Convert?

A couple of years ago, my Mom jumped on the mineral makeup bandwagon and ordered the whole line of powder foundations, blushes, "veils," and whatnot. I rolled my eyes and chalked (er, no pun intended) it up to her inability to keep away from whatever new miracle product was on the market. I was smarter than that. And besides, I needed fuller coverage to hide my acne, especially those damn red marks that laugh in the face of "sheer coverage." I refused to even try the stuff.

Then last week, I looked in the mirror and realized that while my skin had come along way (only the occasional blemish and the red marks all but completely faded), my foundation was still stuck in opaqueville. It was time to let my skin shine through. I swallowed my pride and cracked open a jar of the powdery foundation. For what seemed like only a minute or so, I dabbed and swirled and buffed and then, voila, my "foundation" look perfect, as if I'd been blending and smoothing for much longer; most incredible of all, I didn't feel like I was wearing makeup (and my fingers were clean)! I brushed on some "warmth," did my eyes and lips, and was out of the door...5 minutes early.

Did this convert notice any cons? When I went to the bathroom at work later that day, I thought the application still looked good, but noticed that it was a little shiny; while I could have definitely rocked this look at night, it seemed a tad inappropriate for work, especially in a high school classroom! Also, I found that perhaps I should have used those 5 minutes I'd saved to apply the foundation more carefully because the powder didn't "stick" as well in some areas: I had to apply a bit of concealer to my nose area to hide some lingering redness.

Despite a few flaws (no makeup is perfect, right?), I definitely think I'll be wearing bareMinerals makeup, at least on these hot summer nights:)

Boots Olive Bergamot Orange Body Butter

When I was in Liege, Belgium a couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of dining at a wonderful Moroccan restaurant. It was the first time I'd had traditional Moroccan tea sprinkled with orange blossom water. I was so enamored with the intricate silver dispenser that held the precious, delicately scented liquid that the next day I searched all over the Moroccan district for one of my own. Once in a while, I take it off my bookshelf, unscrew the top, and inhale the lingering scent of orange blossoms. It takes me right back to that magical night, which might as well have been in Marrakech and not frigid Belgium--such is the power of scent. So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I unscrewed the cap of Boots Olive, Bergamot, and Orange Body Butter and experienced that same transportation. The scent is light, almost fragile, like the real floral water, not cloying or heavy like L'Occitane's Neroli EDP, for instance. The texture of the butter itself is somewhat sticky at first, but rubs in well. Happy travels!

The Hairy Truth

Seeing as this is a new blog and all, I thought I'd get away with not posting anything about hair just yet, but I just got an email from a reader asking about it, so I guess it's time to come clean. The truth is that I have a horrific confession to make. Sure, it looks presentable most of the time, but--please don't shun me out of beauty blogdom for this--I haven't had a haircut, not even a trim, in nigh 10 months. What I call my hair is really just a long, dark brown sheet that hangs down without any shape or style. What's worse, there's a clear line that separates the darker hair from the do-it-yourself dye job I performed nearly a year ago.

The good news is that I'm going to have myself a total hair makeover! As soon as I get my 1st summer school pay check, I'm booking an appointment at a top-notch salon to have my locks dealt with by a professional. So, stay tuned for that big event!

The Jewels of Summer

Maybe I should have called this the "Sweet Drinks" category instead of "Sweet Eats," because I have a feeling that there will be a lot more posts like this one. I don't know about you, but I have a thing for sexy cocktails, especially in the summer. They're kind of like the designer shoes of the beverage world: they come in pretty colors and styles, are far more expensive than they should be, and though you could get more for your money if you stuck with a sturdy tennis shoe (gin & tonic) or pair of loafers (rum & coke), instead, you just can't resist those sexy-sweet stilettos (Cosmopolitan) and those oh-so-classy alligator slingback mules (Manhattan). And just like that pair of stilettos, even if all the evidence points to the contrary, the moment you sip a well-made cocktail, you know it was worth it. Here are five hot excuses to get all liquored up this summer (as if you didn't have enough of those already!). Click on the drink name to the get the recipe:

1) If you need a drink to go with your lemon-yellow wedges, there's nothing more fun and laid-back than an Italian Lemonade.



2) Just like these pretty, stone-embellished sandals, the Caipirinha is fresh, yet sultry, and, most importantly, made in Brazil.



