Review-Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

An exceptional beauty booster which immediately eliminates all signs of fatigue: facial features appear rested and smooth. It promotes a radiant complexion and long-lasting, incredibly luminous make-up. The ideal treatment before a busy day or an evening out. $45 for 1.7 oz tube.


I’m currently obsessed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, a super lightweight balm that leaves your skin glowing. The formula tightens and brightens skin and enhances the effects of your regular makeup, lending you a healthy natural looking glow. Apply the cream after your regular moisturizer using light, sweeping strokes, but do not rub it in. Then follow with foundation or concealer and voila! You’re left with a dewy, glowy complexion that could not be simpler to achieve. You can also dab it over your makeup at the end of the day for a quick refresher before an evening out.

The balm also doubles as a facial mask – apply a thick layer and leave on for 10-15 minutes before wiping your face clean with a damp cloth. I find that the effects are much more pronounced when you use it with your regular makeup instead of as a mask, and you’ll get more use out of it that way. The price tag is a kind of hefty, but since a little goes a long way the tube should last you at least 3 months.

Josephine says: I just want to add that a tube of this has been in my kit and my personal makeup closet for years now. It's an amazing primer. I swear by it for more mature skin, too. I distinctly remember the Clarins rep telling me to tap it into skin and that application tip alone makes it totally elite since that stipple effect has a way of enhancing skin texture that's lovely and natural and polished. Well-worth every penny.

Review- Danielle and Company Hand & Body Lotion

This hydrating Hand & Body Lotion blends together Organic Oils, Organic Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to restore moisture to the skin, leaving it soft to the touch. This light, non-greasy lotion is perfect moisturizer anytime of the year! Organic Content: 95% organic ingredients.


When it comes to body lotion- I can be oddly demanding. It has to smell nice, moisturize without being too heavy, and make me feel silky, finally on top of everything else - it has to last! That is a tall order, even I know it, but with lotion I get strangely picky...With that said, Danielle And Company's Pure Oats Hand and Body Lotion makes the grade! In all top categories, this lotion passes all my tests with flying colors. Not to mention that it is also made with organic ingredients, which is an A+ in my eyes. Okay, at first, it does rub on a bit heavy for me on the hands as I don't like to feel sticky at all after applying lotion. But, and this is the best part, it does dry smoothly (eventually) and even after washing my hands, the lotion is still on, leaving my hands even softer than before! Major plus for me as I wash my hands a lot. Even better than the overtime moisturizing, the scent is amazingly glorious! I love this smell! I could sleep in it! The best way to describe the Pure Oats scent, which is meant to relax, calm and soothe, is that it reminds me a bit of soft baby powder mixed with the sweet fragrance of play-doh (in a good way!) Total innocent bliss and joy, while relaxing and calming the senses as well. This scent alone makes the lotion a winner, but I can't forget its long-lasting durability. Definitely worth a try for those two reasons alone, and at $4 for the travel size you can't go wrong!

Amanda S. Says: I can't believe this lotion is so inexpensive! I too am super picky about body lotions, I'd rather throw out an entire bottle and lose the money spent on it than suffer through any moisturizer that doesn't work near perfectly for my skin. It does take a bit to soak in, but it's worth it. For the cost, it's a great all natural lotion.

Deedlejuse Says: I am constantly surprised, and pleased with Danielle and Company's products. This morning I used a beautiful glycerin soap in cucumber and then moisturized with the Oats Organic Body Lotion. I smell delicious, feel moisturized, and when used right after the shower the lotion totally soaks in instantly and feels great! The smell of my lotion is quite strong, but not in a bad way. You just really have to be in the mood to smell like oats, not oatmeal mind you, just a sort of clean fresh oat smell. I really like it. This lotion I would say is better as an all over body lotion than a hand cream, but I do like it for both. Everything I have tried from Danielle and Co. has been stellar and I love the Women Power image and the naturalness of it all! Another job well done!

Malikah says: I really loved the texture and feel of the lotion. Its rich and creamy, but still manages not to be heavy or greasy. It gives your skin great moisture, and the lightweight formula is perfect for summer. I tried to Lavender and Spearmint scent, and wasn't too big a fan of the fragrance. I love the scent of lavender, but it was too heavy on the spearmint and reminded me a bit of Wrigley's Doublemint gum. Plus the scent stays put pretty much all day, which is great if its a scent you love. I am a bit torn on this one - the fragrance really isn't working for me at all, but I love the feel of this lotion so much! This is going to be a tough decision . . .

