Review: Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi

This is not the latest book by Hegi , just one of many that she has written. I will eventually read all of her books because I think Ursula Hegi is one of the most gifted writers on the planet. Sacred Time starts out with Anthony , aged 7, just wishing & hoping for some GlassWax and stencils so that he can decorate his family's Bronx apartment windows for Christmas. He also informs us in the same sentence that his Uncle Malcolm was in jail again, this time for stealing office equipment. So begins this tale of a large Italian family living in New York City. Hegi is a genius when it comes to layering characters with time, relationships, tragedies and triumphs. As you read along , each chapter with one character's thoughts and perspectives, you begin to see how one innocent wish of a young child turns tragic for a whole family. As the years pass along in the book, you will be swept up into the subtle and then  "in your face" ways something like this will change every member of a family.

I love the way Hegi writes. Flash backs, characters talking over each other & finishing anothers thoughts...just like real life. It keeps you invested in her story until the last word. She has written so many books: Stones from the River ( my first and an Oprah pick) Children & Fire, Floating in my Mother's Palm, The Vision of Emma Blau and Salt Dancers, to name only a few...Salt Dancers is one of my all time fave books. You can start there, or anywhere. You will become a fan.

Review: Yureka...Struck Gold ! L'Oreal Million Lash Mascara

I am very excited to have finally found a mascara that doesn't flake. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lash. Lasts all day, minimal clumping ( I use a q- tip just to take care of those little nuisances) & keeps my lashes curled. I am just coming off a test of a Lancome and a Sephora mascara and they were definitely NOT worth the price. Both flaked, clumped, took the curl out and wore off  by days end.
 Not so this new one by L'Oreal, and it is only $7 a tube. The case is good sized & brilliant gold and it clicks shut when you tighten it. (I am thinking it won't dry out as others do)  I am not usually a fan of the new plastic applicators , but this one works !! You can get it at any department/drug store or on-line at Amazon.com.

I have recently read a good book by author Kate Kerrigan called Ellis Island. It is a love story based in poverty-stricken Ireland in the 1920-30's. When Ellie Hogan's new husband ( and childhood love) is injured and cannot walk nor work, she heads to New York where an old friend has secured her a  job as a maid for an ultra-rich woman. In NY she is surrounded by luxury unimagined in Ireland and soon becomes accustomed to the wealth and sophistication of the city. As she sends home most of her earnings so that her husband can have a much needed operation, she begins to think maybe she will not return to Ireland. OR maybe her husband will join her in America. Enter a new, rich and handsome American love interest and Ellie is faced with a classic decision. For love or money?

I did like this book but I wish the author hadn't made the ending so easy for her character. I didn't think there was a big enough internal struggle for Ellie, between staying in NY and living a great life or returning to her husband in Ireland and living in dismal poverty. I really felt like the ending   fizzled a bit.
Worth the read though !

Review: DNA Defense SPF 30+

**What I love most about this sunscreen is the way it is so quickly and easily absorbed into my skin. With other products I have felt like I am wearing a thick layer of goop, then I have to apply makeup over that.** 

I have been testing this product for a good 30 days and have had plenty of sunshine to test it with, I love it ! It contains micro-fine beads of zinc oxide but with NO whitening, very sheer. It provides superb  protection against UVB & UVA rays, those awful "aging" rays. Contains vitamins A & E, which are packed with anti-oxidents, that protect your skin against free radicals, hugely damaging to exposed skin. 

 So what else can I say? Love it, it works and feels great. I wear it every day under my makeup and I also apply it to my neck. Absorbs like magic and my skin just feels like my skin..no thick goopy feeling.

You can purchase DNA Defense products at: dnaegfrenewel.com

Product Review: Lip Savvy

Advertised as a plumper and anti-ager ,I was very anxious to give Lip Savvy Lip Gloss a try. I read up on the gloss at jeanecosmetics.com. The company uses Total Radical Free Technology which means free radical protection, collagen - boosting properties and prevention & correction of lines & wrinkles. Well, I am a good candidate for all of the above. As I have aged, I have developed fine lines on my lips that look like a grid !

