Quick Chat with Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop

Paula Begoun has to be the original beauty blogger. Before blogs, before lightening fast Internet, there was a series of books called "Don't Go to The Cosmetics Counter Without Me". If you aren't familiar with this title, and you love cosmetics, these books will change your life. Paula reviews cosmetic products by their chemical composition, not by her opinion of what she personally likes.

Her reviews are like neutral ground; stable compounds that are packaged properly will get high marks. Outlandish claims or harsh unneeded fragrances will not do so well. If you ever want to know what products live up to their claims from a cosmetic chemist point of view, Paula is your gal. Better yet, become a paid subscriber to Paula's website, Beautypedia and never miss a thing. I am constantly reading her reviews and her online ingredient dictionary is my go-to resource for quick research.

I recently had the chance to chat with Paula very briefly on her Blog Talk Radio show. My question? What is going on with my skin? Why is the skin around my nose taking on a spongy appearance while the rest of my face still looks nice and smooth? Her answer? I might be perimenopausal.

WHAT? Wait, I am slipping into menopause? I'm 36! Paula mentioned that one thing that effects the size of pores is androgen. As the body doesn't make as much estrogen, pore size can increase. All of which, is a side effect of perimenopause.

OK. I would like to forget that portion of the conversation happened.

So let's skip ahead to what she said I could do to improve the size of my pores. "Avoid irritating ingredients in all of your skin care products. Be sure to use products that do not contain things like alcohol, peppermint and many plant extracts. Try to avoid fragrances, they just aren't needed. Look for a really great exfoliant. Salicylic acid is a great exfoliant that can help bring about changes in your skin and the texture. There are quite a few out there, but, call me biased, I really like my 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel. It really helps exfoliate the skins surface, as well as the pore lining."

I mentioned that as a blogger I change products often, every four to six weeks, and Paula exclaimed, "Oh my. I guess bloggers have to do that, but everyone else shouldn't. Skincare is like your diet. Can you imagine if you ate all kinds of random foods constantly? You would have the worse case of indigestion ever. If you can find a regimen you like, stick with it. The better it is for you and the more consistent you are, the better your skin will look. And of course, be sure to wear your sunscreen protection."

Even if I deny I could be perimenopausal, it was so much fun to chat with someone who has been such an influence in my life for the last 15 years. Thanks, Paula!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Leslie Blodgett Launches Perfume Diaries & GR Giveaway!

Today, Leslie Blodgett's new perfume, Bare Skin will hit shelves in Sephora. Leslie believes that scents are like memories and created a line of signature scents reminiscent of her favorite trips. The fragrance collection, Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries, is a limited edition collection available only at Sephora.

The first scent released, Bare Skin, is based on a favorite trip she took to Mexico. “When I have an experience, I like to have a scent behind it. Bare Skin, which is what Mexico reminds me of, is the way you feel when the sun is beating down on you during the day, but then you go out at night and you’re still sizzling from the warmth of the day which mingles with the night air and the music.”

So what does Bare Skin smell like? The top notes consist of Black Pepper, Freesia and Anise. The heart notes are Iris, Vanilla Orchid, Plumeria and Patchouli and the bottom notes are Sandalwood, Labdanum and Musk. The final effect? Leslie hopes you will feel as if you are basking in the sun of Mexico, enjoying your day and waiting with anticipation for the unforgettable night ahead.

I tend to wear scents like fresh air and clean cotton, so this might not be for the fresh and floral ladies, but if you like warmer, muskier, sexier scents, this may be for you! However, one of my favorite trips ever was to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, so I am curious to see if it invokes memories of my trip - I can't wait to get my hands on this to find out.

Want to try it before you buy it? Leave a comment telling me your favorite vacation spot and you will be entered to win a sample of the perfume for yourself! Want to enter twice? Tweet about this contest and double your chances! A winner will be selected on November 1, so enter and tweet by October 31st at midnight!

Feeling really lucky? Check out Leslie's vacation giveaway on Facebook!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Get Your Glow On - Beautisol

Over the summer, I tried out several self-tanners and wrote about a few that worked. It turns out I have an odd skin thing that prevents some self-tanners from actually working on my skin. Weird. If only my skin had some other super power, like banishing dryness or glowing non-stop, I would be really proud. Instead I am just a little embarrassed when I have to tell some really nice company that their awesome self-tanner was laughed at by my pasty legs.



