Cristina Carlino, Miracle Worker

When Cristina Carlino appeared on my television screen last night after a nine-month absence, I had to do a double take. She looks so different!

Cristina credits the technology behind her new Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Retinoid Pads for her "miraculous" transformation.

Hmmm .... call me skeptical, but new appearance plus long absence usually equals only one thing. I just can't believe that there wasn't a little something more than a new retinoid involved here. Now I'm not saying that she had the full Joan Rivers, but I'm guessing that there just might be a human hand involved in her miraculous transformation.

If she really did get those results from her new miracle products, then Queen Bea is going to pray at the alter of the Philosophy auto-delivery gods!

What do you think? Check out some older pictures of Cristina here (scroll to the right),  here, and here.

Down the Rabbit Hole: My First trip to Sephora

Yesterday, for the first time, I ventured into the holy temple of beauty … Sephora. Wow … just, wow!!! I was so overwhelmed that I could barely take it all in. It was like I fell headfirst down the rabbit hole and landed smack dab in the middle of QVC-land. Aisle after endless aisle of products that I’d been hearing about for years were on display.

I finally got the chance to smell all the Philosophy not-really-perfume perfumes—Amazing Grace, Inner Grace, Baby Grace, Pure Grace, and Falling in Love. After smelling them for myself, I can say that yes, in fact, these are perfumes. I don’t know why Philosophy likes to pretend otherwise. And, they weren’t what I was expecting. I suppose after listening to long-winded and flowery descriptions by numerous hosts and Philosophy founder, Cristina, I had certain preconceived notions going in.

My favorite? Baby Grace. I never would have guessed that. Although I have to confess, I had just spent twenty minutes at the Yankee Candle store sniffing the new holiday candles so my smeller was a little spent.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to really test out everything since my husband, Mr. Queen Bea, and my son, Queen Bea Jr., were not-so-patiently waiting for me (Sbarro pizza was calling—Yum-O!). I plan on going back when I have more time and less men with me and I can’t wait!

And, for the record, most of the deals on the Q for the products really are deals. As Dolly Parton said, “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!” Amen, sister.

Purity Made (Not So) Simple

Philosophy's Purity Made Simple is one of the products that made the Philosophy brand what it is today. It's up there with Hope in a Jar, which was so famously made famous by being one of Oprah's Favorite Things.

Over the last few months, many customers have noticed that the product seemed different: thicker, runnier, smelly, and drying. Do the noticeable changes have anything to do with that fact that founder and on-air spokesperson, Cristina Carlino, sold the company to the Carlyle Group last year? Isn't that what usually happens when beauty companies get bought out? (I'm looking right at you, Tova!)

A very helpful poster on the QVC message boards emailed Philosophy about the problem and got a very long and rather confusing response from customer service detailing multiple mismatched ingredient labels, viscosity, and (new and improved) surfactants--all while trying to be very reassuring that nothing has actually changed. Read it for yourself here--just be sure to strap yourself in first because your head is gonna spin!

Heed the warning of Tova, corporate suits at the Carlyle Group--do NOT screw around with the formulas! It's called Purity Made Simple, not Purity Made as Clear as Mud!

On a side note, although I haven't seen it on the Q (could have been there and sold out quickly though), the new Hope in a Jar with SPF 20 sunscreen is available on Amazon.