The gloss contains Hyaluronic Filling Spheres which are said to instantly and painlessly plump, moisturize and smooth wrinkles.
I have been using the OMG gloss for half of the recommended 30 days. I love the applicator which is a lip brush and comes in many wild styles, the glossiness is perfect, not runny or messy and the taste is so mild, almost citrusy. There is so much to love about this lip gloss, however, I have yet to see any plumping action, instant or otherwise. They do recommend 30 days to get full advantage, but they also advertise as an instant plumper and wrinkle smoother. I have not seen those properties yet. Regardless, I love this product. I will continue on with it, twice a day for the whole 30 days, and report back with my results.
Please go to jeanecosmetics.com  to purchase at a price of $18.00.

Miracle Skin Transformer !!

I was really lucky to have been sent samples of two products that I love, love, love. I have given them a try for a solid 10 days and in that short a time (most products ask for 6-8 weeks before results), I have noticed quite a difference.
The company is called Miracle Skin Transformer (MST) and I tried the Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 and MST Treat & Conceal.



Love this product and let me tell  you that it applies like a dream ! It leaves a velvety texture on your face, so nice to apply your make-up on. It hydrates, enhances skin tone and protects against UV rays and does it with natural anti-aging ingredients like:

Saw Palmetto Extracts to moisturize and soothe

Passion Fruit that is rich in Omega-6 fatty acids which penetrates your skin to hydrate

Co-Enzyme Q10 increases elasticity and firms skin while increasing cell renewal

Vitamin A helps reduce the dark circles, redness and broken capillaries

Vitamin K exfoliates and renews skin cells

This is just the short list of natural ingredients. There are others that enhance your skin tones and even more to protect against UVA & UVB rays. I love the feel of this product, it is light and oil-free. I was excited that after only one week, my skin looked more even toned. My broken capillaries are faded and there are no red patches on my cheeks. I am using less mineral make up to cover those spots, that's for sure. Now, with my larger pores, I would prefer to use the translucent version. There are many tint colors, one to match any complexion. I highly recommend this product and hope you will go on line at sephora.com to purchase. It will soon be in Sephora stores, too. But don't wait, buy now !!

Now, let me tell you about Treat & Conceal. This is the best concealer I have ever used. I am using it all over my eye, under for circles and on the lid as a make-up base. I am patting it on all kinds of bumps and spots all over my face. (Remember when you are applying anything to your eye area that you use your ring finger. It is the weakest of our fingers and the eye area is sensitive) Again, because it is tinted and my pores are on the larger size, I am patting this on rather than smoothing. It is amazing. I guess that is why it is named Miracle Skin Transformer. What I have found is that is stays put. Even after a long day, I get home & my under eye .. still covered. My little spots ..still covered. This coverage lasts. And once again , I am using only one light application of my mineral make-up.

Treat & Conceal is a silicone based concealer that corrects, protects and transforms your skin.

It will help reduce fine wrinkles, reduce darkness under the eye, reduce the look of age spots and discolorations. It covers and heals ! Right now it is available on line at Sephora.com and soon will be in the Sephora stores.

Stay tuned to Queen Bee's Buzz for up coming reviews on skin care products and make-up.  I am hoping to start up with giveaways before the end of summer !!

For the ladies.......