One company to reach out to me was Beautisol (formerly Antidote Skin). They take tanning very seriously. The owner of the company, Sinead Norenius, even contacted me directly to help me figure out why other tanners weren't working or why they were streaking long before she told me about her own line. The cool thing about Sinead? She never spoke ill about any of the other companies whose products I tested and liked (or didn't and never really wrote about). She just loves to tan, in the safest way possible.

That is why she created the Beautisol line. This line is free of self-tanners that smell, that contain parabens and that ruin your manicure. Their self-tanning kits make tanning easy. Even for klutzes like me.

Here is what you get in an Antidote Skincare Sunless All Seasons Glow Self Tanning Kit:

Rubber Gloves (so key and genius)
Go Slough Yourself Scrub (use with caution, this is serious stuff)
All Season Glow Self Tanning Lotion (one to two applications is all it takes)

Sinead recommends using the Go Slough Yourself Scrub before tanning. I have to say I adore this scrub. That said, if you are a delicate little flower, GO EASY with this stuff. It is a serious scrub and the white, nicely scented lotion is decieving. There are teeny little scrubbers in here that will work wonders.

Afterwards, I decided to forego any lotion and started to tan. The lotion is somewhat pigmented so you can see what you are doing. It doesn't have to look perfect - as long as you are covered, you will be good to go. Then wait a few minutes and get dressed. Voila! Several hours later, your tan will develop and you will look bronze and gorgeous. And there isn't a hint of nasty self-tanner smell! My tan lasted several days before it needed to be refreshed. If you aren't dark enough the first time, you can use this kit to build a natural looking tan over a few days.

Just because the seasons change doesn't mean you have to lose all of that summer sun look. And with 6 full body applications in one kit, this sunless tanner is budget friendly. If you still aren't sure how to successfully apply sunless tanning lotion, check out the how to videos. It couldn't be easier!

Skip the sun, not the sunless tanner. Check it out!

This product was sent to me for the purposes of review.


Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Gouldylox Reviews Reader Makeunders

I love nothing more than a makeover. The thrill of having someone else interpret how they see me excites me to no end. However, is that the case for everyone? Three loyal Gouldylox readers got the chance to check out a Bare Escentuals makeunder and see how they looked after they had been swirled, tapped and buffed.


All three readers wear makeup differently. Marye never wears much makeup; powder, mascara and chapstick get her on her way out the door quickly in the morning. Chris tends to wear more makeup, but doesn't experiment with a lot of eye color. Heather is a makeup junkie like myself, but has never tried the BE line before.

We met at our neighborhood Bare Escentuals Boutique (find yours here) for an afternoon of fun girl talk and makeup. No one had really worn BE's award winning foundation before, so after everyone was cleansed, moisturized and primed, they learned how to swirl, tap and buff their way to a fantastic foundation.

"A tip I love to share is to make sure you swirl the foundation in the lid for several seconds. It helps heat up the minerals and makes them melt into the skin for beautiful coverage. Many people are surprised at how smoothly the foundation glides on when they swirl for a little longer than they think they should", explained our makeup artist, Monica Harkins.


Heather, the bravest of the three in her daily makeup life, opted for the Face Fashion Classic Glam look, which is a glossy red lip and a smoky eye. Makeup artist Monica was glad Heather had chosen this look. "This kit is really wearable because it can take you from day to night by changing the way you line your eyes and lips. This kit can either look really soft and pretty or full on glam. It's really versatile - it depends on you."

(Heather after getting glam)

Chris likes to wear makeup, but shies away from a lot of color. "I'm not into blush and don't want to look overly made up. I like the concept of eyeshadow, but too much color makes me nervous. I want my eyes to pop, but in a good way, not like a LOOK AT ME, I HAVE ON MAKEUP way."

(Chris sporting some purple eyeshadow with defined brows that make me envious!)

Monica selected a few sheer eye colors for Chris, including surprise and hyacinth, both in the purple family. After her make-under, Chris said, "I do like it, but it's more than I am used to. I really like the gloss. It's something I would definitely wear."

