POSHVICE

I mention my dabblings in various fitness supplements and pills pretty regularly here on Posh Vice; but I’ve yet to mention my two absolute favorite supplements! I know that some people take them for some sort of fitness benefits (I personally never noticed myself losing weight quicker, but I also have a very stubborn body - I pretty much have to be taking diet pills, supplements, drinking loads of water & green tea, eating very little, and working out a ton to lose ANY weight at all, so YMMV), but I personally adore popping a few Flax Seed Oil & CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) gelcaps each day for the MASSIVE difference in makes in my skin’s clarity and texture.

I have a bit of a skincare fetish - I’ve tried out tons and tons of products, and even went to classes put on by companies like Murad as training for my old job where I sold high-end skincare - and while I do consider finding a good cleanser, toner and moisturizer to be very necessary, the most crucial step in my skincare routine is the aforementioned fatty acids. There’s always a world of difference in my skintone when I’m taking them regularly; I break out less, my skin looks softer and more radiant, and I don’t get dry patches.

If you have troublesome skin, I’d strongly suggest grabbing a bottle of CLA and/or Flax Seed Oil (or Fish Oil, if you can stand the smell and taste… I can’t, personally) and try adding a few pills each per day to your routine. I think you’ll see the difference!

I’ve mentioned in the past that I like to use diet pills when I need that extra boost to help me make it through (or even get started on) a workout. I’m naturally a very low-energy person (it seems to come from having chronic low blood pressure), so it can be very hard for me to talk myself into getting onto the treadmill or doing my kickboxing DVDs, because I tend to feel extremely physically tired almost 24/7. So when I want to work out but just can’t work up the necessary energy on my own, I’ll turn to diet pills for an easy, non-filling (if I work out with anything more than water and/or pills in my stomach -even coffee or soda - I’ll throw up in short order; my stomach is very dainty, I guess) way to get both my metabolism and my energy level boosted. However, with the gigantic selection of fitness supplements on the market, it can be really hard to find and choose the best diet pill for my purposes. My old standby, Hydroxycut, reformulated recently, and the new version doesn’t do much other than give me a headache, so I’m currently on the lookout for a good replacement. Anybody have suggestions?

There seems to be a recent trend (or at least, I’ve recently noticed, it’s entirely possible that it’s a more long-standing phenomenon) towards precious stones and metals being used in acne products. Most of it seems to center around something called “ions”, which I previously only really associated with chemistry and hair-dryers and… Tales Of The Abyss, I guess.

I think the two biggest examples that stuck out in my brain are the Asso Gold Cleansing Bar (what an awful name), that retails for $125 per bar (though I’ve found it for $24 online, here) and has 24k gold particles in it. The makers claim that the pricey soap is really big in Asia for its ability to “kill acne at the source”. Who knows if there’s any truth to those claims - personally, I’m curious as to how EXACTLY gold is supposed to heal acne - but hey, if it works, it works.

The other product that caught me off-guard was a toner by MAC Cosmetics called “Charged Water”, that’s supposed to be “infused with ions from diamonds” or something. It only retails for $19, so I guess it’s not a terrible choice if you want to try this trend of precious ions in your skincare, but to be honest - if the toner works at all, I’d be more apt to credit the fact that it has green tea in it. I use a green tea based cleanser and LOVE it.

If you see any other crazy skincare products pop up with super-pricey ingredients, please hit me up and let me know about them… I’m completely fascinated by this whole trend.

One of my absolute favorite topics to read about (or think about, or talk about, or… you get the picture) would definitely have to be skincare. I’ve always had rather, shall we say, temperamental skin, and products that work wonders for me one day will somehow stop working for me in a few months, forcing me to be on the constant lookout for new products, supplements, and skincare regimes to try and whip my oily-yet-sensitive skin into shape.

After looking around the web in search of the current best acne treatment, I found this website - getacnetreatments.com - that is definite bookmark-worthy if you’re at all interested in shopping online for skincare. They have brutally honest reviews & descriptions of every brand out there, from Proactiv to Murad, and they keep records of not only each product’s retail price, but also the best price to be found via eBay or other webstores. All in all, VERY helpful, and worth a read if you’re looking for to-the-point, concise reviews and price listings on skincare products.