Sultana says: I've never had the pleasure of using Danielle & Company products before. I tried the Lavender and Spearmint lotion. I was in LOVE with this lotion!! I am big on scents that lasts. Whether its perfume, lotion or shower gel it has to have a scent that lasts long. I was with my kids when I tried this and when I put it on, they asked "Mommy, what is that?" I asked if they wanted to try and of course they jumped at the chance. They absolutely loved the minty smell. I found that I felt a little invigorated but relaxed at the same time after using this. The smell lasted a long time. As a matter of fact, I can't remember when it went away. With a $4 price tag, this is a win-win situation for me!

Josephine says: You guys. I am so sorry. Aside from Malikah's review, which mine looks more like, I wish I could add more positive words for this lotion but my experience of it was not as good, albeit comical to some degree. Let me start with what I did like, though: I think the consitency and actual moisture the lotion provides is great. I like this company from what I have seen and I would excitedly try other products of theirs if given the chance. Moving on. I, too, have the Lavender& Spearmint flavor and this is the source, cause and origin of my distaste of this lotion. I knew before I even pressed the pump that I probably wasn't going to be a fan, mostly because I liken this combo of oils to a mild mildew odor. I waited to try it until I hopped out of the shower one night, nary a trace of a scent of any other kind to comingle with this stuff lest my opinion be wrongly influenced. Within 5 seconds, I was inspecting the shower curtain liner for mold and asking the hub in the other room is he smells anything stale coming from the bathroom. Within 5 minutes, all I could think was that I was wearing a straight up dish rag. The hub provided his olfactory experience to offset my prejudice and exclaimed that I smelled "strangely minty, kind of like Bengay." Not a ringing endorsement, either, really.

Happy 4th of July!

All of us at Beautifile would like to say "Happy Birthday America" and hope all of our readers have a wonderful and festive July 4th!

Review- Arrojo Color Save Shampoo

Color save shampoo is the right choice for those in a dedicated color regimen. Formulated to retain and enhance the vibrancy in color-treated hair, add moisture, soothe, and detangle it will leave your locks soft and silky.

I must say I really enjoyed this shampoo. I found it to be very mild, and although I didn't see a huge difference ( I only used one bottle, and I didn't see fading, but I normally don't with my blond hair) I did think that it left my hair feeling silky, if I used it with a different conditioner than the one they recommend. I need a lot of moisture and unfortunately the Arrojo Color Save Conditioner didn't add up. The Shampoo, though, gets two very happy thumbs up! It smells great, suds' very well, and rinses clean. I would probably spend the extra on this shampoo, especially since I find the more caustic shampoos to be damaging to my color especially in the first few weeks after coloring. All in all I had a good experience with the shampoo and I would recommend trying it if you have issue with fading.

Review- Kett Cosmetics Intro to Airbrush Class

First of all, let me state that airbrushing is probably the coolest thing to ever happen to make-up. I mean, the right artist can make practically any skin look flawless with the right foundation and an airbrush. If that isn't close to miraculous, I don't know what is! Even in my unskilled hands, within hours I was creating perfect looking skin from so-so skin. This class at Kett gives you all the information you need to do basic airbrushing- foundation and facial contours. These two will be the majority of what you'll be doing with an airbrush anyway as most people like to do the eyes and cheeks the old fashioned way. Our instructor, Mykel did show us, however, how to do practically a whole face of make-up with just the airbrush stylus and different bottles for eyes and cheeks. It took him all of 5-10 minutes and all that was lacking was lipstick and mascara. It was amazing. I learned so much during this 8 hour course that I feel confident airbrushing people all the time (I don't pull them in off the street, but you get the idea). Once you've got the basic technique down it gets easier and easier. It helps if you go into it knowing basic color theory, but I didn't and I came out of the class with a better understanding of it. If you are a make-up artist and you don't know how to airbrush, this class is exactly what you are looking for. I'm looking forward to taking the advanced class in the future.

Review- Iden Bee Propolis Intensive Repair Mask

Iden Bee Propolis Intensive Hair Mask has superb antibiotic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which stimulates healthy hair growth. Iden Intensive Repair Mask is specially formulated with essential oils and nutrients to rebuild, strengthen and protect all hair types.

