Below is a list of products I use to maintain my skin and a brief description of each.
Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar
This is a gentle yet thorough cleanser. It entirely removes liquid foundation, liquid liner, mascara, etc., leaving a clean face with no residue. It comes in an original and a fragrance-free formula, both of which I have tried. The fragrance-free formula is definitely NOT fragrance-free, and doesn't have the most pleasant scent, but the cleansing ability of this product is perfect. It costs $2.77 for a single bar at Target, and can also be bought in packs of 3 for a cheaper price per bar.
St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Cleanser &
St. Ives Fresh Skin Olive Cleanser
Both of these have comparable cleansing abilities. They are very, very gentle and will not remove makeup from your skin as easily as the Neutrogena bar would. However, this is ideal for a morning moisturizer as all it has to remove is oil/bacteria that accumulated over the course of the night. Does not leave skin feeling tight or excessively dry and would likely be ideal for sensitive skin types. The main differences are in the scents (the Olive Cleanser smells pretty bad) and in the fact that the Apricot Cleanser has a very small amount of exfoliating beads in it, but not too many to still be an effective daily cleanser.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub - Blemish & Blackhead Control &
Queen Helene Pomegranate & Raspberry Facial Scrub
These are both effective exfoliating scrubs that leave the skin feeling soft and pores looking clear. The St. Ives Scrub is slightly more abrasive, with larger exfoliating beads that might be too rough for some sensitive skin types. The St. Ives scrub also contains 2% salycyclic acid, which should help clear out acne. The pomegranate scrub has finer beads and is therefore more gentle. I exfoliate with the St. Ives scrub on Sundays to clear my face completely of dead skin cells and use the Queen Helene as a kind of gentler maintenance step in the middle of the week.
Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque
At around $4 a tube, this masque is a really inexpensive way to pamper yourself and improve your skin. Every Friday night I apply this green masque to my face, most generously in my problem areas, and allow it to dry for 15-20 minutes. It has an incredible cooling sensation, and when it dries, you can see where it has sunken into pores and removed any impurities. I also use this as a spot treatment when I have a breakout mid-week; I apply a small amount just to that area, allow to dry and rinse off. It works wonders!
Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Moisturizing Lotion
I purchased this at the end of the summer because I didn't want to bid adieu to my summertime glow. I used to apply this nightly to my face, neck and upper chest area but have since kind of fallen out of the habit of using it. It has a small amount of glitter in it and very faintly has that distinctive self-tanner smell, which is why I avoided using it for daytime. I purchased the Revitalizing formula for Medium Skin tones, and now think that for a more pronounced tan, I could have gone with the version for darker skin.
Up & Up Facial Cleansing Wipes
I picked these up for a few dollars after hearing a makeup guru on YouTube give them the thumbs up. This is the Target brand, but the package claims these wipes were designed to mimic the Ponds Clean Sweep makeup wipes. The scent is fantastic and they do a great job at removing foundation and eyeshadow. They definitely do not effectively remove mascara, so I just follow the wipes up with my usual nighttime facial cleanser to get that off. Generally I cut the wipes in half and only use one half - it's enough to remove my eye makeup and all my face makeup before I cleanse my face.
Planning on trying: Cetaphil Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Thursday, January 28, 2010
ELF Brush Review
I own quite a few of the brushes from ELF (eyeslipsface.com), and am overall very impressed with their quality, especially for the price. The white-handled brushes are $1 and the black-handled brushes from their Studio Line are $3 apiece. Here are my in-depth reviews for the ELF brushes I currently own.
Regular $1 Brushes Mentioned:
Eyeshadow brush - 5 stars
This brush is very soft and fluffy, as opposed to a flat shader brush. It does a great job at picking up eyeshadow (it would work very well with pigments) and packing it onto the lid. It is also great for an overall wash of color from the lid to the brow bone.
Blending eye brush - 5 stars
This blending brush is shorter and denser than most of the other eyeshadow blending brushes I own, which makes it great to build color intensity in the crease. I use this brush to apply the preliminary crease colors and then use another clean, less-dense blending brush to blend out shadows for a softer finish.
Total face brush - 3 stars
The bristles are neither optimally soft nor dense, so the quality is kind of underwhelming on this brush. It is definitely very fluffy and would be good only for applying a very sheer layer of powder or bronzer to one's face. Personally, I don't believe it picks up enough product to use for the application of setting powder, but it could be decent for touch-ups throughout the day. Definitely not an essential.