3) There's nothing subtle about this bold orange-hued classic. The Sidecar, often thought of as the precursor to the margarita, is a sweet & sour brandy-based concoction with a sugared rim.






4) Strong, yet not overpoweringly sweet, the Black Apple Martini is a subtle twist on a classic, but has all the elegance and sophistication of the original, just like this pair of black satin pumps...with frayed edges.




5) And can it truly be summer without a margarita? This Kiwi Margarita evokes cool summer evenings on the grass, and what else could you wear to such an occasion but a pair of bejeweled thongs?



Happy Summer!

Almay Intense i-Color

I'm always looking for ways to make my brown eyes pop, so I got really excited when I saw this little "kit" from Almay. I decided to pass on the purple liquid eyeliner, but went ahead and purchased the three coordinated shades of shadow and mascara from the "Play Up" collection. I actually really liked the shadows. I followed the "directions" and applied the purple shade all over my lid, then blended the brown along the crease and next to my lashes. The highlighter, which is a shimmery pinky ivory color, is really nice; it doesn't leave that garish, frosty look that too-white highlighters can on my skin color. The dark brown mascara, however, was a nightmare. No matter how hard I tried to clean the brush of excess product, it still went on thick and clumpy.

I'd love to know what you brown-eyed girls do to enhance your peeps! I've heard that greens and golds also look good--what do you think?

Review: Delices de Cartier

At first whiff, I immediately understood why this fragrance is called "playful." It opens enchantingly as the the pink pepper and floral notes do a sprightly dance on a warm, vanillic backdrop. Soon, however, the much anticipated cherry note becomes apparent, but far from being "iced," I found that it had all the concentrated sweetness of a handful of dried cherries left to soak in a lightly spiced, vanilla-laced brandy. Unfortunately, in the dry down, the sweetness becomes cloying and, to me, headache-inducing. Another very strange thing happens: the whole composition takes on an uncomfortable dryness, a hint of what I'd expect the molecule Norlimbanol to smell like according to Chandler Burr's description.

I would find this difficult to wear at any age, but I do think that many women, especially those who enjoy sweet, floral Orientals, would find this an elegant and supremely feminine addition to their scent wardrobes.


(I'd love to know if anyone else experienced that uncomfortable dry note!)

Notes: Iced Cherry, Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Violet, Jasmine, Freesia, Amber, Tonka Bean, Musk, Sandalwood.
@ Sephora

Someone's Been Smokin' the Seaweed

What's the most you've ever spent on a beauty product? Luckily, a rather consistent dearth of funds during my college years has prevented any major damage; however, I'm sure that the happy coincidence of getting my first real job and my discovery of Sephora will put an end to that luck rather soon. I doubt though that I'll ever make this grave of a mistake:

Priced at $2,100, Creme de la Mere The Essence is the most expensive face goo ever made. Why, you may ask, would anyone spend the equivalent of 105 bottles of Olay Regenerist Enhancing lotion (good stuff I tell you) on this "essence"? It's all about the seaweed. Or as Paula Begoun says in her editorial about the product: "it has a lot of seaweed--well, as much as 1.5 ounces can contain." Is that what makes it worth its weight in gold? Oh wait, ounce for ounce, it's actually 2.5 times more expensive than gold. Well, it must be, because it certainly isn't any of the other ingredients, even the celebrated inclusion of acetyl hexapeptide-3, which Paula says is "supposed to work like Botox, but of course it can't; even Botox can't work like Botox when applied topically to skin."

So, if it really is all about the seaweed, I can do better. 1.5 oz, pah! I have a enough of those crunchy, rectangular sushi wrappers to turn back the hands of time itself. Nori facials everybody, 8pm, my place.

Girl Power

Every modern woman needs one of these. Being a single gal, I can't tell you how many times I've had to pull out that heavy old hammer, screwdriver, or wrench to nail a picture to the wall, install a doorknob, or try to fix my own toilet. In this day and age women do indeed use tools on a daily basis, even girlie girls! I fell in sweet love with this Little Pink Tool Kit that has everything you need to get the job done, all packed into a stylish tote. All of the tools are ergonomically designed to make them comfortable to use, plus, a portion of each sale will be donated to fight breast cancer!

