Brand Spotlight: Tammy Fender

Regret is seldom used in my vocabulary, and when shelling out a pretty penny for skincare theres no exception. Strong justification can lay in the argument of investing in later years. Throwing a couple bills now in my youth may yield some Benjamin Button results in my fifties. Although my wallet opens wide for beauty exploration I’m no sucker for poor ingredients. I want comprehendible ingredients, easy peasy words, nothing of the mineral oil persusion. Strong medicinal properties that sprout are or extracted some route from the earth. 

Tammy Fender skincare does that for me and so much more. Aesthetics doesn’t hurt the sale, apothecary glass packaging; Similar to the Aesop branding but more simplified. It does the medicine cabinet good for all visual minds.

 I’ve made my way through three products that give me a good ringer on the rest. Starting with the coveted face mask Epi-Peel. The first thoughts popping to mind, were sorcery, black magic in the making. Was there sacraficed unicorns, laid down all in the name of good skin. Unlike most mask this one is mixed in with micro exfoliator. Damp fingertips give the face a good rub for a couple minutes and then onto the wait of your traditional mask. On the other side of a good wipe with a damp muslin cloth comes glowing “I’ve been on a month retreat, drinking only fresh pressed juice and purified water.” skin. The skin of hard labor and numerous dermatology appointments in one.Polished skin radiating cheeks. Check and check.

Next on the list was toner and moisturiser. I even lowered my expectation, I mean really the chances of stellar products across the board is rare. (Disclaimer here in that I gravitate towards any product that sounds brightening, toning and will lead to that youthful glow.) The Essential C Tonic alone received thumbs up, a toner with a pump makes it easy for my cotton wool routine. I was a little weary that the heavy dosage of vitamin C would dry my normal skin (it tends to lean to the oily spectrum in the summer and a dodge to the dry in winter) a bit and leave it feeling tight, but instead it felt evened and refreshed. It became a good alternative to my Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist. 

Moisutriser is where it got a little weird. Antioxidant Creme Neroli & Orange has an almost tacky gel like consistency, and with humidity in the mix it didn’t sound like the greatest idea for my skin. But the gloopy concocation has become my go to hydrator on days where I want to go face commando, and I may be hypnotized by it's luxurious powers but it seems to have this photoshop tool in jar, blurring over all my imperfection. 

Closing the case Tammy Fender gets all the thumbs from me and more. I may even foresee a trip to the brand's spa in the future. 

Cleanse and repeat: Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm

A needle in a hay stick stack is a metaphor I'd like to think of in the lines of skincare romance. Very few products earn the right to be continuously adorned on my bathroom shelf, but when found true loyalty is earned. Of course one shoe doesn't fit all and it all comes down to preference, routine and simply the condition of your skin, but I truly feel no wrong when I say Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing balm may be for all. Oiler skin types may be put off by its balm like texture that literally melts onto the skin, but what it leaves you with is balanced nourished skin. No tightness to balance out with concoctions on your bathroom counter and no oil slicked skin that needs to be combat with toner. Yes, this balm gives you that perfect in between that everyone runs to achieve. Hungarian mud does the heavy work of pulling out the day's dirt and sin, while sweet almond leaves the skin plump and radiant. If all else doesn't speak to your cup of tea, you can always enjoy the luxurious smell of sweet orange that fills your nostrils and the fancy, heavy in hand packaging  that one hundred dollars buys you. 

Grass is greener

Top Essie in The More the Merrier, Formula X in Over the Top, Urban Outfitters in Slime and Sally Hansen in Grass Slipper 

I say green and you think money? Fashion and beauty leave little room for the color green, and this forgotten hue needs a brush of love; well deserved love. A good mannequin manicure extends the limbs and black will always be the new black, but an electrified green does something more. Neon green; border line bio hazard shades come with edge, glares and stares. They stand out; isn't that what a good manicure entails? No matter "winter, spring, summer or fall"... "you've got a friend"... in green ( nod to Carole King). 

Cheater's skin: Faking the glow

Cart pilling on Whole Foods' leafy borecole; code name kale and the daily repeat of #1 on your juice cleanse are admirable and dedicated options for light bouncing skin, but theres a way to eat your cake and glow too. Ethereal skin lies only minutes away in fool proof applicable tools. 

First and again you'll hear the encouragement to drink. Not of the Don Draper variety rather what the world and it's mother know; water. Gearing up your skin from zero to glow presents no better time to say cheers with the drink of Brita's choice.
  

Zen skin deserves a nourished pout, and Nuxe Reve Di Miel delivers with luxe honey and grapefruit.   

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, although light is perfect for blurring out small imperfections while giving a dose of glow. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is perfect under the eyes to combat the shown lack of sleep in your life. Hydrating and a bit more coverage it also can be used to strike out any imperfections. 

Becca shimmering Skin perfecter adds more of the angelic glow. Down the nose, top of the cheekbone and cupid's bow.   

Nars Exhibit A intense in color; but when used with  control and a light hand gives the skin a sun kissed flush.

Finish off with a few strokes of MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash to give long defined lashes. Now is only preparation for stares and gazes prime skin receives.  

Red, red, red. Giorgio Armani

Every girl needs the right shade of red lipstick. Every girl needs several different shades of the right red lipstick. This time the right red is Giorgio Armani's Rouge D'Armani in the shade 400. I've tried this line before, but the minute I swatched it on my hand there was no returning. True to other colors I've tried in the range, #400 felt light weight and nourishing on the lips. This line carries the feel of a tinted lip balm, but whips out some mean pigment.. some long wearing mean pigment. Majority of the day it remained, with only a small need for a swipe after lunch. Back to what drew me in; It leans more on the blue scale of reds. Be warned that this is a strong vibrant red. This is for the girl who loves a great shade of red...maybe even a vampy red. Most would say it's more of a night shade, but who cares daytime could use a bit more vamp. 

Also good things come in three, or is the saying bad things? Either way MAC Ruby Woo and Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon are close to needs in the red department if the above color turns you in.