Blushing, bronzing & blending brush - 3 stars
The bristles are of the same density and texture as those of the total face brush. The angled design makes it ideal for contouring the cheekbones, nose, and sides of the forehead. It could be used as a blush brush, but there are better inexpensive alternatives for that out there. If you want to experiment with an angled brush but don't want to spend too much on a higher-end brand, give this one a try. I know there are probably better variants of this brush out there - I am going to give the Italian Badger angled brush from Coastal Scents a try next.
Concealer brush - 0 STARS!
The brush is too small to conceal anything of notice. It was incredibly poorly-made, with the ferrule detaching from the wooden handle within the first few uses. I used glue to re-attach it, but I may as well have thrown it away given how little I use it. If I ever do use it, it will be as a lip brush for a more controlled application of darker colors.
Studio Line $3 Brushes Mentioned:
Eyeshadow "C" brush - 4 stars
This brush's bristles are slightly softer, shorter and stiffer than those of the $1 ELF eyeshadow brush. Because of the stiffness, it does not pick up color as effectively as its $1 counterpart. I mention in my video review of these brushes that this brush is of decent quality, but it doesn't do anything distinct that any other typical eyeshadow brush can't do - so I just don't see this as a necessity.
Contour brush - 5 stars
Its synthetic bristles are very soft and very dense. It has the same dome shape and stiffness as a pencil brush but is slightly too big to use for that purpose. It applies very concentrated, controlled, intense color to the crease, so I would recommend using it to darken the outer V. Because of its small size and denseness, it is not ideal for blending crease colors (use a fluffier brush for that purpose).
Complexion brush - 4 stars
I swirl this brush in powder to set my foundation on a daily basis. Its bristles are very soft and the design is sleek and sturdy. It could also be used to sweep bronzer from the temples to the cheekbones or to provide a slight contour. My only complaint is that I had expected the brush to be a little stiffer, for a more controlled application of powders (something like the MAC 134). Because the brush doesn't offer the stiffness I had expected, it applies powder in a very sheer layer.
Blush brush - 5 stars
The same soft synthetic bristles and sturdy design are featured in this flat blush brush. I personally think the brush is too small to use for the application of blush, though it is a matter of personal preference. This brush is ideal for sweeping a highlight color from the top of the cheekbones to the temple, and down the center of the nose. It picks up the perfect amount of product and its soft bristles make blending effortless. It has become an integral part of my daily face routine.
Powder brush - 5 stars
I use this brush to stipple on liquid foundations and then blend it out for a glowing, airbrushed finish. It is a very dense, soft, flat-topped brush (probably comparable to most flat-topped buffer brushes out there). Unlike your typical stippling brush (e.g. the MAC 187), which has white bristles that are not dense, this brush is full all the way through, which I believe prevents the streaking effect I sometimes get with a stippling brush. It would also be excellent for buffing powder foundations or setting powders into the skin.
Regular $1 Brushes Mentioned:
Eyeshadow brush - 5 stars
This brush is very soft and fluffy, as opposed to a flat shader brush. It does a great job at picking up eyeshadow (it would work very well with pigments) and packing it onto the lid. It is also great for an overall wash of color from the lid to the brow bone.
Blending eye brush - 5 stars
This blending brush is shorter and denser than most of the other eyeshadow blending brushes I own, which makes it great to build color intensity in the crease. I use this brush to apply the preliminary crease colors and then use another clean, less-dense blending brush to blend out shadows for a softer finish.
Total face brush - 3 stars
The bristles are neither optimally soft nor dense, so the quality is kind of underwhelming on this brush. It is definitely very fluffy and would be good only for applying a very sheer layer of powder or bronzer to one's face. Personally, I don't believe it picks up enough product to use for the application of setting powder, but it could be decent for touch-ups throughout the day. Definitely not an essential.
Blushing, bronzing & blending brush - 3 stars
The bristles are of the same density and texture as those of the total face brush. The angled design makes it ideal for contouring the cheekbones, nose, and sides of the forehead. It could be used as a blush brush, but there are better inexpensive alternatives for that out there. If you want to experiment with an angled brush but don't want to spend too much on a higher-end brand, give this one a try. I know there are probably better variants of this brush out there - I am going to give the Italian Badger angled brush from Coastal Scents a try next.
Concealer brush - 0 STARS!
The brush is too small to conceal anything of notice. It was incredibly poorly-made, with the ferrule detaching from the wooden handle within the first few uses. I used glue to re-attach it, but I may as well have thrown it away given how little I use it. If I ever do use it, it will be as a lip brush for a more controlled application of darker colors.