The Golden Rectangle

Throughout history, a rectangular shape with a particular ratio, the golden ratio, has been studied by mathematicians and revered by architects and artists of all kinds for its aesthetically pleasing proportions. Here are some golden (and not so golden) rectangular finds:

1) Pink jade rectangular hoops

















2) Anne Koplik antique brass rectangle earrings

3) Michal Golan jet black and glass Swarovski crystal earrings














4) T. Cyia wood, jade, and turquoise necklace


























5) Adina rectangle chain necklace




























6) & 7) Something Silver reversible lapis bangle & Baroni Chinese turquoise necklace

Wine Tasting

My ex-boyfriend and I were obsessed with learning more about wine. Apple? Caramel? Leather? We were determined to learn how to discern and appreciate these and the hundreds of other notes that distinguish wines, as well as find wines that we truly enjoyed. We'd buy several bottles, ranging from dirt cheap to exorbitant in price, place them in paper bags and then sip and sip until our lips were purple and I started getting a tannin-induced headache. I still feel like I have a long way to go, but what better way to learn than by inviting friends over for a wine-tasting party? This kit from RedEnvelope.com includes four wine bags, a wine tasting guide, and scorecards. Happy tasting!

Not So Sweet: Mary Kay

What about me screams "gullible," I wonder? I was walking around the grocery store a couple of weeks ago, looking at the canned food, when a smartly dressed woman walked up to me and said, "Hi, can I ask you a favor?" I asked her what I could help her with. Before she answered, she stuck out her hand and introduced herself; this seemed a rather suspicious response, seeing as I was expecting her to ask me to reach for a can of beans or something. She explained that she was from Mary Kay and wanted me to be a "face model" and asked if she could give me a call sometime. I walked away feeling a little smug; a face model, eh? I guess my little trip to have my brows done at Anastasia was worth it.

I arrived at her house and listened to a 15 minute spiel about the value of exfoliating one's hands before touching one's face before being allowed to actually do so. Then, she squeezed various products into a tray and told me to apply them to my face. I should have asked right away if this was what being a face model entailed--modeling the products in front of a 2-inch mirror before buying them--but I didn't want to be rude, so I kept my mouth shut. Besides, not surprisingly, I rather like trying on products, so I didn't feel I had much to lose.

After I applied the serums and moisturizers and what not, she started applying the makeup for me. Right off the bat I knew the color of foundation she chose was too dark (I have light olive skin), but she insisted that I try it before judging, which was fair. I looked at my face near the window and realized that it was in fact too dark and that I looked rather ridiculous. But she refused to admit this. She kept insisting that it looked "fine" even though I could see a clear line of demarcation! She then applied bronzer in a very blotchy fashion with a cotton ball. Once again, she insisted that it looked wonderful even though I was clearly looking more and more like a clown right there in her living room. If she had really wanted to sell her products, she could have just admitted her mistake, asked me to go wash my face, and started over.

Then she started talking. I could accept that my dreams of modeling for Mary Kay (*cough*) were never going to be realized and that I was there to buy stuff, but then why was she going on and on about pink Cadillacs and heart-shaped pendants? How did I go from being a suckered-in customer to potential Mary Kay saleswoman? She was obviously operating on a lot of assumptions: wouldn't it be nice to own my own car and not have to make payments? To have a steady income? When I could finally get a word in edgewise, I explained that I already owned my own car, but more importantly, barely had time to breath, what with student-teaching, then teaching summer school, then teaching high school English full time in the fall, along with starting grad school. There was no way I could sell beauty products as well. She assured me that I could do it as a hobby (failing to comprehend that I already had plenty of other hobbies that I still had to fit into my schedule!).

It all boiled down to a roll-up compartment bag which contained a handful of the products I had tried on. I could buy it for $100 and sign up to be a saleswoman or just keep the products for my own use. I told her that I could do no such thing. She was convinced that I would be "up all night thinking about it" but the only thing I was thinking about was how much I detested the disingenuous nature of Mary Kay's sales pitch.

