beauty review: Shiseido Future Solution LX Total Radiance Foundation spf 20

happy wednesday, loves…are you having a beautiful week? 

if you're anything like me, any day can be made better by treating yourself to a new beauty goodie. i love discovering something new and adding it to my beauty buy or get-more-info-about list {please tell me you do this, too!}.

all of this is to tell you that Shiseido has a new product {actually 2 more, but i'll get to that in a minute} and it should bring a smile to your face ~ you should be excited about it...

i certainly am!

the luxury brand has added color products to their fabulous Future Solution LX Collection. what i'm gushing about specifically is the fabulous full coverage Future Solution LX Total Radiance Foundation SPF20. 

available in 11 shades {i use B60}, this gem utilizes new light technology to create radiant skin; with its creamy, lightweight formula, it creates a gorgeous tone to my skin and keeps it looking great all day.

in addition to the coverage, the new Radiance Foundation has skincare benefits. ingredients in the formula aid in reducing visible signs of aging like loss of firmness, wrinkles, visible pores and uneven skin tone.

i'm loving this fusion of skincare and makeup ~ you should definitely consider checking out for yourself. the luxe Future LX collection also includes a loose powder that can be worn alone or used to set the foundation. it's also a multi-tasker. :)

Shiseido Future Solution LX Radiance Foundation is avaluable now and you can get more info on their website, shiseido.com

product featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

beauty girl style: Ely wood watch by JORD

bonjour, beauties! hope yore having a gorgeous week…it's flying by for me…i can't believe it's already october ~ the holidays and gift-giving season will be here before we know it!

that said, i have a fabulous item you may want to consider when putting together your gift list. i mean, if you haven't started yet, you should be at least thinking about it…

if you read my previous post featuring JORD wood watches, you already know i was expecting the brand to send me the Ely watch to wear and experience for myself. you also know that i was curious about the style and material {wood} this brand uses for its watches.

well, i was certainly thrilled when my expectations were met regarding the quality. and i was even more thrilled when those expectations were exceeded!

this JORD Maple Ely wood watch is gorgeous and so elegant in its construction. i admit, i expected it to be heavier, but the fact that it's so lightweight doesn't mean it's not sturdy. i've been wearing it with everything. the maple color works so well with deep jewel tones and neutrals. it looks fabulous worn alone and, of course, dressed up with a bit of sparkle; i think this is not only a fabulous accessory to have in your own collection, but should also be considered for gift giving {have i mentioned the holidays are almost here?}.

so if you haven't already, visit woodwatches.com and be sure to check out their Instagram as well as their hashtag page to see how both men and women are rockin' the various JORD styles. also, let me know if you decide to purchase one {or if you already own one!}

this watch was sent to me by JORD for an honest review; i was not paid for my post; pics taken by me :)

beauty girl bookshelf: what i've read, am currently reading and want to read next...

bonjour, beauties! summer is officially over and i confess, i didn't do as much reading as i have {or expected to do} compared to past summers. in fact, i've done less reading this whole year, but i'm not beating myself up over it. i think i was in a bit of a rut, but it looks like i'm climbing out of it ~ the last two books i read have been fabulous, i'm almost done with another, and am excited about the next two i plan to read. just thought i'd share, so take a look...

I Don't Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer

i just finished this title in audio format, which is fabulous because Judy reads it herself {i call her Judy as if i know her, LOL}. while many don't know her in public when they encounter her, i'd know exactly where i know her from if i ever find myself in the same space. since seeing her in The Wedding Planner, back in 2001, she's been on my radar. she's a fabulous actress with almost 100 films to her credit. if i were an actor, i'd want my career to be just like hers ~ consistent and noteworthy. she gets to work with amazing actors and is still able to maintain a life of normalcy that allows her to be in public without being followed or stalked by paparazzi. while not over-the-top funny, this book is full of fun stories from her life and career. if you like memoirs, are a fan of Judy Greer, you should definitely find this to be an enjoyable read.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 

Rainbow Rowell has quickly become one of my favorite authors. her books are smart, heartfelt and thoughtful. every story is unique, with multifaceted characters and a fabulous story. the first two books of hers i read {Eleanor & Park and Fangirl} are classified in the YA category, but this book, her very first novel, is in the adult fiction genre with a very chick-lit/rom-com feeling. that's fine by me. i could easily see this as a movie, but i love the format of emails as part of the narrative, i'm not sure how that could be portrayed on screen. if you're looking for a romantic, sweet read, this one is a great pick!