Studio Line $3 Brushes Mentioned:
Eyeshadow "C" brush - 4 stars
This brush's bristles are slightly softer, shorter and stiffer than those of the $1 ELF eyeshadow brush. Because of the stiffness, it does not pick up color as effectively as its $1 counterpart. I mention in my video review of these brushes that this brush is of decent quality, but it doesn't do anything distinct that any other typical eyeshadow brush can't do - so I just don't see this as a necessity.
Contour brush - 5 stars
Its synthetic bristles are very soft and very dense. It has the same dome shape and stiffness as a pencil brush but is slightly too big to use for that purpose. It applies very concentrated, controlled, intense color to the crease, so I would recommend using it to darken the outer V. Because of its small size and denseness, it is not ideal for blending crease colors (use a fluffier brush for that purpose).
Complexion brush - 4 stars
I swirl this brush in powder to set my foundation on a daily basis. Its bristles are very soft and the design is sleek and sturdy. It could also be used to sweep bronzer from the temples to the cheekbones or to provide a slight contour. My only complaint is that I had expected the brush to be a little stiffer, for a more controlled application of powders (something like the MAC 134). Because the brush doesn't offer the stiffness I had expected, it applies powder in a very sheer layer.
Blush brush - 5 stars
The same soft synthetic bristles and sturdy design are featured in this flat blush brush. I personally think the brush is too small to use for the application of blush, though it is a matter of personal preference. This brush is ideal for sweeping a highlight color from the top of the cheekbones to the temple, and down the center of the nose. It picks up the perfect amount of product and its soft bristles make blending effortless. It has become an integral part of my daily face routine.
Powder brush - 5 stars
I use this brush to stipple on liquid foundations and then blend it out for a glowing, airbrushed finish. It is a very dense, soft, flat-topped brush (probably comparable to most flat-topped buffer brushes out there). Unlike your typical stippling brush (e.g. the MAC 187), which has white bristles that are not dense, this brush is full all the way through, which I believe prevents the streaking effect I sometimes get with a stippling brush. It would also be excellent for buffing powder foundations or setting powders into the skin.
Foundation, Countour & Highlight Routine
These are the products I use and steps I take on a daily basis to apply my foundation, contour and highlight my face. All these products are incredibly inexpensive and accessible, but I would recommend any of them!
Products featured:
Rimmel London Renew & Lift Foundation - 103 True Ivory
ELF Tone-Correcting Concealer - Honey (Light)
CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder - Translucent Light
OR NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder - Translucent
ELF All-Over Cover Stick - Ivory
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder - Medium
ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder - Matte Bronze, Luminance
Milani Mosaic Powder Blush - Sweet Cheeks
Brushes Used:
ELF Studio Line Powder Brush
Studio Tools Crease Brush
ELF Studio Line Complexion Brush
ELF Blushing, Bronzing & Blending Brush
ELF Studio Line Blush Brush
MAC 182 Kabuki Brush
Directions:
1) Begin with a clean, moisturized face.
2) Apply about 1.5 pumps foundation to the back of your palm and cover the tip of the ELF Studio Line Powder Brush (any flat-tipped buffer brush will likely work) by dipping it lightly into the foundation.
2) "Stipple" the foundation onto your face, blending into the neckline, until desired coverage is achieved. Once basic color has been laid down, gently swirl the brush across your entire face to remove any streaks and to blend for a flawless, airbrushed finish.
3) Apply concealer of choice to under-eye circles (I used ELF Tone-Correcting Concealer in Honey). A shade with coral or subtle orange undertones will help to cancel out any blueness from veins/under-eye circles. Dot concealer on and blend gently with fingers. Set concealer using a fluffy blending brush and translucent powder.
4) Use a creamy concealer (I used ELF All-Over Cover Stick in Ivory) to mask blemishes or any other imperfections.
5) Set foundation using a pressed or loose powder. Use a translucent powder if you are satisfied with your coverage, or use a colored powder for a little bit of extra coverage. I applied Revlon Colorstay pressed powder in Medium with my ELF Studio Line Complexion Brush.
6) Take a matte bronzer (shimmery bronzer will only amplify the areas your are trying to contour) and an angled blush brush of your choice. I used ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze and their $1 Blushing, Bronzing & Blending Brush. Sweep color gently beneath cheekbone, starting with more pressure than you begin with to have the color fade gradually into your skin. Once desired color intensity is achieved, swirl brush gently over area to blend out any harsh lines.