I think the company needs to promote honesty and upfrontness on the part of their saleswomen. Model? Customer? Seller? What did she want from me!? Yes, I should have been more shrewd, but I believe the onus is on the company and its representatives to be clear about their motives right from the start. Heck, there were even some products I liked (great tinted lip gloss), but now, on principle, I refuse to purchase from Mary Kay. I am sure they offer some great services and that there have been some wonderful success stories, but there are simply too many choices out there for me to buy from a company that has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Google Notebook

I found a cool new online shopping tool! To keep track of items I want to buy (and blog about) I use Google Notebook, a free service that's currently in beta. You download a small application that allows you to highlight, right-click, and "note" your items as you surf the net, so that later, you can go to your notebook and see all your items in one place with links back to where you found them. You can also right-click on images! I usually just save the image so that I can just follow the link back to the other info. This can also be used for travel and wedding planning (and so much more), but I find it suits my shopping needs perfectly. Well, almost. I wrote and requested that they add a "tag" function so that you can tag each post with a category, like makeup, or fragrance; this way, you can click on any one category and find all the relevant saved items. Right now there's no way of organizing items like this, so you have to browse through everything you saved to find what you're looking for. Still, it's an awesome tool. I hope you find it useful!

Here's a screenshot of the first two items in my shopping notebook; as you can see, I right-clicked the image only (no text). The link to the place where I found the image is right below it. You could start a new notebook for each category, but I've found it difficult to manage more than one notebook.)

Review: L'Eau d'Hiver, Lys Méditerranée & Angeliques Sous La Pluie

Editions de Parfums from Frederic Malle are exquisitelyly crafted fragrances by the world's most revered noses. I recently filled out a questionnairere on the website and received three 5-ml samples in the mail (all the way from France!). Here are my impressions:

1) L'Eau d'Hiver by Jean-Claude Ellena: I read Chandler Burr's review of this beforehand, and, immediatelyly I recognized the marine note, which he memorably referred to as a "touch of crab." Soon however, the whole composition took on a soft, powdery quality that reminded me distinctively of baby products, mingling somewhat uneasily with the seaweed still dancing subtly in the background. The dry down was soft and pleasant, the marine note all but gone. I came away respecting the artistry behind the fragrance, but felt that I simply could not wear it. I vowed to give it another try, and have given it several since, but still find it too strange for my liking. The other day, I was walking around my kitchen and could swear that I smelled L'Eau d'Hiver. I sniffed and sniffed and finally realized that it was my hands: I had applied baby oil gel to my palms after doing some gardening!

Notes: iris, honey, heliotrope, angelica and musk.

2) Angeliques Sous La Pluie by Jean-Claude Ellena: When I first applied this to my wrist, I thought "gin." It slowly began to take on more complexity as a peppery note introduced itself, then something reminiscent of anise, which could have been the angelica, and then a clear cedar embrace. If the opening is sharp, the dry down is comforting as the cedar and musky angelica warm together. I felt "okay" about this scent to begin with, but now I find myself craving it. It truly is a masterpiece.

Notes: angelica, juniper berries, coriander, musk, and cedar. (photo courtesy of Kendiala)


3) Lys Méditerranée by Edouard Fléchier: Out of the three, this one swept me off my feet. It took me right back to the tropics. I could feel the heat, the warm summer rain, and there, at the center of it all, was an exquisite bouquet of stargazer lilies, dripping sweet, perfumed water. When I wear this it makes me feel like I'm walking around on a sultry night in Bangkok, even when it's snowing out here in Colorado.

Notes: ginger lily, muguet, angelica root, orange flower, water lily, and musk (notice that there's no real lily in it). (photo courtesy of TTVO)

A Simple Plan

Ever since I turned 15 I've had to deal with acne. Last year, my acne got to the point where no topical product could help it, so I went on Accutane, the notorious drug that is often the last resort for severe cases of cystic acne. I felt it was a necessary move to prevent scarring. By the end of my 5-month course, my skin was clear as a bell; I was even getting compliments on it! It's been another 6 months since I stopped the treatment, and while my skin is still clear, I do, like a normal human being, break out now and then, especially before my period. Because I have naturally oily skin, I take extra good care of it so that I won't have to deal with severe acne again. I prefer Paula's Choice products because she truly offers inexpensive skin care that is backed by science without all the hype.

1) Skin Balancing Cleanser for normal to oily/combination skin: This cleanser creates a soft, gentle lather and does not feel drying at all. It also removes makeup, which is important to me because I don't like to have to use a separate product for that.

2) 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid: This salicylic acid formula exfoliates the surface of the skin as well as inside the pore to prevent and minimize blemishes. I like it because it's in a liquid formula that can be worn under moisturizer and makeup. I think it's really important for acne-prone individuals to use a salicylic acid product like this to keep pores clear, since acne is caused by the blocking of the sebaceous gland. Paula ensures that her products have the proper pH to be effective.

