Glamour – Kerry Channon

Mane Attraction

A few months ago, I shared one of my favorite haircare discovery with you: the miracle hair tie from Emi-Jay. These babies don’t dent your hair and coming in a variety of colors and prints, they actually manage to look cute on your wrist. Many a picture has been ruined by ugly hair ties on my wrist…cue proposal/engagement photos.

A bright red hair tie wasn't quite the accessory I had in mind... — A bright red hair tie wasn’t quite the accessory I had in mind…

I scooped up a dozen Emi-Jay hair ties as fast as I could after seeing these photos.

They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so I guess the two young teenage entrepreneurs who make up Emi-Jay should be very flattered that there are now a half dozen companies hocking a similar product. I’ve come across a few different brands and am aiming to try them all out to see which ones are the best.

Kitsch Hair Ties at South Moon Under | $14.95 for five — Kitsch Hair Ties at South Moon Under
| $14.95 for five

mane message — Mane Message Hair Ties from Etsy | $10.95 for six

Multitude hair ties — Multitude Hair Ties from Anthropologie | $12 for five

So far, I’ve found that Emi-Jay tend to stretch the most, which is great for anyone with thick hair like myself. However, they do stretch out faster than the Mane Message hair ties I’ve tried. Since the Kitsch hair ties are available at South Moon Under, I’ll try those next despite the fact they are the most expensive. I also love the gold polka dot prints from the Multitude brand. Have you tried any of these brands? Do you have a favorite? Let me know!

CoverGirl Coverup: B.B. Cream

Awhile ago, I gushed over the wonder that is B.B. cream and its introduction to the US beauty market. A quick refresher:

B.B. stands for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm
B.B. creams offer a slew of beauty benefits ranging from spf to moisturizer to anti-aging and of course, skin coverage
Basically, this is makeup that is good for your skin

Garnier’s version was the first one to pop out on the drug-store priced scene. I raved about this stuff, and rightfully so as it was the perfect combination of light to moderate coverage with healthy skin benefits. The only downside was that the texture is somewhat thick, with a slickness that could prove challenging for oily skin types. Nobody wants to glance in the mirror come 3 pm and see a shiny, oily reflection staring back at them no matter how good B.B. cream is for your skin.

So, I resolved to continue my search for the perfect, budget-friendly B.B. cream. Dare I say, perfection in a tube is NOT too much to demand.

Imagine my surprise and excitement, when I strolled past the CoverGirl section in my local CVS and happened to spot their newest release, a CG AquaSmoothers B.B. Cream! Prior to discovering Garnier’s B.B. cream I was a CoverGirl tinted moisturizer addict. It was all I wore for nearly 10 years, so my enthusiasm at discovering this new B.B. cream product was completely genuine, particularly with a price tag of $7.99.

I purchased the item without question, in hopes that I had just found the holy grail of B.B. Creams. The next morning, I opened up the packaging and went to town applying the product liberally. The first thing I noticed was how similar the texture and coverage was the tinted moisturizer product I had previously sworn by. As I am admittedly a huge fan of the tinted moisturizer, I can’t say this was a bad thing, but I expected more coverage…and well, just more from a B.B. cream. That was when I decided to take a second look at the packaging, which clearly advertises the product as a B.B. cream, but then not so clearly states that it is a tinted moisturizer + sunscreen. So which one is it, CoverGirl?

After doing a bit more digging, I am sad to say, the ingredients in the B.B. cream are exactly the same as the CoverGirl CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisture product. Now, before I rant a bit, let me say that the tinted moisturizer is a good product that offers light coverage, moisturizer and SPF in one nifty little product. However, for CoverGirl to market this is a brand new product and as a B.B. cream when there are no additional skincare benefits is just plain sneaky. It is no wonder we haven’t seen any advertising for the product!

Moral of the story – don’t get duped. If you’re searching for a budget-friendly B.B. cream, stick to the Garnier brand for now or, if you want to spring for a higher end item, check out Sephora for a dozen (literally) of options that are $30 or more. I’ve heard excellent things about the Smashbox B.B. Cream, perhaps I will splurge on that one next to review. I’d also be interested to see the contrast between a makeup brand B.B. cream and a skincare brand B.B. cream such as Boscia or Dr. Jart+. Leave a recommendation or suggestion in the comments section!

Upscale Sale Roundup!

Oh, it’s that time of year again! For what you ask?

Time for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Apparel, accessories, shoes, handbags, makeup and more is on sale now at some majorly discounted prices. You can snag Fall’s top picks for a fraction of their regular retail prices. There are some good deals online, but you’ll find the best steals in-store. The sale is over August 6th, so don’t miss it! Here are some of my favorite items online:

Michael Kors ‘Bradshaw’ Watch: Sale: $183.90 After Sale: $275.00

Michael Kors ‘Lucy’ Crystal Bezel Watch – Sale: $129.90 After Sale: $195.00

Michael Kors watches are classic, yet contemporary. They are one of my favorite accessories and I believe a girl can never have too many MK watches!

La Mer ‘The Collection’ Anniversary Set (Nordstrom Exclusive) ($325 Value) $270.00

I’m not sure I could justify nearly $300 on my face, but if you have the additional income and are looking to get rid of some wrinkles sans Botox, La Mer is for you. Renowned as the best skincare product in the business, La Mer always comes with a hefty price tag no matter how you slice it, but you can save yourself a pretty penny during the Annual Sale!

Frye "Melissa Trapunto" Boots — Frye Melissa Trapunto Boots – $239.90! You’ll pay $357.95 regular price.

Frye boots should be a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. The quality makes the price well worth it, as you can get several seasons out of them. This price is hard to believe at $239.50 – you can save more than $100!

Bod & Christensen Leather & Ponte Crop Jacket
Sale: $279.90 After Sale: $425.00

It is hard to think about leather when its 90+ degrees outside, but your bank account will thank you for thinking ahead with this purchase. You can save almost $150 on this jacket.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Click on over to Neiman Marcus for an additional 25% off of all of their Last Call merchandise. You’ll find some top designer brands on sale, including Dian von Furstenburg, Rebecca Taylor, Michael Kors and even Lanvin. The best deals are on dresses, most of which you can expect to start around $100 and go up to as much as $1,200.

DVF Karin Tie-waist Dress
Originally: $365.00
NOW:$127.00 (+25% off)

Need I say more? DVF under $100? Sign me up!

Rachel Zoe Krista Bubble Dress
Originally $395.00
NOW:$138.00 (+25% off)

Another brand name, Rachel Zoe, at close to $100. Designer duds at dramatically discounted prices. Sizes are limited and the sale ends tomorrow, so start shopping!