7) Optional: Contour sides of nose and forehead, and beneath the chin, with a small amount of bronzer, making sure to blend out harsh lines for a natural look.
8) Using ELF Studio Line Blush Brush, gently sweep their Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance from the top of the cheekbones to the temples and blend for a natural, sunkissed highlight.
9) Optional: Highlight center of nose using the same products mentioned above.
10) Tap a duo-fiber stippling brush into blush of choice to pick up a small amount of color and pat onto apples of cheeks. Then swirl brush over area and blend slightly back towards ears. If desired, add more color to apples of cheeks.
I do this on a daily basis - when I am in a hurry, I apply the foundation using my fingers. This is faster, but does not give me optimal coverage. For touch-ups throughout the day, I use a blotting sheet in oily areas and follow with a sheer application of translucent powder. Translucent powder will mattify the face without making the skin look too powdery or cakey.
Products featured:
Rimmel London Renew & Lift Foundation - 103 True Ivory
ELF Tone-Correcting Concealer - Honey (Light)
CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder - Translucent Light
OR NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder - Translucent
ELF All-Over Cover Stick - Ivory
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder - Medium
ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder - Matte Bronze, Luminance
Milani Mosaic Powder Blush - Sweet Cheeks
Brushes Used:
ELF Studio Line Powder Brush
Studio Tools Crease Brush
ELF Studio Line Complexion Brush
ELF Blushing, Bronzing & Blending Brush
ELF Studio Line Blush Brush
MAC 182 Kabuki Brush
Directions:
1) Begin with a clean, moisturized face.
2) Apply about 1.5 pumps foundation to the back of your palm and cover the tip of the ELF Studio Line Powder Brush (any flat-tipped buffer brush will likely work) by dipping it lightly into the foundation.
2) "Stipple" the foundation onto your face, blending into the neckline, until desired coverage is achieved. Once basic color has been laid down, gently swirl the brush across your entire face to remove any streaks and to blend for a flawless, airbrushed finish.
3) Apply concealer of choice to under-eye circles (I used ELF Tone-Correcting Concealer in Honey). A shade with coral or subtle orange undertones will help to cancel out any blueness from veins/under-eye circles. Dot concealer on and blend gently with fingers. Set concealer using a fluffy blending brush and translucent powder.
4) Use a creamy concealer (I used ELF All-Over Cover Stick in Ivory) to mask blemishes or any other imperfections.
5) Set foundation using a pressed or loose powder. Use a translucent powder if you are satisfied with your coverage, or use a colored powder for a little bit of extra coverage. I applied Revlon Colorstay pressed powder in Medium with my ELF Studio Line Complexion Brush.
6) Take a matte bronzer (shimmery bronzer will only amplify the areas your are trying to contour) and an angled blush brush of your choice. I used ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze and their $1 Blushing, Bronzing & Blending Brush. Sweep color gently beneath cheekbone, starting with more pressure than you begin with to have the color fade gradually into your skin. Once desired color intensity is achieved, swirl brush gently over area to blend out any harsh lines.
7) Optional: Contour sides of nose and forehead, and beneath the chin, with a small amount of bronzer, making sure to blend out harsh lines for a natural look.
8) Using ELF Studio Line Blush Brush, gently sweep their Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance from the top of the cheekbones to the temples and blend for a natural, sunkissed highlight.
9) Optional: Highlight center of nose using the same products mentioned above.
10) Tap a duo-fiber stippling brush into blush of choice to pick up a small amount of color and pat onto apples of cheeks. Then swirl brush over area and blend slightly back towards ears. If desired, add more color to apples of cheeks.
I do this on a daily basis - when I am in a hurry, I apply the foundation using my fingers. This is faster, but does not give me optimal coverage. For touch-ups throughout the day, I use a blotting sheet in oily areas and follow with a sheer application of translucent powder. Translucent powder will mattify the face without making the skin look too powdery or cakey.
Soft Everyday Eye Look
This is a soft, subtle everyday eye look with champagne and bronze colors. This is an easy look that will match essentially anything! I have listed the specific products I use, but of course you can use comparable items from your own collection.
Products used:
1) ELF Eyelid Primer
2) Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadows - Skinlights
3) Coastal Scents 88 Palette
4) Sally Girl 99 Cent Eyeshadow - Champagne
5) NYC Eyeliner Pencils - White, Taupe
6) L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner - Carbon Black
7) Maybelline Great Lash BIG Mascara - Blackest Black
8) Rimmel Extra Super Lash - Black
9) ELF Curly Eyelash Tool
9) Revlon Lipstick - Rosedew
Tutorial:
1) Apply primer to eye area and use fingers spread from lid to brow bone. Spread a small amount of primer beneath your lower lash line.