I’m pretty sure that I’ve mentioned it on here before, but after a bunch of life changes took me from a size two who worked out for at least two hours almost every single day to a gimpy girl rocking a broken foot and a new job that required being glued to my desk chair for hours on end… well, let’s just say that I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve put on a few pounds.

And what’s worse is that it seems like my metabolism chose this particular time to just completely slow to a snail’s pace - literally, it seems like even though I’ve started dieting and working out again, I’m not losing weight - I almost feel like I’m still gaining weight, even though mathematically that DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. Taking in only 1200-1500 calories a day + hitting the treadmill for 3-4 miles each day = weight gain? What? Okay, obviously I need some outside help - and that’s where diet pills come into play.

It’s more than a little overwhelming, considering the vast amount of choices - which formula is right for me? Are they safe? Do they actually work? Is there a difference between the name brands and knockoffs…. and so on and so forth. I’ve tried a few already with various levels of luck - don’t worry, I’ll write about them all someday - but I’m looking to you, my readers, for any personal recommendations or stories you may have. Help me out here!

Like almost all women, I’ve struggled with breakouts - mine are mostly hormonal, but I find that generally, unless I’m eating REALLY well, taking tons of supplements, get lots of sleep, and exercising like crazy, my skin seems to suffer. Since I suck at willpower and tend to indulge in fast food and spend my money on entertainment purposes rather than endless bottles of skincare pills, I’ve found the next best thing to help keep my skin clear: natural acne treatment.

Part of why I have to be so careful about my lifestyle & beauty products in order to keep my skin clear is the fact that my skin is EXTREMELY sensitive. This has led to me pretty much only using all-natural products, and Like almost all women, I’ve struggled with breakouts - mine are mostly hormonal, but I find that generally, unless I’m eating REALLY well, taking tons of supplements, get lots of sleep, and exercising like crazy, my skin seems to suffer. Since I suck at willpower and tend to indulge in fast food and spend my money on entertainment purposes rather than endless bottles of skincare pills, I’ve found the next best thing to help keep my skin clear: Acnexus is my current favorite brand. They use tons of soothing ingredients like aloe vera gel as well as things like white willow park to purify gently & naturally. I’ve been using their face wash for about two weeks and so far I’ve noticed a huge difference - so if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin or just want to try a natural skincare regime, give them a shot!

I broke my foot last year, and in the time where it was healing, working out was obviously out of the question. As one would expect, I gained some weight. My foot finally healed properly, so I’ve been doing my best to lose the excess pounds - eating right, working out almost every day, walking the dogs more often & longer… it’s going, but it’s going VERY slowly. So I decided to look into a bit of a cheater’s tactic: weight loss pills.

After all the bad press that some past diet pills received, it was clear to me that thorough research about each brand and their side effects was necessary. Luckily for me, I found the Weight Loss Research website, an absolute treasure trove of reviews & ratings of all the top diet pills. I’ve been making my way through all of the reviews, and it’s definitely been helping me to narrow down my choices, so I thought I should pass on the URL in case anyone else is in the same boat as I am!

Once I do pick a diet pill and start trying it out, I’ll be sure to post my experiences here, so check back if it’s a topic you’d be interested in.

Mother’s Day is quickly sneaking up on us, and it’s probably the one holiday that’s the hardest for me. You see, my mother is incredibly hard to buy for - she simply doesn’t like most typical Mother’s Day gifts (anything involving bath and body or makeup or fragrance, etc, is completely lost on her) and she tends to be brutally honest about my gift-giving skills… which, according to her, tend to be sub-par. It’s always a challenge, because I WANT to pamper her - she works hard and I feel like she deserves some cushy reward for it - but just about everything I’ve ever gotten her in that realm of thinking has been met with a less than enthusiastic response.