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

i'm almost done with this gorgeous, epic novel. the story takes place in two time periods, 1962 and present day. in 1962 a young italian innkeeper spies a tall, thin woman in white approaching him and his hotel via boat. he soon learns she's an american actress. oh, and she's dying. in present day, more other characters are introduced, each aspiring to fulfill their own dreams of success. enter an older italian man in search of the mystery woman he knew many years ago. i love how this book goes back and forth between time periods, slowly moving toward how they ultimately are connected. i was moved and captivated listening to this as an audiobook {the narrator is fantastic}. there are no big action scenes and no crazy plot twists, but if you're looking for a moderately paced story featuring grand scenery and old-hollywood icons, give this one a go.

next i want to read: We Were Liars and Station Eleven…

what book have you finished or are currently reading? i'd love to know ~ i welcome your thoughts and recommendations! 

beauty review: Irresistible Me Hair Extensions

bonjour beauties! i have something fabulous to share with you today...

meet Irresistible Me, a brand that creates beautiful hair extensions! prepare yourself for a longer-than-usual post, but i've included plenty of pics!

 before i continue, full disclosure, Irresistible Me is the absolute first brand of hair extensions i've ever used and worn. so basically, i have no other brand {or hair pieces} to compare them to, a good thing i would say! for this newbie they've been perfect; my experience has been beyond fabulous and i'm thankful for the opportunity to try them!

ok, now it's time for the good stuff... 

if you aren't familiar with Irresistible Me, they're a relatively new company. this growing brand creates 100% natural Remy clip-in hair extensions and specializes in high quality extensions {all at great prices}. one thing that i've learned that sets this brand apart from others is the fact that you can order hair not only by color and length, but you can also choose the weight {100, 140 or 200 grams}.

i decided to go with 200 grams, 22 inches in natural black ~ i figured it was enough to demonstrate via images a dramatic difference and it would be fun to see myself with long hair again.

turns out, it's a lot of hair!

the package arrived with a sample piece packaged separately to make sure the color and length would be ok.

the rest of the hair…

when i saw all of the pieces separated {10 total}. i was a bit overwhelmed…

i figured out right away that i didn't have to wear all of the hair at once. it's now been a few weeks since receiving these extensions, and i've probably worn half of the hair regularly {it's good knowing i have extra pieces if i want to wear them, or save them for future use}. learning how to clip them in was super easy thanks to this video and they securely stay in place until i take them out at the end of my day!

some before shots:

as you can see, my hair isn't too long and it's on the thin side. if you're a longtime reader, however, you know i always had thick hair and my past hair product reviews were a reflection of that. as my mom {and my stylist} would say, i had "enough hair for 10 people".

 without getting too far into it, i'll share that i began having health issues and strange symptoms, including hair loss, about 3 years ago. it started slowly, but i definitely took notice. fast-forward to earlier this year, i was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. this, while upsetting, made my hair loss {among those other symptoms and ailments} make sense. without becoming too much of a downer, this has had an effect on me because my hair was a huge part of me. i always had a ton of hair. in any case, i still have hair, but i can definitely appreciate the benefits of wearing extensions more than i would have 3 years ago.

now, a few pics as i clip in the extensions…

before the first {and biggest} piece...

this piece has 4 clips...

 this is the next layer of my own hair, down and ready for the next piece…

finally, this is after clipping in two more pieces in the back {each with three clips} and one piece {two clips each} on either side of my head, under the top layers of my hair.


