Must Have ::: Nordstrom Anniversary 2014 ShortList

I don't know why I am such a madwoman about this sale every year...but I am.  I am already foaming at the mouth over a select few items in this year's pre-select catalog for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. 

Loving Right Now :::

Photos: La Petite Sucre Etsy Shop, Sephora.com, CoordinatesCollection.com, Redbookmag.com 

Test Driven ::: Clarisonic Opal

Photo: Me, of my set

During the Anniversary Sale last month I picked up a special Anniversary set of the Clarisonic Opal device, something I'd wanted to try out for a while since I had watched a presentation on QVC.  I immediately charged it the very first night and gave it a whirl, with high expectations.

PRODUCT REVIEW: La Mer Cleansing Gel

Photo Credit: cremedelamer.com

I have been using the La Mer Cleansing Gel in alternation with SIMPLE moisturizing gel cleanser from the drugstore (well, Target), off and on now for about a year. With and without a washcloth or the Alien Laser Deathray Gun, aka Clarisonic (yes, that's maybe back around...)  It smells nice, and does not require very much to make a nice froth.  It's exceptionally foamy on the Clarisonic. I might use about a half of a pea size dab.  I got a few travel size bottles when I bought the La Mer special event set last year at Anniversary. That to me was the prize winner of everything I got. I have made a travel size last almost a year before repurchasing a fullsize, using gift cards.  It's a pretty nicely sized bottle, as it should be for sixty-five-fucking-dollars. It has a pump that locks, which I love.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Clarisonic Mia2

Nordstrom Anniversary is in full swing (I know, I know...I did not do a full post of all the stuff I wanted this year, mostly bec I didn't want that much this year! I am on a clothing ban!)  and one of the few items I wanted to get was a new Mia2. I have the Mia (Alien Laser Deathray Gun) and used it a few times a week off and on, but was hoping maybe if I had another speed that I would get more out of it besides zits. 

PRODUCT REVIEW: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

As I think I have mentioned in the past, I am not one for serums because my face just seems to hate them. Most are heavy on the silicone-y ingredients and those are death to my skin. I don't love them in my hair either but they're less of a problem there.

Photo credit: Nordstrom.com

Coming soon: A product review for Acne.org Treatment

I am in the process of trying to reign my face back in.  I have definitely retired the alien deathray laser gun (Clarisonic) for now, that thing seems to have been the biggest culprit the raging acne I developed. I don't know if it's because it harbors bacteria like nothing else, or if it's just not cleaning as well as it should...who knows. But it's not worked well for my face.

A lot of folks on various blogs and forums have mentioned this Acne.org line of products as being godsends for their faces, so last week I ordered myself a tube of the Treatment, which is a 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide treatment gel.  

PRODUCT REVIEW: Cleansing Oils -- Shu Uemura and DHC

Photo: ShuUemura.com

Cleansing Oils are cropping up everywhere these days...

Photo: DHCCare.com

I bought my first bottle of Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil (green) in San Francisco at the Nordstrom Westfield while we were driving the West Coast Hwy 1 in 2006. I have been using either the Shu or the DHC since. I know when I first heard of it, I thought "what oily skinned human would slather oil over their face to clean it?" and after trying it, apparently *this* oily skinned human would. Except that I mostly use it to take off the 8lbs of eye makeup I slap on every morning. For the most part it helps remove that, though I have to really let it sit for 30 seconds before I start really working it all off and then rinsing. Then I use the Alien Deathray Laser Gun with a regular foaming cleaser to clean up the rest.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Mary Kay Timewise Miracle Kit (Trial Size)

Photo: MaryKay.com

I have been using Mary Kay skincare off and on for at least 15 years. It started when I was introduced to it in High School by a local rep, and then again at College a girl in my dorm was selling it.  But when my cousin started selling it, that's when I really started in on it.  I know a big part of it was that I am REALLY sensitive, especially to scents, in my skincare. I am allergic to everything and develop rashes like crazy.  I almost always end up back at Dove Sensitive Skin bar soap because it doesn't give me any issues. I alternate that sometimes with Mary Kay cleanser as well, Deep Cleanser (?).  

PRODUCT REVIEW: Clarisonic Sonic Skin System, or as it's known to the husband: Alien Deathray Laser Gun.

I picked this little gadget up on a 5-pymt easy pay from QVC a few months back, and have been using it nearly daily since.  The jury for me is still out.  Honestly, if it was about $150 cheaper I would probably think it was a better value, but since it's in the $225 range, I am not entirely thinking it was worth the cost.