However, while I was browsing around the web earlier, an idea dawned on me: Bathrobes! Buying my mother a luxurious, super-plush bathrobe could be a good equilibrium between my desire for spoiling her and my mother’s desire for practicality. Terry Robes serve a purpose, but they can also be extremely indulgent. You can find Robes in every fabric from microfiber to chenille, from terry to velour. Plus, adding personalized touches like a specific pattern, monogram, or even a hoodie will take the robe to the next level of gifting goodness.

I’m not 100% decided on the exact robe that I’ll be getting her, but I have faith that this is an idea that she’ll enjoy much more than my usual attempts. Wish me luck!

CRUNCH Fitness Candlelight Yoga has been a staple of mine whenever I’m actually doing a decent job at working out consistently & being healthy. It’s actually the DVD that got me into yoga, and a lot of that has to do with instructor Sara Ivanhoe’s wonderful teaching style. She explains all the postures and movements well without being patronizing or annoying, and has developed a wonderful, relaxing program that you’ll never get bored with. I love doing this as my cool-down after a tough workout, or just to get the kinks out after a long day at work. It’s gentle enough for beginners, yet once you’ve gotten really flexible, it’s still challenging because she shows you different versions of the postures.

The postures and “Vinyasa flow” will gently tone your body while improving your flexibility - so this is an absolutely wonderful DVD if you’ve never done yoga, or if you’re just looking to supplement your current collection with a new, soothing, relaxing program.

The DVD also includes a supplemental 15-minute energizing routine that you can to do begin your day or as a pre-workout warm-up. Either way, it really does wake your body up and it’s a great way to relieve any stress from sleeping funny or working too hard! Sara also gives you a tiny introduction to “mudra”, or yogic hand signals in this section - namely, she shows you the mudra that is supposed to help keep your mind focused & your body energized.

If you like to listen to your own playlist while you workout (as I do), the DVD also gives you the option to toggle the audio options. You can pick from the basic audio track that includes Sara’s instructions and their own soothing soundtrack, or you can choose the instructor-only track when you want to listen to your own music, or just focus on your breathing.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this DVD - I’ve had it for five years and still don’t get bored with it. I lend it to all my friends who want to try yoga, so I definitely recommend it to anyone out there who wants to try yoga, needs a good stretching/flexibility routine, or just wants to soothe their body and relax!

The CRUNCH Fitness Candlelight Yoga DVD is currently available for $10.99 @ Amazon.com!

Just wanted to throw up a quick notice to those of you who may not be aware - the Bath & Body Works website has lots of stuff discounted at the moment. You can grab hair products for $5/each (I grabbed one of each of the moisturizing shampoo/conditioner in Sweet Pea), most of their home fragrance oils are knocked down to $4/each (with all my stinkybutt dogs, I’m addicted to home fragrances, so I scooped up oils in Vanilla Coconut, Melon Sorbet, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Fresh Linen, and Black Raspberry Vanilla. Also got two Wallflower refills in the new Pineapple Orchid scent - the double pack is on sale for $6 right now).

Lastly, they have a REALLY cute pink & green Goldie tote bag full of various skincare samples that you can score for $20 with any order of $20 or more - BUT I found a promo code (enter 6805 at checkout) that knocks the price down to $10, so hell yeah.

Just wanted to share in case anyone else wanted to take advantage of the low prices!

I found this via another blog and received my free sample today, so this is legit (although there wasn’t much doubt, it’s from the official Escada website, after all) & I thought it was time to pass on the goodies to y’all!

Escada releases limited-edition fragrances pretty regularly, and the current one is called “Moon Sparkle” - supposedly “evoking memories of hot summer party nights filled with a sexy, magical intensity where anything is possible, Moon Sparkle for Women is the essence of summertime. Captured here, to be enjoyed year round, is an luscious mix of irresistible sweet red fruits and delicate florals, infused by a sensuously smooth base of creamy woods.” Or so the description at Sephora says!

