Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser

You'd forgive us for the delayed absence here at The Pink Mixer if we took the time to explain all that we had been up to since our last post in July. (Wearing bright red lipstick is just the beginning...)  What matters is that we've returned, albeit briefly, because we have discovered a face wash that we love so much, that is so delightful, we couldn't not write about.  

Ladies, Gent, dear Pink Mixer readers, let us tell you about Korres Greek Yogurt Foaming Cream Cleanser.  You know how you get those tiny sample packs of moisturizers, scrubs, and creams when you visit certain beauty stores?  If your bathroom is anything like ours they probably all get tossed into one drawer and forgotten the minute you return home.  So we like to think it was random luck and good fortune that we received just such a sample right as we were heading out on a business trip.  Instead of the usual drawer toss, our sample cleanser happened to land right in our traveling toiletries bag.

You've seen one face wash, you've seen them all, we thought to ourselves the next morning in our hotel room.  Still being fans of the edible kind of Greek Yogurt (and free samples) we tried it.  And found ourselves instantly smitten.  Our skin felt soft, smooth, and genuinely - immediately - healthier.  Deciding it was probably all in our heads we decided to squeeze another dollop out of the sample the following morning.  Voila!  Same amazing, surprisingly delightful results.  Which meant, of course, that we stopped in a Sephora in between our appointments and made a purchase that very afternoon.  Worth every penny.  We used our new full sized cleanser that night in our hotel room and have every day since.  Our face has never been happier.

Average Price: $26
Rating: 5 out of 5

  

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

We have written before about how we've always wanted to be a lipstick girl, despite the challenges of upkeep and finding the perfect color. Recently inspired by one of our favorite fashion trend-setters - Taylor Swift - and her gorgeous,bright, red lip, we ventured back to the make-up counter for another round of lipstick roulette.                             

In the past we've consistently defaulted to the easy shades of pale pinks and nudes; those colors that don't really look much like Lipstick to begin with.  In an emboldened mood though, we decided we wanted a Statement Lip, the kind of shade that could be the *one* thing thrown on before leaving the house and still making you look and feel like you are completely pulled together, ready to tackle the day.  

After multiple samples and many "close but not quite" contenders, Cruella has become our  own personal ultimate choice of color and we could not love it more.  Whenever a red lip mood strikes us now, we've got our go-to. Beyond finding a shade we adore, we have also fallen head over heels for Nars's Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - in every color.

Soft enough to go on with ease unlike other, harder lip pencils, the beauty of this product is its amazing staying power.  So long as you don't add balm or gloss and apply directly to your naked (exfoliated!) lips, your shade will last and last and last - through meals, sips of coffee or wine or water, yoga class, and...maybe even an end of a date goodnight kiss or two.  

Plus, we can't exactly argue with the random stranger who approaches us one day at the farmer's market curious to know what brand of lipstick we are wearing...Statement Lip, indeed.

Average Price: $26

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Living Luminizer

Earlier this spring one of our favorite blogs, did a feature that was right up our alley.  We are a lover of all things J.Crew; have been for years.  You can imagine our delight at getting a quick sneak peek backstage at a J.Crew fashion show - particularly if we were going to be told makeup tricks to boot.  (Seriously, how does J.Crew manage to pull off that effortless I woke up like this look with each and every one of their models?)

One of the products recommended - and apparently used quite frequently among the J.Crew makeup team is the Living Luminizer from RMS Beauty.  Tempted, we decided to give it a go.  TOTAL GAME CHANGER, dear readers.  It's pricey, we know, but you use so little of this stuff every day that the pot is going to last for forever.  Each morning we spread the tiniest of tabs on the tip of our cheekbones, sweeping gently upward in a crescent moon shape and voila! an instant, easy, natural, and healthy looking glow.  Purchase justified.

Now, if only we could say the same thing about every single item in the J.Crew catalogue when it arrives each month...

Average price: $38

Rating: 5 out of 5!   

L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil

Earlier this year, during what has been a ridiculously long and brutal winter in the Northeast, we slipped away for a weekend down south to visit our mother.  One afternoon, while sitting at the kitchen table with Mom, she remarked that our hair looked dry.

"It is!" we moaned before going on to complain about the harsh toll winter takes on both our skin and our hair.  Pink Mixer Mom nodded knowingly.  "Remind me tomorrow morning after you take a shower to show you something for your hair.  I think you'll like it."

L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil, very appropriately named we must admit, was the magic (mythical!) potion produced for a test run thanks to Pink Mixer Mom the following day.  We ran the tiniest dab of it through our hair, then applied another dab focusing on the very ends of our locks - certainly the driest bits of our hair - and the first spot split ends always appear.

This product is a dream for our winter worn and brittle hair.  It likely won't work as well in the summer, but that's the season of pony tails anyhow.  These months the tiniest dab works wonders - we can't get over how much healthier our hair feels now that we are using the product on a regular basis.  Because of course, after the test run at Mom's house, we had to buy our own bottle. 

Guess this proves yet again that moms really do know everything.