Marye doesn't spend a lot of time on her makeup. This becomes obvious when she says she never knew she had lashes that were anything special. Are you kidding me?


Marye (after getting over the shock that she, in fact, has remarkable eyelashes) used eyeshadows in pussycat, purrfect and cupcake to make her eyes pop. She looked amazing!

And since Marye loves to laugh, this easy look compliments her natural style!


What a great day. Thanks to the Bare Escentuals Boutique for having us! I really enjoyed getting to know some of the Gouldylox Reviews readers in a fun afternoon!


Want to get your own makeunder? Visit www.bareescentuals.com to find a boutique near you and book a complimentary makeunder party for you (and your friends).

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

My Israeli Sister-In-Law Shocks Me With Sue Devitt Beauty

Why is this post worthy? I fall for new cosmetic lines all of the time. So what's the big deal? First, a little back ground info on my favorite Israeli sister-in-law.

Aya, my sis-in-law, was born and raised in Israel. In fact she lived in this lovely land (her home looked like a resort) until recently, when she went from the seaside Mediterranean lifestyle to the harsh, cold winters of Chicago & Michigan.


Aya is the antithesis of me. She loves the outdoors, she doesn't own a television and she has never worn makeup on a regular basis. She likes the water, she knows Krav Maga and she can back down the side of a mountain in a giant rental car without breaking a sweat. (I was there. It was terrifying.) I love her no matter what, but I am sure you can imagine how excited I was when she asked me for makeup advice on applying eye shadow on our "glamping trip".

Aya recently found herself far away from her home, where many women opt for a natural, no makeup look. That is certainly not to say that all Israeli women don't wear makeup, I am sure many do. But not my Aya. She just didn't feel it looked right on her. She loves to wear sunscreen to protect her fair skin and get out and enjoy the outdoors. She doesn't want to bother with runny mascara or lipstick as it interferes with her kayaking in Alaska. Aya had only worn makeup twice in her life. Once at my wedding and once at hers.



Then one day, Aya landed a nice job and started working with all kinds of women. Wanting to look more professional and polished, she bought some stuff at a drugstore, but didn't know how to apply it on or even how to make it stay on her face. So she did what any brave, self respecting girl would do.




She marched into her neighborhood Barney's and asked for help.

A makeup artist from Sue Devitt Beauty was happy to help. Aya told the artist she wanted to achieve a look similar to her friend, who swore by Sue Devitt. Aya wasn't interested in getting the same colors, but wanted to have the same beautiful, natural, easy, glowing look.

The makeup artist spent quite a bit of time showing Aya how to re-create a similar beautiful natural face and she ended up leaving with Foundation, Lip & Cheek Gel, Mascara, Under eye Corrector, 2 Eyeshadows, 2 Eye intensifier Pencils and a Sharpener. Considering she had barely ever purchased any makeup, I was shocked!

Aya couldn't stop telling me how much she loved the Eye Intensifier Pencils. She loved how smoothly and easily they glided onto her eye, giving her eyes some oomph. It's no wonder she loved them so much - they are a seriously technologically advanced eyeliner! These liners are smudge-proof and water resistant. They are formulated not to move, crease or smear, thanks to special ingredient Nylon-12, which expands and contracts with each facial movement.

The foundation evened out her skin and was a snap to apply. Aya actually enjoys putting makeup on now and loves how she looks. I thought she was gorgeous before, but I am sure she is now more polished, professional and sanguine.

What is the lesson of this story? Makeup doesn't have to be complicated, trendy or hard to apply. It can make you feel better about your appearance and more confident in your daily life. Just march into Barney's or Ulta and ask someone behind a Sue Devitt counter for some help. If Aya can try it, so can you!