Anyhow, I’m usually not really into overly fruity scents, because they have a tendency to turn generic and headache-inducing with my body chemistry, but the notes in this one (Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Citrus Cocktail, Red Apple, Sweet Pea, Freesia, Jasmine, Rose, Raspberry, Musky Notes, Sandalwood, Dry Amber) sounded really intriguing. I was imagining a mix between Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Mora Bella and Bath & Body Works’ Sweet Pea fragrances - both of which are favorites of mine - and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve been wearing my sample of Moon Sparkle for about an hour now, and it’s really pleasant… unique, light, fruity with a hint of creamy musk. I may have to invest in a full-size bottle, we’ll see.

So, if you want your own free sample, just fill out the form here at Escada’s website. They’ll send you a cute postcard with one of those little towelettes moistened with the fragrance attached - enough for one or two applications. Enjoy!

I seriously worship fragrances. When it comes to shopping, I love buying just about anything - shades of Sophie Kinsella, here - but nothing can grab my interest like a good scent. With that in mind, here goes the first of what is probably many perfume-centric posts & reviews!

I tend to be really picky and sensitive to fragrance - actually, quite a few of my friends swear that I have an overdeveloped sense of smell! I’ll notice weird odors way before anybody else, and I’m usually able to name what perfume a passerby has on just by them walking past me. I also notice when certain brands have a sort of “base” scent that they use in all of their fragrances. For example, Chanel. While a lot of their scents are hugely different - No. 5 and Chance are worlds apart - there’s something in the notes that IS very similar and broadcasts loud and clear that you’re wearing one of dear Coco’s creations (or Karl’s… or, more realistically, whoever the perfumer that they’ve hired is). For me, scent and our sense of smell is really complex, evocative, and intriguing.

I’ve had a few people ask me how exactly I manage to afford & find so many of the unique scents that make up my fragrance “closet”. I tend to really dislike scents that smell typically “perfume-y” to me, which eliminates a LOT of the current big-name, department store brands. Chanel being an obvious exception; Chance was my signature for awhile. But for the most part, I prefer to find & try smaller brands that produce quirkier and more standalone fragrances - Eau de Generic Club Girl is so not my thing.

So where do I tend to prowl for my next big fragrance find? I’ve got a few regular haunts - places where I not only find new scents, but am able to buy them (or at least sample them) as well.

First and foremost, the Sephora Fragrance Department is amazing. They have a fantastic range of products and don’t solely sell the big name brands (though you will find those as well, of course) and many of the smaller “boutique” lines get deeply discounted every so often - I managed to score a full-size of my current obsession, La Maison de la Vanille’s Vanille Noir de Mexique, for only $10 last month! I prefer to shop via the Sephora @ Amazon store, because Amazon features reviews and more comprehensive listings than the main Sephora website.

I’m also fond of La Creme Beauty - the woman who runs this small e-boutique dedicated almost entirely to perfumes & candles has AMAZING taste. She stocks fantastic “smaller” lines like Voluspa, Star Boutique, Serendipity 3, and La Luz at seriously affordable prices… but if you’re looking for luxury, she’s got a couple of heavy hitters like Serge Lutens and Yosh, as well. There’s also a sample program if you can’t decide between a few scents, which I’ve used quite a few times. Shipping & packaging from La Creme is always fast & fantastic - I really recommend this place.

Another amazing fragrance e-tailer is the pricier Lucky Scent. This is the one that I see featured in the beauty/shopping magazines (think Allure, Lucky, etc), and with good reason - their selection is INSANE, and they let their customers submit fragrance reviews so you get a really good idea of how accurate the scent descriptions REALLY are, as well as the lasting power and overall scent quality. Like LCB, they also have a sample program, so you can try out the current trendy/celebrity-worshipped scents like Kai, Pilar & Lucy, or Child without too much cash or commitment.

If you want to go more high-market, there’s Aedes - the online king of expensive fragrances. Creed, Annick Goutal, Etro (who makes one of my all-time favorite scents, Palais Jamais), Diptyque, Santa Maria Novella, People Of The Labyrinths… this is where you get the ultra-luxurious, $200/bottle fragrances you read about in Vogue or W, basically.

