Discontinued!

Today I found out my favorite lip balm - Neutrogena Lip Nutrition in "Berry Smooth" - was discontinued. When did Neutrogena pull the plug? I have no idea. But somewhere in heaven an angel with dry lips just discontinued its wings... with a blowtorch.

You know how magazine editors are always pontificating their esteemed "beauty secrets" ("tee hee")? Well, this was one of mine. I discovered this little gem many moons ago, when I was but a poor college student, wasting time in the drug store while my prescription for IHaveAnxiety was being filled. I came upon this $7 miniature tub of lip balm that caught my attention because wow, that's a lot of money for .18 ounce of anything. What does it DO? Or perhaps (more sinisterly): what does it want from us?

The lip balm tubs came in 3 flavors at the time: Cool Mint, Refreshing Mango, and Berry Smooth. I'm not one for making decisions so I bought all three, then picked up my happy pills and went on my merry way.

That evening, I experimented with "Berry Smooth" because it was pink and that agreed with me. I noticed the consistency was a bit waxy, and you had to scrape it with your fingernail, rather than dab your fingertips in it. Using my nail to apply lip balm seemed like a silly way to go about things, but I was excited to try those interesting little jojoba beads in the mix.

The balm instantly tingled and I worked the waxy finish into my lips, rubbing in circles. The beads did not break very easily - I ended up eating my fair share of them, but sometimes beauty is mysterious.

What was I expecting from this new venture into Moisture Town? Soft, hydrated lips that wouldn't crack or dry. But what magical secret had I unwittingly discovered?

This. made. my. lips. HUGE.

Not in the hypoallergenic, go to the emergency room HUGE. But in the super moisture + exfoliating beads = bigger, softer, puffier lips HUGE. This was not even advertised! And remarkably, the effect of this lasted long after I'd kissed it off on the round end of a silver chicken flask (oh college!). It lasted for days. I'd wake up the next morning with an Angelina pout, much to my awe and delight. The unintended consequence of using this once a day is that I looked way poutier for the next 4 years than I had any right portraying myself to be.

Eh!

I later replaced this with Too Faced Lip Injection Serum, a $30 investment for larger-than-life lips that were downright obscene. In college, buying this was a luxury when you spent less money on groceries. I remember loving how quickly it worked and it gave your lips a hydro glossy finish (as opposed to my secret weapon's waxy finish). The biggest downsides? Besides costing a day's wage at the radio station I worked at, it sometimes crept outside your lip line and turned your whole mouth bright red. Any skin it touched burned ruddy and inflamed. Also, the bulging effect didn't last much longer than a few hours.

After college, I stopped treating my lips with strange serums and topical gels. As long as they were hydrated, the Angelina look didn't matter so much any more. Only recently have I kind of missed the reliable comfort and ease of my Neutrogena Lip Nutrition balm and after a late night run to Rite-Aid, I realized it was no more.

Of course, never fear: that's why eBay is here. Just purchased a lot of *20* in 3 flavors. Win win win win (Butler).

Yours,

Sabrina London

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Outfits in Bloom

Spring is right around the corner, and many of us are already dreaming of daffodils and colorful styles. With a bit of winter chill in the air, we were inspired to mix some of our winter and spring items into new outfits. For those of you anxiously awaiting sunlit days and flowers, take a look at our Outfits in Bloom. We hope you can create new outfits like these by adding a few new items and reinventing your existing wardrobe. ♥

Valentine's Day gift ideas for the woman that you love

When hubby asked me a few nights back if what I'd like for Valentine's day, it made me think. Roses? A bouquet of red roses? But it's always the same. I feel like I'd prefer something else sometimes other than flowers and chocolates. Hubby did promise he'd find something else, something more creative Valentine's Day gift this time and I've no idea what he's got in mind. I try my best not to interfere.

But for other boyfriends or husbands out there who have got no idea what to treat their partner on the day of hearts, here's the list of what I suggest:

Red shoes

Pleaser Vogue 25: Sold at 17% discount

Pleaser Delight 2023 (Women's) - Red Stretch Patent/Red 17% discount

Does your woman need another sexy winter boots or red stilettos? No matter how many pairs she has, when it comes to shoes, she'd love it.


Red dress

It's a very challenging color and most women aren't tough enough to wear a red dress. But if that dress is a gift from her man, she'd feel wonderful tonight.

Red purse

They say it's the most dangerous thing in a woman. The purse is where all of her secrets are kept. But I say no biggest secret she can lock in her purse if she beams with pride carrying your gift.

Red nail polish

Okay. Who gives a girl a nail polish? Maybe a few men if not none. But why not? Giving her some nail polish means that you care even for some tiny vain stuff that she needs. That's very sweet.

Red rose cupcake

Instead of red roses and chocolates, a box of red rose cupcakes is a good alternative.

Flowers

But if she's a kind that loves flowers the most, then give her the best bouquet you can find. You might want to ask her though, if she prefers plastic flowers than fresh ones. Some women love to keep their flowers intact for a life time which fresh ones do not allow.

These are what I've got in mind right now. So what do you think, girls? Are there things you'd like to add to our list?

Enjoy shopping for gifts!

Fabulously yours,