Revamping Your Skincare Routine For Less

For anti-aging potions to work, they must contain the right ingredients including: 

1) Antioxidants - Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, green tea.

2) Glycolic acid - a/k/a hydroxyacetic acid

3) Peptides

4) Retinols (over the counter) - or retinoids (prescription strength)

Plus they must be used regularly. Well, it just got simpler because nowadays anti-aging elixirs are available in a drugstore aisle. Containing the same ingredients as their pricey upscale cousins, they really work, and you can afford to use them every day. 

Here are 4 top performers from 4 well-known beauty brands for less:

1) Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Concentrate (above↑) -Infused with advanced amino-peptide complex II to speed up skin cell turnover, and 5% niacinamide to brighten your complexion. Smooths lines and sofens the appearance of wrinkles. Pair it with a Regenerist moisturizer for maximum skin hydration.

2) L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Eye Renewal - Hydrates, firms and smooths crows feet. Reduces dark circles and gets rid of under eye bags and crepey lids.

3) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Accelerated Hyaluronic Acid Retinol Night Cream - Contains fast acting rentinol SA and hyaluronic acid to treat wrinkles and erase the appearance of lines while you sleep.

4) No7 Restore & Renew Face And Neck Multi Action Serum - Lifts and tightens a crepey and sagging neck. Contains dimethicone, glycerin, butylene glycol, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, Isononyl isononanoate, gluconolactone, dimethicone crosspolymer, phenoxyethanol, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and pentylene glycol.

My neck will have to sag because I stop at my face; however, I'm including an effective neck serum since some people may worry about an aging neck. Frankly what I can't see, I don't treat as I long to get out of my bathroom.

What's terrific about finding anti-aging beauty products at the local drugstore is, you can take already well-prices items, wait for a sale then apply your reward points to get a steal! Rarely must you break the bank!


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Happy Easter Weekend

On Easter Sunday we again celebrate hope, optimism and human perseverance. It's been quite a year, but we're still here to forge ahead.

Speaking of which, Notre Dame Cathedral's famous rose window was saved following Monday's fire. And thankfully, much of the iconic stained glass windows, art and relics are safe too! Some of these irreplaceable articles date back to the 13th century.

Let's jump back a little further in time ... do you recognize this man? 

 Photo: TwentyTwoWords.com

If a history buff, you might. He looks more Middle Eastern than how centuries of Western paintings, films and television series depict him.

The Jesus of Nazareth 1977 television movie

I grew up with the image of blue-eyed, hunky actor, Robert Powell as Jesus. (Va-va-room, I believe!🙂) However, theologians who study history say the real Jesus Christ looked more like the first image above. As a Galilean, his skin was dark, his beard (if he had one. Jews in Antiquity often didn't) and hair were coarse and cut short; and it is likely: Jesus was not long and lean, but shorter in stature. Does it matter to believers that the real Christ looked so different than how we in the West were conditioned to see him?

Enjoy this lovely holiday with family and friends. It's Passover weekend also for those who celebrate. A weekend to relax and spend in a positive way ... Muslim, Jew, Christian, or something else. Let's put Christ back into Christians and commit to treating everybody with love and respect. Strive for fairness and humanity for all. I'm pretty sure, we'll fall short sometimes, but we will hit the mark often if always striving!!!

On this Easter Sunday eat the chocolate!🍬

Happy Easter!

 - The Chi Rho is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = Christ.

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Quiche Lorraine

Photo: Recipe Tin Eats

After passing inspection, Con Edison, New York City's utility company, turned the cooking gas back on in my apartment line. (Other lines, to be determined.) After the flooding from the upstairs fire I had to buy a new stove and am still learning how to use it. I haven't cooked a meal since January 2. First up was Cincinnati Chili on the stove top. My 2nd meal involves baking inside the oven. Here is my recipe for:

Quiche Lorraine

 First make a 9 inch Flaky Vinegar Pie Crust (or buy a pie crust). Making one is simple:

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 stick (= 1/2 cup) cold butter, sliced and diced quickly to keep it cold
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cider vinegar (the flaky crust’s not so secret ingredient. Vinegar slightly retards gluten to keep the crust from toughening.)
6 tablespoons ice cold water (or whatever it takes, add drops at a time)

Directions:

1) Stir the dry ingredients together.

