Literature Couture

Road-Tested: Cruelty-Free Antiperspirants/Deodorants That Work

Want a bunny-friendly antiperspirant that actually works? Try any of these brands. (Tumblr users, click here to see the slides)

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Contest: What was your first makeup obsession?

(image credit: polyvore.com)

My first makeup obsession was Jane silver eye shadow. I was in the 10th grade when I found it in the back of a display at a big-box store. Keep in mind this was a time when we had to use Kool-Aid instead of Manic Panic to dye our hair; we put our own studs into belts and jackets instead of buying them from Hot Topic (and we walked uphill to school both ways). It was the first time I’d seen an eyeshadow that wasn’t brown or Barbie-blue (this was also before the Internet and its attendant shopping possibilities…I feel old right now.) At any rate, I bought that pan of eyeshadow and wore it every day. I probably looked silly, but when you’re in high school, feeling less insecure and hideous is a gift. That eye shadow made me believe I could look people in the face and not have them flinch. It was a powerful talisman; the eyeshadow and my battered copy of Feminist Theory: An Introduction kept me sane in the face of all the crap that comes with being in high school. To this day, I’m still thankful for that eye shadow. Not because it made me look prettier, or made me more acceptable to others (it didn’t.) I’m thankful because it gave me the confidence to go my own way and begin to be the person I wanted to be. That was the first time I discovered the power of makeup—its ability to let you be a chameleon, to try on a new persona with every application, to arm yourself against the world if you need to do so, or to just have fun.

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What was your first cosmetic obsession and why? Let me know in the comments section. I’ll select a random comment, and the author will receive this month’s makeup sample pack. The deadline for submissions is June 15th at 11:50 p.m. EST. Bona Fortuna!

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Happy Pride Month!

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Winner of May’s “I love my hair” contest

Congratulations to Christine, winner of the second May giveaway contest! Christine, please email your mailing address to literaturecouture@gmail.com so I can send you your prize!

Check back today at 2 p.m. EST for this month’s giveaway contest and details!

When to Buy Full Sizes and When to Hoard Samples

(my current sample jar of bath oils)

One of the best things about buying cosmetics in specialty stores or at department store counters is the free samples. Online sites like Sephora, Beauty.com, Spirit Beauty Lounge, Ulta, and others also give away samples with every order. You can also use a sample subscription service like Beauty Army to get personally-selected samples mailed to you (see my review of popular sample subscription services to get the lowdown on which program is right for you.) All of these sample offerings beg the question: which cosmetics should you purchase (for reasons of brand loyalty, efficacy, or otherwise) and for which should you build up a stash of samples to use? I am extremely strategic when selecting freebies. Here are my personal guidelines of what to buy and what to sample: Invest Your Money (i.e., purchase)

Fragrance: scent is such a personal thing, you don’t want to be at the whims of whatever marketing department is trying to sell the latest celebrity fragrance. Trying different fragrances is fine, but don’t let yourself be at the mercy of random samples.
Serums: Because serums are packed with active ingredients that penetrate the skin, you want to hew closely to brands you know and trust. I’ve had some really negative experiences with serum samples in the past, so I tend to stick with Juice Beauty’s blemish-clearing serum and donate the other brands I receive.
Foundation: The trick with foundation is matching your skin tone exactly. While some products have come a long way towards shade adjusting (e.g., beauty balms), there’s still no “one-shade-fits-all” foundation product. This is one place where it’s worth investing money in a brand and shade that is invisible on your skin.
Eye makeup remover: I’m all for using inexpensive removers as long as they work. However, most of the samples I get don’t seem to remove eye makeup that well. I prefer to suck it up and pay for something I know will work.

Use the Samples

Facewash: facial cleansers are on your face for a very short period of time, and most of the product gets washed down the drain. I don’t invest in expensive ones anymore, but instead use whatever samples come my way. I also keep a drugstore-brand cleanser stashed in my shower in case I run out of samples.
Shower oils: Most shower oils are composed of similar ingredients and differ mostly in scent (which fades before I put on my perfume). I toss shower oil samples in a jar that sits next to my bathtub and grab one at random.
Eyeshadow: Samples are a great way to experiment with new colors without breaking the bank or your makeup drawer. Keep one or two “standby” shades you know you’ll use, and depend on samples for your weekend looks.
Mascara: As picky as I am about mascara, I’ve learned that the brush really makes 90% of the effect I want. I clean and disinfect mascara brushes I love and pair them with the samples I get. In particular, I’ve found most volumizing formulas to be interchangeable.
Body lotion: If you have sensitive skin, you should stick with a brand you know works for you. However, if you’re not hyper-sensitive, simply select unscented body lotions and body butters during your checkout process. The packets are usually good for 1-2 applications.
Acne treatments: Brands aren’t nearly as important as active ingredients. Look for samples that contain high concentrations of either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Eye cream: I haven’t bought eye cream since 2006. There’s almost always a sample or two on offer at checkout, and they seem to work identically for me. I see no reason to spend $50 (or $500 for La Mer) on something I can always get for free that works just as well.