If you’re as picky as I am when it comes to scents (it’s a very rare fragrance that I love long enough to use an entire bottle, quite frankly), getting decants or samples is a really good idea. The two best avenues for this kind of thing are the obvious eBay (many sellers actually make their living by simply buying expensive scents and selling decants to those of us who don’t want to commit to a huge bottle) and the fantastic Makeupalley, where you can “swap” your old fragrances with other beauty-obsessed surfers (MUA also features a fragrance-focused message board - love it!).

That’s all for now, but stay tuned… I have quite a few perfume reviews & the like coming up soon!

I’m part of an e-mail list that sends out constant freebie notices; I figured I’d start putting together a monthly (possibly bi-monthly, who knows) post full of the most recent & awesome-sounding freebie offers that end up in my mailbox. Most of these just require an ACTIVE e-mail address, though I’d recommend getting an email address dedicated solely to freebie offers… they do tend to generate spam, which sucks… but hey, free stuff.

Free Almay Lipstick - A fantastic female targeted offer. Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free sample of Almay Hydracolor Lipstick. Email address required.

$200 K-Mart Gift Card - Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free $200 Kmart Gift Card. Email address required.

Turbo Tax Software - It’s tax season again. Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive Turbo Tax Software free. Email address required.

$250 Old Navy Gift Card - Surfers who participate in this campaign can receive a free $250 Old Navy Gift Card. Email address is required.

Maybelline Volum’ Mascara - This is for a free sample of Maybelline Volum’ Mascara. Two-page sign up form.

L’Oreal Glam Shine - Get shiney, kissable lips. This offer is for a free sample of L’Oreal Glam Shine lipgloss.

12-IN-One Multi-Vitamins - Not getting enough vitamins in your life? This offer is for a risk free 30 day trial of the 12-IN-One soft gel multi-vitamin. Nutrients include Vitamin A, C, E, and all the B’s, Calcium, Omega-3 and much more. Cost to the consumer is $7.95 for S&H [EDIT - It just dawned on me that these are by the guys who make Irwin Naturals… I’ve used supplements from them before & been really happy].

Wired Magazine Subscription - For your completely free subscription to Wired Magazine magazine without commitments of any kind, simply fill in your information below. Note a valid email address is required as a confirmation email will be sent to you. USA only.

Godiva Chocolate - Indulge your sweet tooth. Surfers who sign-up for this offer can get free Godiva Chocolates.

Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor - Surfers who sign-up to this offer can get a sample of Revlon Colorstay smooth and soft lipcolor. Two-page sign up form required.

FINAL THOUGHT: I gotcha HDMI cables right here.

I hate most foundation. It’s usually heavy, clogs your pores, and can look really cakey if not applied just right. So when I was recently searching for a new foundation, I looked into mineral makeup. It’s extremely popular right now, mostly because it’s supposedly good for your skin, doesn’t cause breakouts, and looks extremely natural while providing amazing coverage.

I was told by almost everyone that I asked that the way to go was Everyday Minerals. Reason being not only that their products have a great reputation, but for new customers, they offer a free sample kit - just pay $3.65 in shipping and you get substantial samples of three foundation shades, one blush shade, and one concealer shade.

The best part is that what shades you receive is completely up to you - so you can figure out what works with your skin tone, but don’t have to try out the generic “light, medium, dark” samples that most companies give out. I ended up deciding that a blend of Cool Medium & Golden Olive works best for my skintone. You can also choose which formula you need for your skintone: Semi-Matte, Matte, Intensive, or Original Glo. I personally find the Original Glo to be my favorite, but I do have some samples of the Intensive formula for when I need more coverage.

All in all, I’m really happy with Everyday Minerals and recently ordered full-sizes of both the foundation shades I use and the Sunshine concealer (it’s wonderful for brightening the undereye area). The coverage is great, the finish is silky-smooth, and it looks natural and not at all cakey. If you’re in the market for new makeup, this is definitely an offer to take advantage of.