2) Add the wet ingredients to form a dough ball.

3) Refrigerate for 30 minutes or so before removing to roll out flat with a rolling pin on a floured cutting board.

4) Lay across a pie pan; cut; and using a folk, prick holes across the dough. It lets steam escape as the quiche bakes.

Quiche Lorraine (the filling)

Ingredients

12 slices crispy bacon, crumbled

1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup diced onion
4 eggs
1 cup evaporated milk (or cream, or half and half)
1 teaspoon salt
12 turns of the black pepper mill (= 1/2 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or use cayenne pepper) 
a sprinkle of dried garlic
a sprinkle of dried celery
a sprinkle of Herbs de Provence (if you have it)

Directions

1) Mix the bacon, shredded Swiss cheese and onion together and spread on the unbaked pie crust.

2) Next whisk together the eggs, milk and seasonings. Pour over the bacon, cheese and onions. (You can eyeball the milk and stop if the consistency looks runny enough as you mix. If using a can of evaporated milk, save the rest to lighten coffee.)

3) Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature t0 350 degrees F for another 30 minutes or until the quiche has set in the center.

4) Pull out of the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting to eat.

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Which Area Rug Do You Like Best?

Click to enlarge

Take a look at two area rugs: Both are 100% wool and made in India by established rug merchants. At full price one is 4 1/4 times more expensive then the other (and likely of slightly better quality). And yet, both are machine woven (as opposed to top of the heap hand looped rugs) -- so these two are more or less equivalent quality-wise.

As expected, hand weaved area rugs are thousands of dollars higher than machine weaved rugs ... costing about $8,000 - $15,000+ for an 8' by 10' versus about $1,500 - $5,000+ for machine weaved. A consumer must decide if s/he wants to put his/er money into home goods that get walked on daily. It's what I had to decide in replacing my area rug.

So as not to influence your choice I will only say: Of the 2-machine weaved area rugs above: 

Rug pads extend the life of your rug.

A) I loved one best upon sight in the store.

B) The other was a lovely online closeout find. It had the similar colors and warmth as the original that caught my eye ... for less.

I had 3 criteria in choosing my rug. I desired something: 

1. Well-made for the money spent;

2. 100% wool, no synthetic fibers;

My old rug

3. Consisting of the color family of my old rug (so I wouldn't have to change everything else in my apartment to match). Moreover, my old rug had striking pops of color, yet still bestowed a warm cozy feel to the room. (In fact, I loved it a little too much but now must move on as my hookah smoking upstairs' neighbor's fire ruined it.)

Rugs can pull a room together as my old rug did. If you love certain colors, there is no need to change them. Begin with what you like, and go from there.

How do we decide when to pay a higher price for articles including area rugs? Here's how I decide: If something is 10 times more than the other, I ask myself if I like it 10 times more. When the answer is yes, pay the piper. When the answer is no, save.

I never lie to myself by pretending to like both equally, but sometimes I don't like them enough, or value them enough to pay the piper more. At times I decide to save the difference if a cheaper alternative fits the bill.

So now readers select your rug: Which rug do you like best? And ... do you spend thousands of dollars for hand spun rugs as some people do ... and why? This could be an interesting discussion. For what items will you pay up?


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Stylish Sun Protection: Hats

For Trish, a link to this two-tone hat.

Skin doctors are always advising us to wear hats to protect our face, ears and neck from the sun's UVA and UVB rays, but how many of us do it? Beginning in the spring, I wear visors, but they don't shield all of these important areas, so I must do better! 

Australian hat company, Wallaroo makes it easy by offering a wide range of fashionable and functional sun hats in cotton, paper and other natural fibers. They are designed with a 3-4 inch brim you can turn up. Made for men, women and children, the hats are flexible, crushable and travel well. 