My hair can best be described as dry & damaged. It has suffered years of color and straightening treatments and hear styling, and as a result I'm constantly plagued by dryness, frizzies, and breakage. I've cut back a lot on the flat ironing and hot curling, but the effects haven't changed much. I'm constantly searching for the perfect hair treatment to add moisture to my mane and prevent breakage. I have yet to find the formula that will keep my tresses soft and silky, without weighing them down or making my style fall flat. Sadly, Iden's Intensive Hair Mask is not that perfect treatment. I had high hopes when I massaged the creamy, softly scented conditioner into my hair post-shampoo. But by the time I had rinsed, dried and styled my hair, it had absolutely no shine or bounce, and wasn't noticeably softer. And just a few days after using it, my hair was completely limp and particularly dry on the ends. I guess I'm back to the drawing board. Sigh.

Review- Nailene Bedazzle Fashionista Nail Art

Easy to Apply Nail Art Stickers For Fingers and Toes! Everything You Need to Create Fabulous Nail Art, from Rhinestones to Pearls, Flowers to Butterflies, All At The Tip of Your Nails.

These things are dangerously addictive. I decided to add a few to spice up a tired, neutral manicure. You can apply them with your fingers, but using tweezers makes it much easier and more precise. I started with a simple pattern in mind - three small blue flowers just on my ring fingers. After finishing that design in 5 minutes flat I decided they were so cute and easy, why not add a few more. Before I knew it I had transformed my chic mani into a cringe worthy collage of blue flowers and tiny sparkles, like an overzealous junior high schooler doing her nails for the first time. Luckily, the stickers come right off with a bit of nail polish remover. I started over, and this time I made sure to keep it simple. My tiny floral pattern (this time on just one nail on each hand) stayed put for about 5 days. It helps if you apply two coats of clear polish or top coat to seal the design. Nailene offers a variety of Nail Art Stickers, from the Fashionista (colorful flowers, sparkles, metallic hearts, moons, and stars) to the Earth Angel (pastel butterflies, flowers, and letters of the alphabet) so you can choose which style will work for you. Each pack includes a huge variety of stickers, so you can switch your designs up as your mood changes. Just keep my mistake in mind - less is more when it comes to these little guys.

Josephine says: These nail stickers made my and my 2 year-old's son's nails look really cute. He chose the half-moons and I, the stars. They stayed on through a rough and tumble visit to the local sandbox (for us both!) as well as cooking and cleaning one long Sunday. Like Malikah said, they take me back to a simplier time when applying art not at all designed for one's nails was a past time, circa freshman year in high school. I also agree that tweezers are your friend in this project.

Sultana says: I wish I listened to Hillary when she told me that its best to wait until your nail polish is dry before you apply these :(. OK, I learned my lesson quickly! They tend to roll up and not stay stuck to your nail. The rhinestone hearts, stars and half moons definitely won me over. I agree with Hillary when she says they are generously filled with different designs. This is great because you can mix it up. One thing I didn't like was that some of the designs don't have ten of each of the same kind. So if you wanted to put the same design on each finger or toe, you might not have enough. Other than that they have great staying power and really cute designs! Of course, my daughter had to 'experiment' with these also and she loved them too!

Trish says: At first I was a little intimidated looking at the 400+ stickers in the packaging, wondering how I was not going to make a mess of myself, (and my home), but once you open it, a whole new world of fun nail art opens up magically! I had more fun than I had expected with the Bedazzle decals and added the clear ones on my pedicure! Definitely perfect timing for sandal wearing. And since I couldn't stop, I added a few more of the flowers on my fingernails. It's like tattoos for your manicure/pedicure! If you want something fun and subtle, the clear decals are wonderful...they bring classy mani/pedis to a whole new level of sparkle!

Review- Nubar Nail Lacquer Three Pack

This new kit contains the popular Hieroglyphys Purple from the Cleopatra Collection, Foundation Base Coat, and Diamont Quick Dry Top Coat. Foundation Base Coat protects the nail from staining, is fortified with calcium to strengthen nails, and gives the maximum Nail Lacquer adhesion and protection. Diamont Seal & Shine Quick Dry Top Coat completely seals Nubar Nail Lacquers and nail art, thoroughly dries all layers of polish quickly, and protects your manicure for maximum wear. All Nubar nail lacquers are formulated without DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene. $19.95 for 3 0.5oz bottles.