and here {drum roll, please} are the after pics:

my kids {especially my son, LOL} were in shock when they saw me the first time...

i love the fact that this hair blends so well with my own. it's soft, thick and i can style it the same way i would style it as if it were growing out of my own head. for these pics i did, however, let my 14-year-old, hair-obsessed-in-a-good-way, daughter create the curled/wavy style ~ she's fab! what do you think? :)


i'm so thankful you've taken the time to read and learn about my first hair extension experience! as i said before, it's been fabulous! hopefully i've piqued your interest in Irresistible Me and you'll head over to their website to discover more info about them for yourself.

by the way, if you decide to place an order to try them out i'd love it if you'd email me {find it in the sidebar on the right} and tell me about your experience!

product featured provided by Irresistible Me for the purpose of review; all pics taken by me :)

currently reading: Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

reading isn't something i have much time for. in fact, i feel like these days it seems to take me forever to finish a book! i don't mind so much, though, because i truly enjoy reading.

that said, the book i'm currently reading, Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante is simply fascinating. i found this novel at my local used book shop a few weeks ago and the plot description sounded interesting. i thought, why not? i had just finished two great books, i was looking for a new book to read, and it was only fifty cents. the timing was right and the cost wasn't high... 

so far, i'm beyond intrigued by this book. the main character, Dr. Jennifer White, is literally losing her mind {she's suffering early onset Alzheimer's}, her best friend and neighbor, Amanda, has been killed, and Jennifer may or may not have murdered her. the biggest clue that makes Jennifer the prime suspect is that four fingers from Amanda's hand have been surgically removed. oh, did i mention Jennifer is a former orthopedic surgeon?

 Jennifer keeps notes for herself to try to keep her life and the people in it straight. she belongs to a coping group, but her episodes are becoming worse and she is remembering less and less. there are additional plot points involving other characters {like her grown-up kids and live-in caretaker} that will reveal themselves as the book moves on, i'm sure, and for now, i'm relishing where i am in the story. can't wait to find out how this mystery will turn out!

what are you currently reading?
  

btw, those books i mentioned earlier that i had finished are Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {the audio version is fabulous!} and Trinkets by Kirsten Smith. they are both really good ~ i highly recommend you check them out!

happy blogiversary to BGM!! {plus some beauty goodies i want to try in 2014}

happy friday, dolls! hope your week has ended well ~ are you ready for the weekend?

my kids are out of school on break, so weekdays and weekends these days don't differ too much from each other. it's a nice change, not to have to go anywhere, though i do keep my morning routine the same {waking, exercising, eating breakfast at the same time, etc.}. 

 unfortunately, my son came down with a little bug over the last couple of days and is currently sick. such a bummer! on the positive side {i guess}, it's better that he's not missing any school {which happened last school year and he was out for a week}.

so, this is {part of} my life right now, LOL! never a dull moment…

other than that, everything is good. i'm {mostly} healthy and my daughter is well. i'm enjoying the gifts i received at christmas and am looking forward to my 34th birthday {this monday, the 30th!}.

and….

today is the 6th blogiversary of Beauty Girl Musings!

i can hardly believe it! it's been quite a fun experience, and i still love discovering and sharing all the fabulous, beauty-ful goodies here with you in my small space on the web!

with that said, there are some products on my radar that i hope to try firsthand in the coming months. you most likely feel the same and/or already own them yourself! take a look…

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

it's no secret this palette is the it palette right now thanks to its gorgeous rose-hued neutrals. i've been watching and reading many tutorials and it's easy to understand why this unique, versatile mix of matte and shimmer shadows is fast becoming the must-have for beauty fans.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
since i finally joined the Revlon ColorStay fan band wagon {better late than never, haha}, i'm on a mission to not let years go by before i give in and try this highly-rated foundation. i j'adore my Estee Lauder Double Wear {HG!!}, and while ColorStay has been a seriously close second {i've been using it daily, i confess, for well over a month}, i can't help but be curious to find out if i'll be among those who will replace the Revlon with this CG formulation. i just have to find the correct shade. stay tuned...



