BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Reviewed | Jamberry

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If there was ever a time for teeny hearts and kisses on my fingers, Valentine’s week is it. And, while I love the idea of nail art, I don’t love the thought of meticulously painting petite designs.

Enter Jamberry Nails.

Jamberry decals are vinyl nail wraps that come in dozens of designs that are a breeze to apply. After prepping my nails with rubbing alcohol and pushing the cuticle back, I selected the wrap that would best fit my nail, heated it up with a hair dryer, and firmly pressed the decal to my nail. (Jamberry recommends using a rubber cuticle pusher to seal the edges, but I just used the flat side of an orange stick.) You’ll need to trim the decal with cuticle scissors and then file straight down to finish them off. I had a hard time neatly trimming the nail decal on my right hand (evidently I’m not that ambidextrous) and found that a nail clipper was much easier. I’m now on day four and just starting to notice the tiniest of chips along the edge, but they’re in much better shape than the rest of my manicure.

Each sheet is $15 and comes with enough decals for three or four full manicures (depending on your nail length). I prefer to use them for accent nails and would love to snag this striped set, which would probably last me through the summer.

Bottom line: It’s a fun way to add a little pizzazz to your manicure without much effort. (You can also see them in yesterday’s post.)

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Top: Nanette Lepore (old, but it looks like you’re in luck if you’re a size 2); Ring: Lulu Frost; Bracelet: Monica Vinader; Nails: Zoya “Purity” and decals c/o Jamberry

Jamberry Nails provided nail decals free of charge for purposes of this post. This in no way affected my thoughts about the product. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Bedknobs & Baubles!

Review | Clinique Cleansing Brush

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap]’ve been a fan of Clinique ever since high school when my aunt began giving me her gift-with-purchase samples. At the time, I didn’t realize what a cult following the brand had until another aunt asked if she could snag the Black Honey Almost Lipstick samples first! As I’ve gotten older, I prefer the super saturated pigments of brands like MAC and Stila for makeup, but nothing beats Clinque’s gentle skincare regimen. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has been my preferred moisturizer for years and I’ve just recently discovered this miracle worker for blemishes. So, you can imagine how jazzed I was to receive the brand’s new Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush as a Klout perk a few weeks ago. I’ve heard such great things about the Clarisonic system that I was elated to give this version a whirl.

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PROS:

  • My skin is incredibly dry in the winter and this exfoliated away all of the flakiness, leaving a smooth canvas for moisturizer. On a few occasions, I applied this mask right after using the cleansing brush. My skin felt incredibly supple the next morning.
  • It’s waterproof and can be used in the shower.
  • The green bristles at the top are a little stiffer than the rest of the brush, allowing for a deep t-zone cleanse.
  • One charge lasts up to a week.

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CONS:

  • I broke out after the first use. The instructions suggest starting out with a 30-second scrub and working your way up to a full minute. I opted to start strong right out of the gate and may have irritated my skin unnecessarily at first.
  • The brush automatically stops after 30 seconds to prevent draining the battery. It’s not a big deal, but with a recommended cleansing time of 60 seconds, I did expect it to last a full minute. (Though, it is a nice feature if it gets jostled in a suitcase.)

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VERDICT:

It’s a more effective exfoliator than your standard-issue scrub and it left my skin completely makeup-free. I am a little nervous about the sensitive skin issue, but overall it’s fun to use and feels luxurious. Give it a go if you’re looking for an entry-level sonic cleansing brush.

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Disclosure: I received the Clinique cleansing brush free of charge through Klout. This does not influence my opinions of the product. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Bedknobs  & Baubles.

Review: In a Clutch with 3FLOZ

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Standing over the sink and squeezing the last bit of my preferred shampoo into a flight-approved bottle is my least favorite part of packing. However, I don’t check a bag, so it’s the only way to avoid hotel soaps and lotions that irritate my skin. Enter 3FLOZ. The site features a selection of luxury beauty items in sizes the TSA won’t confiscate with resources to make your travels so much easier:

  • Frequent flyer? There’s a replenishment program.
  • Heading to a new destination? Shop by activity. 
  • Forgot something? They’re now putting beauty vending machines in major airports. 
  • Not sure what you need (or are just too darn stressed to make a decision)? There are six curated kits with all of the essentials.

