January 2009 -

Today brings a guest post from Samantha Radakovitz, who I asked to try out some items from Milani Cosmetics. Samantha is studying journalism, with the hope to be a fashion journalist. Here is Samantha’s review, with swatches:

I am in love with Milani Runway Eyes Collection.There are twelve shades total and all include shimmer. I’ve gotten a chance to try them all but I’ve grown attached to two specific colors that include white lily and black out, mostly because they are two basic colors that go with anything.

The White Lily is a shimmery white that I love to use as a highlighter on top of any of my matte eyeshadows. Black Out is perfect for anyone trying to accomplish smokey eyes plus an addition of shimmer. The little compact comes with an applicator with a brush on one end and a sponge on the other. All the colors are fun and vibrant.

You can check out Milani.com to see the colors and find out more information as well as other products.

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About the Author: Carleen Pruess Coulter

Every time that I try a PCA Skin product I end up impressed. So of course I loved PCA Skin (pHaze 9) Purifying Mask when I gave it a try. This came in my first edition of Beauty Fix (read review), and is one of just many products in the kit that I love, proving once again that the editors there have great taste.

What is great about the PCA Purifying Mask is that it really does double duty as an acne treatment, pore cleansing type of mask, and as a scrub. This fascinating mask (yes, fascinating!) has general the texture of a clay mask, but it contains pumice as a scrub. So when you apply it, it does all those great things that a purifying mask should do, and then when you wash it off, you get a nice little exfoliating scrub as well. I truly love the concept!

The active ingredient list is quite nice, with treatments for acne and ingredients for general brightening and protection:

Algae
Pumice
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Wine Extract
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Olivate

When I used this mask, it left my face bright, and between the active ingredients and the scrubbing action, it left my skin quite ready for serums and moisturizers. One item of note: The pumice in this gives a medium to slightly heavy scrub, so sensitive skin types might was to rinse the product off without rubbing. Those who like a heavier scrub can get one by firmly removing the mask with circular motions. So it is rather flexible in that aspect.

This one very well might make the best of 2009 list in December (yeesh that is a long way off, I just finished the 2008 one!) along with another product or two from the Beauty Fix kit. They sure can pick em!

Comparison Shop for PCA Skin Care