This convenient 3-pack makes a DIY manicure super simple. The Foundation Base coat smooths the nail surface, ensuring the polish glides on easily. I was a little turned off by the rich purple shade, but turns out it was super flattering with my skin tone. I love that the hue was Cleopatra inspired (it made me feel so regal!) and the color looked absolutely perfect after just one coat. I gave it a second coat just for good measure, but it really wasn't necessary. The Diamont Quick Dry Top Coat sealed my gorgeous mani in minutes, and it stayed chip free for a week. I liked the color so much I polished my toes too, and the color is still perfect after 11 days! I did try the top coat with another brand's nail polish; the results were nice, but not as impressive as when I used it with the Nubar polish - I guess they really are formulated to work together. The Hieroglyphs Purple isn't the most summery shade, but I think it will be my go to polish for the Fall. And after hearing a lot of questionable info about the effects of formaldehyde and toulene, I also really like that this polish is free of those potentially harmful chemicals.

Review- Pencil Me In Eyeliners

The Pencil Me In website talks a lot about the supposed health benefits of their products - that the antioxidants and the vitamins in the pencils help keep your eyes protected from free radicals. The copy also says they are the "newest 'green' cosmetic," but I'm not sure that the person who wrote that knows what "green" is typically intended to mean. Nowhere on the page does it say anything about being particularly environmentally-friendly. Maybe it's referring to the all-natural ingredients? It's not terribly clear. That said, however, whether these eye pencils are somehow "better" for you than others or not, they certainly live up to the claims of being tug-free and come in the widest (and wildest) variety of colors I've ever seen.

I had two colors, the Emerald City and the Mint (the Mint being the light, light green pictured above). The Emerald City, a deep jewel green with a touch of blue in it, is wonderful for hazel-eyed girls (me) and redheads (not me; I wish). It's everything you want in a liner - easy to apply, doesn't pull your eyelid all around, and stays in place for a good long time. The highlight shades like the Mint could theoretically be used in a number of places; what I did was put it just in the crease of my eyelid, giving my eye a brighter, lighter look without overdoing it.

Overall, the Pencil Me In is a great product - above average when compared with other similar products, and a reasonable price. But the thing that tips the scales for me on this one: BUILT-IN PENCIL SHARPENER. Yes, it's true. It's right in the cap. It's SO GREAT. Now, this does require that you not lose the cap, which I have been known to do, but it's so much easier to keep track of than a free-floating sharpener. Definitely a big recommend on this product.

Hillary says:

I got these pencils in something called "Buff" which is actually a very light green and "Platinum" which is silver. I love all the funky colors these pencils come in. I can't think of many colors you would look for that they don't have. These pencils have a great consistency- just soft enough to glide across the eye area and just hard enough to keep a point. And as Movie Maven pointed out, this pencil solves the age old problem of searching for a sharpener, as it's right on the cap. The Buff pencil makes my eyes look bigger and the Platinum makes them just look cooler. I ditto everything Maven said about the "green" product question, but I appreciate any additional anti-oxidants which are thrown my way. After all, every little bit helps!

Amanda S. Says:

I got two great colors of this eye pencil: denim and greystone. They go great with my light blue eyes. I too was a little confused about the 'natural' aspect of this product, but beside that, they're great pencils. They went on really smooth without skipping and slipping along my eyelids when I worked with them, and they also didn't turn to mush and lose their strength either. I often have trouble rubbing my itchy eyes too much and lose my eyeliner quickly, but this stuff stayed put.

Joyce says:

I like eye pencils I can sharpen, and appreciate that these come with their own sharpeners in the cap. I tried Brownie and Indigo (perfect for true hazel eyes--gold with green rims), especially when I use brown at the top and blue smudged into my lower lashes. They aren’t too hard nor too soft . . . they’re like Baby Bear’s porridge—just right. I do not like when I have to drag a pencil across the delicate eye area repeatedly to get it to work or repair it because it smudges too easily. And, they stay on. I like ‘em!

Sheba says:

I have been using their Black Velvet and Brownie. Both are very soft and easy to apply -- no more dragging!! They open up your eyes and help to make them pop. I thought I had two neutral colors however, maybe that is best for me. The Brownie does seem to really bring out Hazel eyes. . . seems to make them sparkle a bit. I honestly think anyone can use these two colors to full advantage. Their array of colors is amazing and you will find have difficulty selecting one -- you will probably end up with a couple. They do have some staying power -- I did not have to refresh these as often as I usually need to. You can lightly line for the office, etc. and go a bit heavier at night or whenever you want a more noticeable effect. Also, I found them to be relatively easy to remove with soap and water. I use a gentle soap and it took them off quickly. . . no racoon eyes, etc. The sharpener is like the frosting on the cake -- what a simple but very smart idea.