Scala makes an adorable 4-inch brim cotton hat in 11 colors that also offers superb protection from the sun's ultra violet light. It has a hidden drawstring so the hat can be adjusted to fit all head sizes. Like Wallaroo's sun hats, they can be rolled up to pack for trips. They are hand washable too.

Not only do sun hats protect us from skin cancer, they shield us from wrinkles and premature aging. So now that we've sprung forward, I will start wearing them. 

Are you already in the good habit of wearing hats?


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NARS Spring Beauty

As it turns out, splurging on your birthday is very common. Not only did I read it in a mainstream newspaper, I can confirm it. Last summer, I bought myself a few treats on my birthday: a lipstick, a blush and a necklace. I had been eyeballing each for months, and used my birthday as the reason to pull the trigger.

Who knows? I may treat myself again to a little something this year. I would not be unhappy with any of the following three of  NARS spring wearables:

1) Exposed Cheek Palette $59 - Contains 6 lightweight buildable pigments that delivers a sheer wash of color. It flatters all skin tones and can be applied wet or dry for different effects. 

The 6 shades are: 

• Tell All (pearlescent golden pink)
• Now Or Never (satin terracotta)
• Give It Away (satin nude)
• Make You Mine (satin peach)
• Come Hither (satin watermelon)
• New Fling (satin fuchsia)

What's more: I tested them at Ulta. They are lovely and natural ... and yes, the colors can be layered for a flattering finish!

2) Skin Deep Eyeshadow Palette $59 - It has 12 neutral hues to mix and match on eyes and brows. The colors range from subtle to smoky in rich mattes to pretty shimmers and smoldering metallics The palette was created to line, define, highlight and shade your eyes. See it and you will covet it! 

The 12 Shades are:

• Taunt (matte cream)
• Sophia (matte rich cool brown)
• Whipped (matte warm brown)
• Undressed (matte taupe brown)
• Bali (matte deep neutral taupe)
• Icon (shimmering rosy gold)
• Basic Instinct (shimmering icy rose)
• Coconut Grove (matte deep brown)
• Centerfold (shimmering grey beige)
• Calendar Girl (shimmering golden brown)
• Faster Pussycat (metallic copper)
• Unbuttoned (shimmering deep brown) 

3) Orgasm Threesome Set $29 - consists of mini sizes of product in NARS classic orgasm shade - a peachy pink with subtle gold shimmer. The multi-tasking set, which can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips consists of:

• Blush in Orgasm (0.12 oz)
• Lip Gloss in Orgasm (0.12 oz)
• The Multiple in Orgasm (0.14 oz)

The Orgasm Threesome Set was the item I walked into the store to see, but for now it is only available online, arriving in stores soon!

Trust me: If you don't need any more eyeshadow or blush, you will still be tempted by the 2 palettes. The Orgasm Threesome Set is half the price of the palettes. Although minis, they last; flatter every skin tone; and  are still a good value. 

On your birthday you must decide ... how good will you be to yourself?

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Naptime In A LoveSac Beanbag

Look! A giant beanbag -- 8 feet long and 4 feet high -- it is fittingly called the BigOne. Made by LoveSac, a furniture company that also manufactures sacs and sectional couches, the BigOne is stuffed with Durafoam, which unlike plastic beans, doesn't compress over time and distributes weight evenly according to the retailer. Moreover, it comes with a changeable and machine washable faux-fur slipcover. 

Provided you have room in your home and don't mind the $1,300 price tag, the BigOne looks like a comfortable resting place to take naps or watch television. Can you envision one of these in your living room? A couch, a chair and a BigOne. Your furball will surely give it his seal of approval.

A gallery photo on the LoveSac website. Too adorable not to post.

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Snickerdoodle Cake

Photo: Foodnetwork using a whipped egg white frosting and torching it, I simplified the frosting.