3) 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel: I love this product for exfoliating the outer layer of skin. It helps with fading red marks left from old blemishes (Hydroquinone products and traditional bleaching formulations will not work for this).

4) Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 With antioxidants for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin: Perfect, light moisturizer/sunscreen for wearing under makeup.

5) Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution for All Skin Types: I apply this to my skin every night. Benzoyl Peroxide is considered to be the most effective topical blemish preventer. It kills the bacteria (p. acnes) that lead to the inflammation of the pore. Many people use BP products incorrectly by only dabbing them on the spot when a blemish occurs. It should be used consistently over blemish prone areas to prevent pimples from forming. Also, it might take a few weeks to kick in, and you will probably have to deal with a bit of redness and peeling at first, but it's worth it!

6) Skin Balancing Carbon Mask Normal to Oily/Combination Skin: Extremely soothing. I love knowing that I'm actually helping to absorb excess oil. My skin looks very smooth after applying this, so I especially like to use it before a night on the town:)

7) Super Antioxidant Concentrate For the Face and Eye Area for All Skin Types: I love this product because it's full of antioxidants, yet isn't greasy or oily, so it can be worn under any moisturizer or foundation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a product junkie; I love trying new skin-care products, but this is my basic regime because it's simple and it works, without all the hype and exorbitant prices. Paula has great products for all skin types, so make sure to try them out for yourself. Good luck!

Sephora: Vote & Win

Vote for the Best of Sephora 2006 on Sephora.com and you might win a $1000 gift card + 1 each of the winners in all 24 categories! In addition, 10 people will win a $100 gift card, so get your booties over there and vote! I just did, and even though I hadn't tried all of the products on the ballot, it was still fun to vote for the products I love. Good luck girls!

Charming Heels

The only thing better than an actual pair of heels is a lilliputian, bejeweled version you can wear on a bracelet, as a pendant, or as earrings. Here are some of the cute miniatures I found:

1) Juicy Couture Boudoir High-Heel Charm: I love the gold and blue combination!



2) Bombay Duck enameled pink version that looks like it could even be hooked onto a key chain.






3) & 4) Silver Diamante from Pearl & Butler and the Pink Diva Shoe from Anokimobi, both meant to be attached to your cell phone.














5) And here's a sexy little crystal pendant from French Kitty Boutique.

Summer Lust

Betsey Johnson "Cherry Pom" Medium Hobo Bag

I thought it said "Cherry Porn" at first, haha. Love that black one behind, but the one with leopard print is a little much.









How lovely is this Banana Republic Macrame Bamboo Tote?





And this B'eautique
pink raffia 'Cinemay' shell tote is sweet & summery.

My Virtual Model

My Virtual Model (MVM) is a cool service that allows you to enter your height, weight, and other information to create a "virtual model" of yourself. Several companies are making use of MVM, such as Nutrisystem, which allows users to create a model to view their weight loss progress, and H&M, which even allows users to enter body measurements so that they can see which size will fit them best before buying jeans, tops, and more. I'm not quite satisfied with the look of my model, but I plan to order a pair of jeans using its recommendations soon to see how accurate it is.

There are so many variables that determine how we individually look and feel in clothes when we try them on; in order to be truly effective, MVM needs to use more detailed measurements so that the model has more in common with the user, thus making trying on clothes in the virtual "dressing room" more fruitful. Nevertheless, it's an exciting start, and we should keep an eye on how this technology progresses.

June Snacks

1) Whole Foods fruit tarts. These vanilla custard-based treats are blanketed with fresh raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, kiwi, and mango. The high fruit factor will make you feel less guilty for scarfing down more than one piece:)



2) Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips--I found these crunchy munchables 2 years ago still haven't put the bag down! Each bag has 6 different kinds of slightly sweet and lightly salted root chips; my favorite are the ruby-red (colored with beet juice!) Taro chips. The Sweet Potato chips take a little getting used to, but they're all yummy!


3) Sweet Leaf Sweet Tea--more and more stores are beginning to carry this delish (and cutely named) tea brand. Sweetened with cane sugar, I find these teas more delicately flavored than other, more mainstream brands. I'm in love with the Original and the Mint & Honey Green Tea, but you should also try the Raspberry and Peach versions! They also have some that are sweetened with Splenda.







What are you snackin' on this month?