Stila Masterpiece Series Eye and Cheek Palettes
create a gorgeous look with this "book", featuring 4 beauty volumes {three are shadows and blushes while the fourth volume includes get-the-look tutorials, tips, and tricks from Stila Pro Artist, Sarah Lucero}. inspired by vintage artistry, each book features a look ~ The Minimalist, The Impressionist and The Modernist ~ that promises to help achieve specific looks. only available online

Benefit POREfessional Agent Zero Shine Powder
i've heard so many rave reviews about this powder, and since i'm currently enjoying The POREfessional balm, i'm trying to contain my excitement over trying it myself. the beauty community says  Agent Zero Shine is just fabulous for finishing your look as well as keeping shine at bay throughout the day.

CC Creams
 like a punched-up BB cream {which include ingredients to hydrate, color correct and protect skin from the sun}, the CC creams have more skincare benefits and lighter texture. coverage varies, i've learned, but brands like Cover FX, IT Cosmetics, Pur Minerals, Clinique and Smashbox have had good reviews. i'm excited to experience this this new wave of skincare makeup ~ just as i finally found the BBs i like and match my skin well, LOL!



what products are on your 2014 beauty list?
 here's to another fabulous year, dolls! enjoy your weekend...

beauty girl tv: i'm back + some things i'm currently loving!

hello beauties! hope you're enjoying a fabulous day! as you may have gathered, i've {finally} filmed a new video for my YouTube channel. sit back, watch and {i hope} enjoy…

it's a bit long, sorry…did i mention it's been 4 years?!!

 along with a reintroduction, i also include some products i'm currently loving!!

i'm so excited to get back to this platform of reviewing, so please let me know what you think. i'll be posting once a week, so expect to see reviews, tips, tags and occasional hauls.

if you have suggestions, requests or want to just say hi, please do so! and feel free to leave me a nice comment.



also, like {thumb up!}, share on your preferred social media platform, and if you'd like to give me a fabulous gift for christmas and my birthday {it's at the end of the month!!}, subscribe!

thank you, dolls!

beautiful, clean light makeover with GE Reveal light bulbs

we need light in practically all parts of daily life. so when it comes to makeup application and the like {getting dressed, cooking, taking photos indoors…}, its's important that it be the best light. the new GE reveal LED bulbs were sent to me to try out, and i have to say they really do make a difference! in addition to providing clean, beautiful light, they also use 28% less energy than regular incandescents, so you'll save money using them too.

before and after in a corner of my living room ~ GE reveal bulbs really create a crisp, clean light! 

you can see the proof in my own before and after pics, above. if you've ever used GE reveal light bulbs, you'll appreciate that these new reveal® LED bulbs provide the same benefits including filtering out dull yellow rays of other bulbs, thus enhancing colors and patterns within your home, providing crisp white light to bring out the best in colors ~ whites appear whiter, reds redder, and patterns truly pop.

tastemakers from different industries {award-winning interior designer Solomon Monsoor of Straight Designs; Stephanie Navarro, an up and coming make-up artist and hairstylist for films, television and commercials; fashion designer Andrea Spratt of Kucoon Designs and Pace Webb of Taste of Pace Catering}, used the bulbs as well ~ check out their before and afters…

top: interior designer Solomon Monsoor's room; bottom: makeup artist, Stephanie Navarro's studio 

top: fashion designer Andrea Spratt's room; bottom: chef Pace Webb's space

in the video below, these fab people share what they do and how the new reveal bulbs enhance their particular line of work ~ definitely worth the 5 minutes to watch!



discover for yourself how GE reveal light bulbs bring out colors and patterns that can go unnoticed. a full spectrum of light bulbs are available to create your own lighting makeover! see more at gelighting.com

product featured sent to me for review purposes; opinions my own; top pics taken by me; other images and a video provided by GE.