It is never to early to start good skincare habits and hopefully never too late. By now we know everyone should be using sunscreen. This is not a luxury, it is an absolute necessity even on  a cloudy day. But we women of a "certain age" need more than sunscreen..We need a good moisturizer and some retinol, too. Retinol increases the rate of skin turnover and boosts collagen, a real winner for aging skin. If you use a product with retinol, you absolutely must use sunscreen because retinol will make your skin more sensitive to the sun. For almost two months now, I have been using a product that I am very happy with: ROC brand Multi Correxion 4-Zone Daily Moisturizer. It contains a daily moisturizer, a sunscreen with SPF 30, and retinol. A triple tonic for the skin !! I have noticed an overall evening out of skin tone, some of my splotches from sun damage are actually looking lighter and smoother. I do have some age spots that still defy lightening but overall I am happy with what's  happening. My skin is definitely softer and more supple. So, a real thumbs up on this product from ROC. It works and the price is right, retailing for around $26.00 for 1.7 oz bottle.
When I started with the ROC product, I also bought  Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex and began using it on my lid and under eye area. I must say that I am not overly impressed with this product. I think it is a good moisturizer but I did not see a big change in the under eye area in skin tone or wrinkle improvement. I have now begun to use the ROC 4-Zone lotion under my eye and after two weeks I have noticed a change for the better. I will continue to use the Olay on my upper lid until the bottle is finished but with a price tag of $42.00 for .5 oz, I will find another less expensive cream for my upper lid and stick with ROC brand products for the under eye area.
A month ago a saw a gadget on QVC that I thought I might have to try and now I say  how did I live without it. It is called The Bellabe Facial Hair Remover by Gemini Group. It is a tight spring, small in diameter about 8-9 inches long with a plastic handle on each end. You hold an end in each hand, bend the spring in an upside down U shape and roll it over your skin. Now, this is not for the sqeamish, it pulls hairs out from the root, and there is a little prickly sensation as you roll it over your face. Start slowly, start on your upper lip & chin area. As you get more proficient with the holding and rolling trick, move to other areas on your face..wherever you have peach-fuzz. Once your face gets used to it, you will not notice the prickles but you will notice your smooth, hairless skin ! No more waiting for the upper lip strays to appear before heading to the salon for waxing. Sit down, watch some TV and roll away the strays !
After I use my Bellabe, I take out my trusty bottle of witch hazel , sprinkle a bit on a cotton pad  and smooth and soothe my face. I have been using witch hazel as a "toner" for years. Witch Hazel is a shrub whose bark is processed into a liquid concoction that is a great astringent. It is also PH balanced so that my face never feels oily or dry/tight after use. Before bed I use a soaked cotton pad as a makeup remover, too. Works great and you can't beat the price.
For an over all body lotion, I have been using Olay's Quench for a few years. Shortly after it came out I saw that O Magazine gave it a good rating and decided to try it. I use it from my neck to my toes. They started with just the daily moisturizer and now have many new products. I now use the Daily with Firming Lotion. I want to try the one with shimmer for summer..why not? These lotions are pretty reasonably priced and if you go to their website, there are coupons available.
So ladies, be good to your skin..it has to last a lifetime !!

C'est tellement simple, l'amour.....

I have been reading some great books lately. My daughter-in-law publishes a terrific blog ( Reviewed by Mom ) and sometimes I get to review some books for her, which is so much fun for me. I read The Most Beautiful Walk in the World by John Baxter, which is a pretty witty "travel" guide to Paris. Paris of the 1920's & 30's. The times of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Sylvia Beach , F Scott Fitzgerald and Papa Hemingway, all ex-pat writers living in Paris. As he walks the streets of Paris on his literary tour, you can really get a feel for what is was like to live back then, right after the war. I was taken with the era. That book lead me to my next, which was The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. This is the story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson, she was one of four wives of
"Hem ". What an interesting life she lead married to one of the world's most famous writers. They moved to Paris after they married and lived in a tiny apt over a dance hall. He was not well known, and was writing for periodicals. He was just being introduced to the other published authors living in Paris. Jazz-Age Paris was a pretty wild place back then, very bohemian and Hadley was just a regular girl from the American Mid -West. I loved this book and it lead me to A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. This is Hemingway's account of life in Paris at the time he was married to Hadley Richardson. I don't ever remember reading Hemingway and it is quite a treat. All I ever heard about him was his wild and wicked ways with women & drink. But after having read these books, I see that as a young man, he was kind and loving to his wife and son. He was ecccentric, no doubt, and he fit right in with life in Paris at the time, but he was truer to his wife than I expected. Once his writing was taken seriously and he began to get published, it was clear he would leave Hadley behind but I get the feeling  that he probably regretted it the rest of his life.
I wholeheartedly recommend all three books for summer reading. It is all very romantic and dreamy, just right for the beach. You will find yourself wearing a bathing suit with a French beret !! Peace.