FINAL THOUGHT: Need some maternity clothes?

If you haven’t been able to tell yet, I’m a total Sephora addict! My weaknesses tend to be skincare and fragrances, and because of this I signed up for their “Beauty Insider” newsletter & thus I get lots of coupon codes e-mailed to me. I thought it’d be a nice thing to share some of the recent promos with y’all, so here goes:

ADVANCED: Enter this code at checkout, and you’ll score a .25 fl oz deluxe sample of the new Advanced Eye Area Therapy from Perricone. That’s a $48 value, considering that the full-size is .5 fl oz and retails for a whopping $95 - so if you need a new eye cream, get on this promo ASAP! I just got my sample a few days ago and a little goes a long, long, long way.

GLOSSRING: Entering this code will net you a silver lip gloss ring, with a smoky quartz-esque stone that flips open to reveal a shimmery bubblegum pink lip gloss. Supposedly a $30 value… it says with any purchase, but be aware that I had to spend $50 before it would let me use the code. But still, it’s a nice freebie.

FREE SAMPLES: No code for this, just make sure to check the three free samples you’d like before you checkout! The selection of samples is constantly changing, and sometimes they’re quite generous.

BOSCIA: This code only works if you are already purchasing Boscia’s Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment & their Green Tea Blotting Linens. If you are, the code grants you a travel size of their Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 Moisturizer. I recently tried a few Boscia samples, and I was really impressed, so I’m planning on taking advantage of this deal soon.

STELLA MCCARTNEY PROMO BAG: Not a coupon code, but this is a limited time promotion - so if you’ve been wanting to try Stella’s new all-natural skincare line (named CARE), now is the time. The Stella Tote Bag Set includes a Sephora-exclusive, 100% organic cotton shopper bag, packed with full size CARE by Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Cream & a .33 oz Stella Eau de Parfum Travel Roll-On. A $190 value for $90… not bad.

That’s all for now, though feel free to comment with any codes I may have missed & I’ll edit them into the post. Happy shopping!

FINAL THOUGHT: Click for drug treatment.

One of my favorite things to shop for is fragrances; I think I could own a hundred perfumes and still want more. Of course, price usually keeps me from realizing that dream, as scents tend to be on the expensive side - usually starting at $50 for an ounce. However, I just stumbled on a few deeply discounted fragrance lines at online beauty megastore Sephora, and the stuff is just such a steal I can’t resist sharing with y’all.

If you frequent Sephora, you know that they don’t really advertise when they’re clearing out a line; getting one of their discontinued deals really just has to do with luck and happening to stumble upon the correct line. The three clearanced brands that I know of right now are Eau de Vie (all 1.7 fl oz fragrances are going for an amazing $5 right now), Laurence Dumont (prices lowered to $10 for their 3.4 fl oz bottles), and La Maison de la Vanille, with their bath & body products priced at $5 each, and the actual 3.4 fl oz perfumes at $10). If you’re into foody/vanilla scents at all, NOW IS THE TIME, y’all!

I personally scooped up four fragrances - LMdV’s Vanille Noire de Mexique, Eau de Vie’s Pina Colada & Cappuccino with Panna, and lastly, Laurence Dumont’s Creme Brulee fragrance. It’s tempting to get even more at these prices, but I decided to exercise a smidge of self-control and stop at four (which, four perfumes for $30 - wow)… at least, for now.

poker tables

I don’t know anybody who has tried Philosophy products and not been thrilled by them, so if you’re still looking for a great Valentine’s Day gift that manages to be cute, quality, and under $25, the Philosophy Candy Hearts Lip Shine Trio is screaming your name.

The set includes three of Philosophy’s most popular lip glosses, in the delectable flavors of melon daiquiri (”Be Mine”), vanilla birthday cake (”Ask Me”), and raspberry sorbet (”I Love You”).

If your girl craves shiny, conditioned lips and a whole lotta adorable packaging, she’ll be completely thrilled with this gift set. And at only $25, the price is definitely right. Available exclusively at for a limited time only from Sephora.