Due to the gas shutoff (after the hookah smoker's fire) in our building, I haven't posted recipes on THE SAVVY SHOPPER lately. Have you noticed? I miss baking yet meanwhile, discovered snickerdoodle cookies. After ConEd gives us the green light to return gas to our apartment line, I'll make this cake. As usual, I like to share ... but also can click here myself to remember how to make it (the one and only time, I'm not testing my tweaks beforehand. But, no worries, it's a simple butter cake flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar, therefore I can eyeball the ingredients :) --

Snickerdoodle Cake

Photo: thespuceeats

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1/2 cup white sugar 
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs (Add one at a time and beat in-between.)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla

Extra butter to grease your cake pans.

Directions:

1) With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars.

2) Add one egg at a time. Incorporate.

3) Next add the buttermilk, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4) Toss in the rest of the flavorings: cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until uniform about 2 minutes.

Usually I use two pans, than if I desire four layers, I cut each cake layer in half. However, you can use 4 cake pans if you wish.

5) Pour the batter into 2 well greased 9" cake pans. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes, or until done in the center. 

6) After removing from the oven, let the cake cool for about 5 minutes, scraping the sides of each pan with a knife. Wait a beat and while they are still warm, remove from the cake pans. (Too hot, they fall apart, but if no longer warm, they stick to the sides of the pans and fall apart.) After removal, cool completely.

Snickerdoodle Frosting

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup condensed milk (or rich cream, I never stock it.)
2 teaspoons vanilla (or more!)
2 teaspoons cinnamon (or more!)
5 cups of confectionery sugar (I just grab the box and add powdered sugar until I get a stiff, yet creamy consistency.)

Optional: Add 2 - 3 tablespoons of soft butter (I usually skip the butter in the frosting. The butter will help keep the frosting moist if you plan to eat the cake days later, as well as, add flavor and more calories. (You must take the bad with the good.)

Directions:

Generously, frost all your cake layers. Some people sprinkle the frosted cake with cinnamon sugar, but I don't. I might sprinkle a little cinnamon powder on top to garnish.

++++++++++++++++++++++
Should we turn the recipe into a Single Serving Mug Cake?

Ingredients:

Photo: sugarandspiceglitter

1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch of salt
Skip the egg (unless you use the rest (minus a tablespoon) of it for something else). Substitute 1 tablespoon of applesauce; or mashed banana; or mashed avocado; or even a nut butter.
3 tablespoons buttermilk (If the batter needs a tad more, add it drops at a time)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or more!)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1) Mix the ingredients (in the order as the above cake directions, beating with a fork in the same mug you will use to bake it in the microwave. Incorporate well.

2) Microwave for one minute. Check it. Microwave for 10 seconds more at a time until done.  

3) Frost the mug cake by making a small portion of the frosting above. Eyeball the amount. Garnish the top with cinnamon. 

Baking is science, but not rocket science. Enjoy!


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IT's Velvet Luxe LBD Makeup Brushes For Ulta

Quality makeup brushes are necessary, but usually pricey! With cheap brushes, shedding is often a problem. After I tired of picking tiny hairs off my face, I walked over to Ulta to buy an IT Powder Brush For Ulta (lists for $48)  from the company's Velvet Luxe LBD line. Fortunately, it was half price on promotion. 

This powder brush is a makeup tool I love! The handle is easy to hold and control. The brush is dense; soft; and gives an even application for a smooth finish. After daily use for the last 8 months, there is absolutely no shedding of bristles.

If you are going to splurge on one cosmetic brush, this is the one to buy.

Recently IT launched a travel kit of 5 brushes, however, I think it's a waste of money. Full-size brushes don't take up much room in a suitcase, nor add significant weight. Instead: Splurge on one good brush that you use daily ... for me it was IT's Velvet Luxe LBD powder brush. For you it could be the retailer's blush, or eyeshadow brush. Whatever cosmetic you use daily, buy a good cosmetic brush to apply it.

With its sales and rewards, Ulta is an excellent retailer to pick up cosmetics and makeup tools.


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