Sue Devitt Beauty does not test on animals.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Interview with Leslie Blodgett : Tips and Tricks

When I had the chance to chat with Leslie Blodgett, CEO of Bare Escentuals, at a recent appearance, I had to ask her about her favorite makeup tricks. With almost limitless combinations of over 200 eyeshadow colors and countless blushes and radiances, the possibilities are endless. Here are some of Leslie's favorite tips and tricks.
Tip Number One: Wear Flawless Radiance. It's a must have. It gives a dewy sheen, without being glittery or sparkly. It looks very natural and brings a new level of freshness to any blush. If you need to go somewhere and look like you aren't wearing makeup, add a little Flawless Radiance to your cheek bones or to your eyelids. It's subtle enough to make you look as if you really just look that great, with no makeup.Tip Number Two: Use a color like Twig on your eyelids. Then line your eyes with Midnight Sky, a really pigmented indigo blue. The Twig has just enough sparkle and color shift to really play up the deep blue. It's a striking color combo that a lot of people don't put together. Try it! Depending on how heavy handed you application, the look can range from smoldering to really natural and effortless. Either way, it will make your eyes pop!


Tip Number Three: Layer Flawless Definition Mascara with Buxom Lash Mascara for incredibly long and thick lashes. The key is to curl your lashes first and then put on a coat of Flawless Definition Mascara. While that layer of mascara is still wet, add a coat of Buxom Masacara.

This one blew my mind. While I have used chafing cream as a face primer and hydrating Visine as a mixing agent for mineral eyeliners, I have never thought to layer my mascaras, beyond what comes with a mascara primer. I immediately ran out and bought Buxom Lash Masacara (and Eva Buxom Lip Polish in this nifty bargain combo, A Wink and a Kiss) to try this for myself. One of my co-workers thought I was wearing false lashes. She literally got in my face and examined my lashes, from a few inches away. She was impressed. I was blown away.

This weekend, three Gouldylox Reviews readers are getting treated to makeunders by Bare Escentuals. I can't wait to see what tips and tricks I learn, not to mention seeing their makeunders. Check back next week to see the results!


Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Interview with Leslie Blodgett of Bare Escentuals

I recently had the pleasure of meeting mineral makeup icon Leslie Blodgett, the CEO of Bare Escentuals. Leslie was making an appearance at an Ulta, where hundreds of fans gathered to meet her and have makeup artists give them a Bare Escentuals Makeunder. In case you don't already know, Leslie has been at the helm of Bare Escentuals since 1994, making it one of the most successful brands of cosmetics on shelves today, the number one beauty brand sold at Ulta, Sephora and QVC.


Bare Escentuals is one of my favorite brands, for many reasons. Partially because of an emotional connection I made to the brand, but more so because of their amazing selection of colors, quality of products and never ending line of new mineral goodies. But the best part is how wearable the products are on so many people. Every woman can look fabulous every day, easily with these products. They aren't intimidating like other "haute couture" cosmetics companies. Bare Escentuals is about every woman looking great naturally, every day.

Not surprisingly, meeting Leslie was like chatting with a girlfriend. With so many questions, what to ask first?

(The Surprise Collection and The Happiness Collection shown above)

GR: What products are you really excited about this season?

LB: I am really excited about our bareMinerals foundation for life Get Lucky ticket promotion. We have three kits, The Surprise Collection (Bare Escentuals Boutiques), The Happiness Collection (Sephora) and The Jewel Collection (Ulta ) that all have a very special ticket inside. Three of these kits have wonderful tickets inside that will give the winner our foundation for life! It's like that movie with the chocolate factory for BareEscentuals fans. Plus each kit is full of amazing products.(Envy Eyeshadow pictured above)

GR: What is your favorite eyeshadow color?

LB: We have so many, it's impossible for me to choose! Although since you asked me to, I'll pick Envy. It's one of the first colors I created and I still love to use it today. It's a beautiful light green shimmer that looks great on everyone.

GR: What is your favorite trend of the season?

LB: There are so many trends right now and they are all so striking. I love the look of a really red, vampy lip, but it is really hard to pull off frequently. I only personally wear that once a month, when I have somewhere special to go. However, I love to find ways to make the trends work for real women everyday. For example, the red lip. Try a peachy gloss underneath a red lipstick for an everyday, wearable red lip. I really love Buxom Lip Polish in Eva paired with the Buxom Lip Stick in Barcelona. It's creamy, glossy and just red enough.

(Eva Buxom Lip Polish and Barcelona Lip Stick)

Check back tomorrow to find out what some of Leslie's favorite makeup tips are (including one that I would have never thought of, but has changed my look, so to speak.)

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.