Deedlejuse Says:

I have to agree with everyone on how fun and use-able these eyeliners are. The colors I received are so cool: Meteor a bronzy highlighting sort of color, so wearable when you don't want to really commit to a color, and Lapis an almost navy dark blue. I love the way they glide on, they aren't too malleable, which is great because it is easier to control. I also love the built in sharpener, I am forever loosing sharpeners for some reason and it is much more difficult to loose it when it is attached to your favorite eyeliner! So much fun, and for only 7 bucks? Yeah, I love them.

Malikah says:

When I think about my perfect summer makeup, I think soft, shimmery, easy to apply, and long wearing. Pencil Me In Eye Pencil in 24 Karat Gold totally fits the bill. The frosted metallic yellow-gold pencil had a great subtle sheen and glided onto my eyelids effortlessly. I applied just a little bit and smudged with my pinky finger for gorgeous, yet still daytime appropriate eyes. When getting ready for an evening out, I layered a bit more of the eye pencil on my upper eyelids and swiped a tiny bit just under my lower lash line. My eyes instantly looked bigger, brighter, and drop dead sexy. I felt Studio 54 ready in no time at all! Sadly, my disco eyes didn’t beat the summer heat, but as the pencil started to fade it left pretty little sparkles across my eyelids. It wasn’t as defined as I had hoped it would be, but still looked great. If you’re looking for an easy way to achieve super glam eyes, definitely go for Pencil Me In 24 Karat Eye Pencil.

Josephine says:

I have the mint color sans sparkles. When I looked at it I thought, "Aw, h*ll, no" based on my own skin tone and eye color but I was pleasantly surprised with how soft the color is. It does go on fairly creamy although my problem with a consitency like this is that it doesn't go on very evenly. There is a run-off of color on one's lashes which "has to go somewhere" buy the day's end, and that generally is not a good thing. The sharpener, in my humble opinion, is neither practical or necessary for an eye pencil. It also doesn't work that well. I am going to throw it in my kit and use it on my ladies of color in the future.

Trish says:

I love colored eye pencils and especially love the look when I see it on others! However for me, maybe it's because of my darker eyes and golden beige-ish skin tone, I can't seem to make the right color work...hence a box full of blue eyelining pencils! When I tried the Pencil Me In shade in a baby blue called "Sky" I had great hopes it would match my skin tone and eyes...sadly, it didn't...so the shade didn't quite work on me, but it's still a good pencil with a soft smooth feel. As much as I like the look and the pencil itself, the light blue doesn't quite go with my dark hair and eyes.

Sultana says: I got this in a color called 'Pink Lady'. I remember when I was younger, the popular thing to do was a wear a white liner to make your eyes pop. This pencil reminded me of a white liner except its pink. I put it on and what it does is give your eyes a very subtle pop. The color is a nice baby pink. But you can put on additional layers to create a brighter pink. I love pencils that have a sharpener in the cap. It just simplifies life! I would definitely purchase this in another color. I even tried the pink out on my daughter. It is so subtle an 8 year old can wear it!

Review- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Color Pigments

Micronized color pigments fused with shimmering mica for use on the eyes, and anywhere else on the face and body. These lightweight, ultra-refined, densely pigmented powders apply shimmer smoothly and beautifully, wherever it's needed. $10 for 2.5 grams.

This stuff is awesome!!! I tried it in Flicker, a pale peachy shade and it left a gorgeous shimmer anywhere you apply it. You can use it pretty much anywhere you can think of and it will always look amazing. I dusted it on my eyelids with an eyeshadow brush for a simple casual shimmer that stayed put all day. You can also use a moist eyeliner brush to line your eyes with the shimmery powder for a bold evening look. This shade is also really flattering as a highlighter for brows and cheekbones. Since we are in the season of bare legs and shoulders, this product does an awesome job adding instant glamour to other exposed body parts. Dust it across your shoulders, collarbone and decolletage with a fluffy brush or blend it with your fave lotion to make your own shimmery body cream. It looks super sexy when applied just to the front part of your legs, and really helps elongate them too. And with 25 colors to choose from at only $10 a pop, you can choose your perfect shade or collect a few!

Sultana says: I have this color in 'Glisten'. I tried this on with and without eyeshadow primer. The day I used it without, it lasted pretty long. The color is a beautiful shimmery, peachy golden color. When I used it along with the OCC Primer, it lasted until I got home from work! It also enhanced the shade a little. This is a color that is simple enough for work but if worn a little more dramatically, can be used for going out as well. I have been wearing it almost everyday and I am very happy with it.