? Cindy from Prime Time Beauty shows us both worlds with Three Custom Colors range of beauty.

Carla from Product Girl continues her Stila product reviews. This time it's the new One Step Prime Color, for lips, cheeks and eyes. See what she thinks of this new tube of color.

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Have a lovely weekend filled with beauty and laughter!


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Wanderlove Three-In-One Lip and Eye Wands

Sometimes cool things happen to me, as a result of writing this blog. Usually, I am *forced* into spending too much money on makeup for the sake of research and not getting enough sleep because I feel compelled to keep rewriting what I am working on. But last week, a totally unexpected, delightful box of goods arrived on my porch.

The creative director of Hatch Beauty, the agency that helps create, innovate and design new products for most of the big brands you already love, created a lip and eye solution called Wanderlove. He realized that the one product missing from the market was an amazing product under $20. (Have you ever tried to spend less than $20 at Sephora and get something good? It's hard. Not impossible, but hard.) So what is his brainchild?

It's a new Eye and Lip Wand from Wanderlove. Each item retails for $16.99 and comes with three pieces. Check them out!


(The Lip Wand in all four colors.)(The Eye Wand in all four colors.)


(The liquid eye shadow, applicator, cream highlighter and eyeliner.)




(The Lip Gloss, applicator, lip stick and lip liner.)


Here is how it works. The wand itself is about 7 or 8 inches long. The gloss and the applicator go together and connect to the lip stick, which connects to the lip liner on the end. While it is on the long side, it would easily fit in a clutch and is less clunky than three pieces.



(Here are the glosses, lip sticks and liners swatched.
From left to right: Rose, Berry, Pink, Apricot)


These are the four lip colors. They can be made lighter or darker, depending on what combination you concoct with the liner, lip stick and gloss.

The pink and the purple options are a little on the bright side for me, but are right on trend for this summer. Personally, I can't leave the house without the apricot color. But based on my peach blush collection/obsession, you probably already knew that.



(Here are the liners, highlighters and cream shadows swatched.
From left to right: Smoke, Bronze, Champagne, Moss)


These are the liquid shadows, highlighters and liners. The highlighter and liner are the same color in each wand. The highlight color is a neutral/warm tone and looks really nice with each of the colors. The Smoke and the Moss color can be layered to be a deeper, more saturated color or applied with a light hand for a sheer wash of color. The Bronze color, on me, is a perfect smokey brown that automatically gives you a gorgeous dramatic eye in three easy steps. On my fair skin, it is a darker brown and not a bright, golden brown that I associate with bronze.

While I am loving these wands, I do wish the Eye Wands each came with a different color liner. I also wish the liner was a little hardier or dried down to be a little less movable. Don't get me wrong, it gets the job done, but I wish it dried down a little more.

The bronze is my stand out favorite and is my new quick go to for a fabulous dramatic eye. The best part about these shadows is that once they are on, they don't move, crease or fade.

Wanderlove Eye and Lip Wands retail for $16.99 and are on the shelves right now at Duane Reade stores. Keep your eyes peeled at other stores as well. I predict these will be popping up everywhere!

These products were sent to me for the purposes of review.



Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.