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Prices: vary depending; about $20

Lo & Sons

With the exception of those months after college when we were backpacking around Europe, we here at The Pink Mixer have always been more of a rolling suitcase kind of traveler instead of the mighty hefted over one shoulder duffel bag.  Our prejudice is simple.  Rolling suitcases? Brilliant, mobile invention.  A duffel bag?  Those buggers can be downright heavy.

Still, they serve a great and wonderful service when a rolling bag won't do, particularly for a weekend get-away.  Last July, after noticing our tried and true (and old) Vera Bradley duffel was becoming frayed, we treated ourselves to The Catalina from Brooklyn based company, Lo & Sons.  We liked the catch-all nature of the bag, the price was right, and the tipping point was that well-designed bottom pocket - perfect for shoes, a wet bathing suit, or dirty clothes.

We put The Catalina to work immediately, taking the bag to a wedding in Connecticut and later in the summer, on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.  However, after only a few uses, we tucked it away, as fall turned to winter and those quick weekend jaunts were put on hold until some of the snow melted away.  Or at least until mid-February when we decided to use a long weekend to fly south to visit family.  As we arrived at our destination, we noticed an unfortunate rip right at the seam of that aforementioned bottom portion of our duffel.  Annoyed and frustrated - we'd only had it for a handful of months! and only used it minimally! - we decided to do what any good consumer does.  We contacted the company and informed them (politely) of our complaint.  And then Lo&Sons did what any good company should do.  They responded immediately, ( and politely) gathered a bit more information, and suggested a solution - a solution that involved a brand new bag since the damage did not seem easily repairable.

Isn't it immensely refreshing when things go the way they are supposed to go?  Companies make good on their promises, treat their customers well, which makes those customers want to spend more money at the company, and everyone wins in the end?

Guess that duffel is even mightier than The Pink Mixer had originally suspected.

Average price: $120

Rating: 5 out of 5!  

Hunter Packable Tour Rain Boots

We owned our beloved navy blue Hunter wellies for almost six years.  We wore them almost every day for six months out of the year and never had a complaint.  They kept us warm, they worked with our skirts and dresses and leggings and jeans, forever looking classically stylish, and - most importantly - they kept our ten little piggies dry no matter the rain, hail, sleet, or snow thrown our way.

Eventually all good things must come to an end though and earlier this winter we started to noticed a few tiny hairline cracks in the rubber.  And our feet were a little damp by the time we'd walk home in the rain or sleet.  We continued to make do because, yes, Hunters are expensive, but we knew the love affair - with this particular pair of boots at least - would be fading sooner rather than later.  

And so, back to the Hunter website we went to explore our options. Amazing, the colors and styles this classic company had started to turn out in the past few years.  We knew we wanted classic and tall, that part was easy.  Then our eyes landed on a single word that utterly intrigued us.  Packable.

Our interest peaked, we started to investigate the Original Packable Tour Rain Boots.  They were the same price as the Original Boots, same look, style, and color options as well.  BUT - they folded at the ankle? So you could actually pack them in, say, a suitcase or a gym bag or a schlep into work carry-all? Eureka!

While still apprehensive that the quality might be sub-par after what we'd come to know and love with our original pair we decided, ultimately, to just throw caution to the wind and give this packable idea a chance.  Order made.  

Our boots (dark green this time) arrived last week.  And reader, we have never once looked back.  They are so light!  So comfortable!  So easy to stroll, strut, and speed walk in!  We never, ever thought anything else would come between our love for our original wellies, but this packable option has, thus far, been able to do exactly that.  It's like the geniuses behind Hunter were able to take their already great and reliable product and make. it. better.  

That's just like those lovely old Brits, isn't it?

Average Price: $148

Rating 5 out of 5!

HUE Sweater Tights

It seems every December, we start thinking about what constitutes a good pair of leggings or a reliable pair of tights.  Last year, after our post about fleece-lined leggings, a friend reached out suggesting we try the brand HUE for quality leggings.  This recommendation was what we had in mind when, earlier in the fall, we discovered a sale on HUE's sweater tights at DSW.  Over the years we have learned that not all sweater tights are created equal -- they can hang weird in the crotch area, or twist awkwardly around the knees. Many a pair - including reputable brands like JCrew and Vera Wang have been donated to Goodwill after just one wear, so disappointed were we with their fit.

As one might guess, due to the aforementioned issues, we approached the HUE sweater tights with caution.  Still, hope springs eternal and for $11 we figured we could afford to give them a shot.  Turns out, these are the best pair of sweater tights we have ever owned.  Surprise!  Surprise!  It could be that they managed to get the cotton/polyester/spandex blend just right or it could be that HUE just really knows what they're doing when it comes to tights but from the moment we tried them on the very chilly morning of late fall we have been nothing but immensely pleased.  They don't pill, they hold their shape throughout the day (and on back to back wears without a laundry day in between).  They're not itchy.  They stretch where they need to stretch and move where they need to move. As hesitant as we initial were, we're clearly big fans.  And an extra added bonus? They're toasty warm.  It's a Christmas miracle!

Average Price: $11-$16

Rating: 5 out of 5!