What do you buy and what do you hoard? Let me know in the comments section!

Style Bubble: Heeless in the Making.

Style Bubble: Heeless in the Making (link)

What’s in the bag: work edition

I’ve made some alterations in my makeup work bag, so I thought I’d share. My new on-the-go kit includes:

an atomizer filled with my perfume of the moment
neutral cream eyeshadow (it doubles as a primer)
powder liner. It’s not as harsh as liquid and so is more suitable for day looks
cooling eyedrops
post-prandial Listerine strips
solid perfume (multi-tasks as hair pomade, de-frizzer, lip balm, and more)
concealer
BB cream
mascara sample
lipstick (it’s the dupe for Guerlain Rouge G that I found at the MAC counter; it goes with basically everything)
brow pencil
pressed powder
neutral powder eyeshadow
brow wax stick

What’s in your office makeup bag? Let me know in the comments section.

The “for the first time in 3 days i don’t have some stage of a migraine” celebratory makeup. (Taken with instagram)

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Tutorial: Vertically Articulated Insectoid Steampunk Goggles

Materials

2 tin cans, cleaned with labels removed
tin snips
fabric glue and/or spray adhesive (I used both)
scissors
cling wrap
paper towels
binder clips
2 elastic headbands
2 ponytail holders
1 yard lace (I used black)
duct tape (I used turquoise, but use whatever color you like)

Directions

Remove the top of the can:
Use the tin snips to cut each can in half:
Still using the tin snips, even the cans so they’re about 2” to 3” long (slightly shorter than the width of the duct tape):
Take the duct tape and line it up so the bottom edge meets the bottom edge of the can and there is a bit of overlap:
Wrap one layer of duct tape around the can:
Fold the top edge of the duct tape inside the can (you need a buffer against the sharp edge):
Measure the lace by wrapping it once around the can:
Cut the lace:
Lay down cling wrap to protect your work surface:
Apply adhesive to the inside of the can:
Wrap one layer of lace on the inside of the can and trim off the excess:
Place the lace on top of the cut edge of the can:
Secure the lace at the edge of the can with one of the hair ties:
Cut off the excess lace around the edges:
Wrap another layer of duct tape around the can to secure the top lace and hide the hair band:
Measure out another can-circumference of lace:
Use adhesive to glue the lace to the outside of the duct tape, then cut off the excess:
Take a binder clip and snap off one of the metal prongs (squeeze the ends together and it will pop right out):
Attach the binder clip to the can, with the intact metal prong on the outside of the can:
Run a headband through the clip and knot it:
To wear the goggles, place the headband around your forehead and center the can over your eye:
Repeat with the other goggle.

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http://www.geekalerts.com/four-sided-panorama-compact-mirror/

Bulky but kind of awesome (via geekalerts)

Battle of the Boxes: Which Beauty Sample Program is For You?

One of the trends that’s popped up over the past year or two in the States is the sample program. The basic idea is this: you pay a certain amount per month (usually around $10), and a company sends you a variety of products to try. There are now a slew of different programs out there, some of which are better for specific kinds of cosmetics users. If you’re interested in joining a sample service, read on to figure out which kind of sampler you are. Birchbox

URL: www.birchbox.com
Service: Subscription ($10/month or $110/year)
Best For: haircare products, soccer moms, point obsessives

Birchbox is a classic subscription service. You give the company your debit or credit card, and they charge you at the beginning of every month unless you cancel your subscription. Around the 10^th of the month, you get a package of between four and five prestige brand deluxe samples. If you like any of the samples, you can buy them from the website and earn points. These points accumulate, at which point you can trade them in for discounts on an order, free product, etc. I do have to say that Birchbox does send out primo brands. I’ve received products from Peter Thomas Roth, Wei, Stila, and Deborah Lippmann, among others. The samples are pretty generous; this month’s Peter Thomas Roth cleansing sample was a full 2 oz. Unfortunately, some months are better than others. The company seems to be obsessed with hair oil, as I get a new sample every other month or so. They also stretch things some months; last December, I received paper coasters. Okay, so they were nice, expensive paper, but still… Coasters? One month’s box contains two bags of tea. Eh. This service is great for women who love premium skincare but can’t afford to indulge too often in full sized products. I’m much more of a makeup junkie, so Birchbox really doesn’t do a lot for me. In fact, I’ve cancelled my subscription. MyGlam