Keep It Cool

I am such a sucker for pointless gadgets. I saw this USB Beverage Chiller on Red Envelope and couldn't help but lust after it. Except, knowing me, I'd probably knock over the beverage and kill my keyboard (this has actually happened to me).

Ugly Can Be Beautiful

At Sweet Buzz we do not practice shoe snobbery. Just because a shoe is $30 and made out of some weird foamy material doesn't mean it can't be sweet; on the contrary, Crocs, which happen to fit just that description, are as sweet as can be, not to mention damn comfortable. I know, I know, they do look funny. I was the biggest Croc skeptic out there when I first saw the hole-y things flip-flopping around my college campus a few years ago, but then I tried them on. My feet fell in shoe love before I could protest, so off to the mall we were to buy me a bubblegum pink pair. Next? Light blue and purple. So, judge thee not before trying them on!

Floating Candles

Is there anything better than hanging out in the backyard with family and friends on a summer evening, just before the sun sets? I found these super sweet floating candles at Illuminations:
These flip flops are too cute!

Tapas Plates

These cute little Tapas Plates from Sur La Table are a good excuse to have a party if you ask me. I might just carry one around in my purse!

No Knees Please

I have horrible knock-knees, so I've pretty much sworn off wearing above the knee skirts and shorts. Needless to say, I nearly wept for joy when gauchos came into fashion! Actually, I've seen way too many camel-toe incidents associated with gauchos (ewww, I know), so I tend to avoid them. Here are some cute, below-the-knee bottoms that make me feel like I can still participate in summer:

These black cropped pants from Target were perfect for graduation because they were a little dressy (I wore them with a cute pair of heels) but comfortable. I wore them out the other night with a sequined tank top, so they're definitely versatile :)

Isn't this white skirt from Ann Taylor LOFT just the sweetest? I can imagine wearing it on the 4th of July with a simple white cami and flats. Mmmm.


I love these stretch capris for work, but I'd wear them with a pair of more conservative, low heels.

Gradual Tanning

I started using Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer in medium over the winter. I like it because it's gradual--no fake, streaky tan. It's a little smelly, but I stop noticing it after about an hour or so.

I also want to try Olay's version. Both brands also have a version for the face, but I'm guilty of just mixing a dollop of the body stuff in with my facial moisturizer. I've noticed that the red marks left over from former blemishes seem less obvious since I've started doing that!

I'm a little scared to try the full-strength fake tanners because I did once, a couple of years ago, and ended up looking like I had bathed in melted orange popsicle. I've heard the formulas have improved a great deal since, so I'm tempted to try it out soon. I'll blog about my results of course!

I'd love to hear about your experiences! Any other brands I should try?

Fashion Cookies

Check out these almost too cute to eat fashion cookies from Eleni's:

Handbags

Shoes

& Makeup

Lip Sugar

While lip balms are thought of as a necessity during dry, winter weather, summer is really when they get to shine, don't you think? Summer lips are slathered in myriad butters and balms; here's my take on three:

1) Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm--While this is a perennial favorite, I find it a tad too waxy. It seems to just cover up the dryness, and it feels kind of sticky. I do love the honey scent though!

2) The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter--I'm hopelessly addicted. I have to admit, I've been carrying this around with me since January; amazingly, while I seem to use it several times a day, I still have a smidgen left in the pot. I need to get me some more because the delish mango scent (I should say flavor because I spend most of my time trying not to eat it) is so perfect for summer! The texture is creamy, and it just melts on your lips--not sticky at all. I've yet to try the Coconut, but I bought the Passionfruit for a friend and must say that it's equally yummy. They're 2 for $10 right now!

3) Aquaphor Healing Ointment--I know it'll never make Sephora's hot list, but when it comes to healing dry lips and making them look ultra juicy, plump, and sexy again, nothing beats good old Aquaphor. This stuff makes my lips feel soft and silky--not sticky or goopy like you'd think. I love to wear this under more colorful and flavorful glosses, stains and tints.

Welcome!

Welcome to Sweet Buzz--a directory of wonderful girly things! I'm SugarBee, a 23 year-old recent college graduate and soon-to-be teacher and grad student. But, no matter how busy I am, I always stop to smell the roses (and fragrance samples!), and I'd love to share my passion for sweeet things with you! Check back soon for recommendations and reviews of beauty products, shoes, bags, perfume, technology, decoratives, sweet eatables, and more! Stick with me as I search the girl-wide universe for all manner of sweet and wonderful things to get my sugar fix:)