The 3FLOZ team sent over a “In a Clutch” kit for my trip to D.C. It’s full of must-haves for a night out, but the Air Repair rescue balm has already become my favorite everyday product. It’s an all-purpose moisturizer for lips and skin. (I had a dry patch on my lip that wasn’t healing even after applying Vaseline and ChapStick for two weeks; this Air Repair product did the trick in two days.)

What’s inside?

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A huge thanks to 3FLOZ! That rescue balm was a lifesaver! 

Hey, Good Lookin’

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I’m not a beauty junkie. Once I find a product I love, I’m intensely brand loyal until I happen upon a replacement or it’s discontinued (which has actually happened on multiple occasions). Here are five I couldn’t do without:

  • Essie nail polish in a bright color like “First Timer.” If you’re going to go this bright, you’ll have to keep it pristine. For me, that means not doing dishes. We wouldn’t want them to chip, would we? 
  • Maybelline Color Whisper in “Cherry on Top.” I actually discovered this in Chicago a few weeks ago when I left my other lip products at home and Walgreen’s was sold out of Revlon’s Lip Butter in “Sweet Tart.” There’s more pigment in Maybelline’s version and it leaves behind a lovely stain when it eventually wears off. 
  • Smashbox Photo Finish primer. I hate to say it, but all those years of furrowing my brow in displeasure have caught up with me. A layer of primer disguises those fine lines and keeps makeup looking fresh longer. Well worth the splurge.
  • Kate Spade’s “Live Colorfully” fragrance in a travel-friendly roller ball. Given how much we travel, I needed a scent that wouldn’t get swiped by the TSA.
  • Eucerin Intensive Repair hand creme. This one is new to me, but I was eager to give it a whirl when Eucerin offered to send over some samples. I have dry skin and my hands are especially prone to chapping. This stuff moisturizes thoroughly without being greasy. (I also read that we should take more care to put lotions and sunscreen on our hands to avoid premature wrinkles and sunspots. I feel like I’m becoming a bit of a Chicken Little, but it can’t hurt to heed the advice.)

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In addition to the hand creme, I tried four additional Eucerin products over the last couple of weeks. The Daily Protection lotions contain SPF 15 and while I appreciate the protection, they take awhile to absorb. This wasn’t bothersome for the body lotion, but I’m too impatient to let the face lotion fully absorb before applying makeup. The Original Healing lotion is great for dry, sensitive skin like mine. There are no fragrances or dyes and the texture of my skin visibly improved after using it each day. My favorite of the bunch (aside from the hand creme) was the Smoothing Repair lotion. The label indicates that its formulated for long-lasting moisture, but I couldn’t get over how silky my skin felt seconds after putting it on. It’s the most luxurious of the bunch.

Shop It: Intensive Repair Hand Creme // Original Healing Soothing Repair Lotion // Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion // Smoothing Repair Dry Skin Lotion // Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion

Big thanks to Eucerin for sending over samples!

In the Know

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I usually buy a new travel-size perfume before we head on vacation. It’s a small (yet effective) way to bring back vivid memories of the getaway long after we’ve come home. It’s also why Philosophy’s margarita body wash conjures up memories of a harsh California sunburn and Pucci’s Acqua 330 takes me back to the first vacation I took with Dave just months after meeting. 

I’ve recently been introduced to Callio Fragrance, a NYC-based company founded on the belief that scent can bring back special moments. Callio Fragrance offers seven signature scents, all concocted by hand. I was given the opportunity to try Melee and Kiele. I knew I’d fall for Melee’s combination of lime, coconut and lemongrass (three of my favorite fragrances), but I didn’t expect to prefer the lush florals of Kiele. I usually avoid florals since they can be a bit matronly, but this one is young and fresh. In fact, it’s already packed in my travel bag for South Carolina (we leave in 10 days!). I can’t wait for the memories this one brings back months later. 

Featured: gifted Callio fragrance // gifted Julie Vos earrings