URL: www.myglam.com
Service: Subscription ($10/month)
Best For: people with patience

MyGlam is a venture from Michelle Phan of YouTube tutorial fame. The program works on a subscription basis just like Birchbox. However, instead of Birchbox’s cardboard container, each month MyGlam products come in a different makeup bag. The emphasis is more on color cosmetics than the other sample services in this review. MyGlam has sent out full-sized Urban Decay eye shadows, full-sized Nyx Roll On Shimmers, and SheerCover concealer duos. I love getting the full sizes of brands I like. I’m not so much into the new makeup bag every month. They’re cheaply made and I don’t need more makeup bags. I really wish there was a “no-bag, one more sample instead” option. I really, really wanted to like this service. I am a Phan fan and a cosmetic-heavy sample service seemed like an excellent idea. However, the execution of the program has left much to be desired. February’s bag in particular was a debacle, with the full-sized products not included in many of the bags and many of the bags arriving up to a week late. The quality of the samples varies from month to month. If you have a problem with the bag or your account, the MyGlam team will fix it—just expect to wait a few weeks for them to sort everything out first. To be fair, the business is less than six months old (the first bags were delivered in December 2011), so maybe things will get better…but isn’t that why you don’t rush into a launch until your logistics are solid? Beauty Army

URL: www.beautyarmy.com
Service: Subscription ($12/month)
Best for: choosy people, packaging aesthetes.

Beauty Army is, like Birchbox and MyGlam, a subscription based business. They’re more expensive than the other subscription services ($12 a month as opposed to $10), but they also send six samples a month instead of four or five. Beauty Army does a few things differently. First, they take your profile seriously. All the sample services I’ve discussed had me fill out a skincare/makeup profile, but the boxes didn’t offer much in the way of customization. Beauty Army takes the data and filters their sample selection for you. Each month, you get an email letting you know samples are ready. You go to the site and browse among 12-15. You then get to select six, and the box is shipped about 48 hours later. I really like the fact that I have some control over what I get each month, and that the company has curated my options so I don’t have to wade through a ton of products I wouldn’t use. The downside for some customers is that you’re never surprised by the contents of the box; I personally don’t have a problem with this. You can also earn free products and discounts by reviewing items in your box on the BA website. Speaking of the box…it’s definitely my favorite packaging of the lot. Each month you get the same lacquered pasteboard box; it’s black with black embossing. I’m not a fan of the pink cammo on the inside, but the box is sturdy enough to re-use multiple times. I have a “products to test” BA box, a “miscellaneous hair items” BA box…you get the idea. I’ve even used them to store spices in my kitchen. Some of you won’t care about the packaging, but I always appreciate an object I can reuse (and reuse, and reuse, and…) The products that BA sends are top-notch. This month’s box included a deluxe sample size of dry shampoo; an eye primer by CoverFx (a company I love), Babor cleansing oil, a prestige brand eye cream, and Control Corrective moisturizer with SPF. Last month I received a different Control Corrective product, along with Weleda and some other nifty brands to try (you can see the photos of last month’s box here.) Since I get to pick the samples, I never wind up with something I can’t use. The efficiency, quality, and packaging make Beauty Army my favorite subscription service to date. Spirit Beauty Lounge

URL: www.spiritbeautylounge.com
Service: a la carte ($25 for 9 samples)
Best for: Control freaks, vegans, organic beauty users

Spirit Beauty Lounge is where I go when I want the highest quality organic cosmetics in the prestige category. They carry lines like Tata Harper, Vapour Organic, and Ila. If you’ve never used any of these brands before, or just want to try a new product from a familiar brand, you should definitely take advantage of their sampling program. Go on their website, find a product, and look below the “buy” button. There’s a button that says “Order a Sample.” Once you have 9 samples of different products, you go to http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com/customized-deluxe-sample-kit.html and click on “Add to Cart.” An employee will personally fill your order and ship it to you, along with a coupon for $10 off a $40 purchase. They also tend to throw in something extra, like an organic pomegranate lollipop or a sample of a new product. There are many things to love about this option. If I want to try Tata Harper, for example, but don’t have half a paycheck to blow her products, I can still see how they perform. It’s also fantastic if you’re searching for a new foundation, since you can sample different shades and different brands to ensure a perfect match. It’s a little spendy to do on a monthly basis, but if I know there’s a prestige brand I really want to try, this is where I go. Do you subscribe to sample services? Is there one you think I’d love? Let me know in the comments section!

Clinique Chubby Stick: New Colors

Clinique Chubby Sticks are a combination of color, hydrating ingredients, and slick balm. They’re fantastic for summer, and Clinique has just added eight new shades:

These are definitely worth a trip to your local Clinique counter; you can also get ‘em at the Clinique website

I want.