Falling in Love -- It's an Annual Thing!

I love the Fall, don't you? 

All of the beautiful colors and smells, the first chilly morning, the sharp afternoon shadows -- they all make me feel rejuvinated and alive. 

Which is odd, if you think about it, because Autumn is sometimes thought of as a dying season.  The leaves on the trees shrivel and fall to the ground, the air gets chilly and the days get shorter.

I look at it as a time to turn inward and reflect.  I remember holidays with family, and warm fireplaces, waiting for the first snowfall.  The oppressive summer heat and humidity are gone, and I finally get to dress in warm turtlenecks and sweaters and drink Chai lattes.

I get more excited about writing.  Sitting outside with my journal in the fall is one of my most precious past times.  And I look forward to the challenge of NaNoWriMo in November.

There just seems to be so much to look forward to, it almost makes me giddy.  There are fairs and fall festivals and Halloween and Thanksgiving, and then Christmas and New Year's Eve.  It's all so exciting, yet so calming and peaceful to me.

I'm making an effort this season to take a moment each and every day to savour each of these favorite things.  They seem to fly by so quickly, I don't want to miss a minute.

What is your favorite thing about Fall?

Photo credits:  Geekr, Lady_Fox

A Review: Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm

There's been a lot of talk recently about BB creams. You haven't heard the jabber?  Let me give you a quick review.

First off, the "BB" stands for "blemish balm" or "beauty balm."  It originated in Asia, but has quickly become the latest up and coming cosmetic product in the West.  Their claim is to be an "all-in-one" cosmetic product that replaces serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation and sunblock.  It can be used as a tinted moisturizer for those "no makeup" days, or as a foundation.

I first became aware of BB balms when I received a sample of Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm in my very first Birchbox in June 2012.

I prefer not using a lot of products (yes, I'm lazy) and I don't want to spend a lot of time applying makeup (yes, I'm busy), so I was excited to have a "one stop shop" type of product to try.  I began using it right away and have used it off and on since then.  I just squeezed out the last little bit this morning (sad face).  A little bit goes a long way, and that, combined with my somewhat infrequent use, is why the sample size of .33 fl oz. has lasted me until mid-October.

This BB balm is good for those days when I don't want to take the time to apply a whole face full of makeup.  It provides a fair amount of coverage.  I don't have much acne, but I do have a few dark spots and an uneven skin tone that I like to cover up, so this product works fine for that.  On days when I am going to work, or out on the town with Mr. Babycakes, I do prefer to use a heavier foundation that provides a heavier coverage.

I tend to have a challenging time matching foundations to my skin tone (I'm fair skinned, but prefer a slightly tanned look).  Dr. Jart matches me perfectly while still giving me that slightly made up healthy glow.  In my opinion, it is fool proof, and I really like it a lot.

Another plus to this Dr. Jart product is that it did not cause me to break out.  I'm in my mid-forties (yeah, I'm not afraid to say it) so I don't have many breakouts.  But there have been a few products out there that made me feel like I was back in my pimple-laden teen years.  This, thankfully, is not one of them.  This made my skin feel moisturized and supple and beautiful.

The price is more steep than I would typically pay for foundation (I use a range of drugstore products, from Cover Girl to Maybelline to Rimmel), but I feel that it is good for my skin and is a worthwhile investment.  The price from Birchbox: $39.00 for 1.5 fl oz (includes free shipping); Amazon sellers have it listed for $37.95.

I have really loved this product.  And now that my sample tube is empty, I'll place an order for a full size tonight!

Have you tried any BB creams?  What's your favorite?





See also: 
Wikipedia BB Cream