2) Taking the lightest shade of the Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadow palette in Skinlights, apply to the lid up to the browbone. Make sure not too apply too much, as it will crease if applied too heavily.
3) Using the Coastal Scents 88 Palette, apply a matte color 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. This will not provide much color, but the powdery base will provide an easier canvas upon which to blend other colors.
4) Take the Sally Girl eyeshadow in Champagne and a shader brush and pat the color onto your lid. Then apply it just under the brow bone and blend for a subtle, shimmery highlight.
5) Using a crease/blending brush, apply a lighter golden-bronze color to your crease, building the color most in your outer corner and blending it lightly along your entire crease.
6) Take a darker bronze color and the same blending brush and apply again to the crease, this time focusing only on the outer V to build intensity and definition.
7) Take a clean, fluffy blending brush and blend the crease colors gently together, alternating between "windshield-wiper" and circular motions to erase any harsh lines.
8) Line your waterline with a white eyeliner (I used NYC eyeliner) and set by patting a matte white eyeshadow onto your waterline.
9) Apply a taupe or bronzey eyeliner to the outer third of your bottom lash line (optional).
10) Using L'Oreal Telescopic liquid liner in Carbon Black, apply liner to your upper lash line, lining about the upper 2/3.
11) Curl your lashes and apply mascara of choice (I used Maybelline Great Lash: BIG in Blackest Black) to upper lashes. Apply mascara to bottom lashes (I used Rimmel Extra Super Lash).
12) Apply a pale rosey pink color to the lips to match the soft, natural look. I used Revlon lipstick in Rosedew (rosey pink with subtle gold shimmer).
Enjoy your soft, natural look!
Products used:
1) ELF Eyelid Primer
2) Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadows - Skinlights
3) Coastal Scents 88 Palette
4) Sally Girl 99 Cent Eyeshadow - Champagne
5) NYC Eyeliner Pencils - White, Taupe
6) L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner - Carbon Black
7) Maybelline Great Lash BIG Mascara - Blackest Black
8) Rimmel Extra Super Lash - Black
9) ELF Curly Eyelash Tool
9) Revlon Lipstick - Rosedew
Tutorial:
1) Apply primer to eye area and use fingers spread from lid to brow bone. Spread a small amount of primer beneath your lower lash line.
2) Taking the lightest shade of the Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadow palette in Skinlights, apply to the lid up to the browbone. Make sure not too apply too much, as it will crease if applied too heavily.
3) Using the Coastal Scents 88 Palette, apply a matte color 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. This will not provide much color, but the powdery base will provide an easier canvas upon which to blend other colors.
4) Take the Sally Girl eyeshadow in Champagne and a shader brush and pat the color onto your lid. Then apply it just under the brow bone and blend for a subtle, shimmery highlight.
5) Using a crease/blending brush, apply a lighter golden-bronze color to your crease, building the color most in your outer corner and blending it lightly along your entire crease.
6) Take a darker bronze color and the same blending brush and apply again to the crease, this time focusing only on the outer V to build intensity and definition.
7) Take a clean, fluffy blending brush and blend the crease colors gently together, alternating between "windshield-wiper" and circular motions to erase any harsh lines.
8) Line your waterline with a white eyeliner (I used NYC eyeliner) and set by patting a matte white eyeshadow onto your waterline.
9) Apply a taupe or bronzey eyeliner to the outer third of your bottom lash line (optional).
10) Using L'Oreal Telescopic liquid liner in Carbon Black, apply liner to your upper lash line, lining about the upper 2/3.
11) Curl your lashes and apply mascara of choice (I used Maybelline Great Lash: BIG in Blackest Black) to upper lashes. Apply mascara to bottom lashes (I used Rimmel Extra Super Lash).
12) Apply a pale rosey pink color to the lips to match the soft, natural look. I used Revlon lipstick in Rosedew (rosey pink with subtle gold shimmer).
Enjoy your soft, natural look!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Holiday Gifts and a Mini-Haul
Some products I acquired around the holiday season. Some were gifts from friends and family, and some I purchased as a little treat to myself. :)
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation - 100 Ivory
L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick - Peach Fuzz
Rimmel London Lipstick - Crush
Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner
Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Conditioner
Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship Leave-in Split End Protector
Bath & Body Works Body Lotion - Coconut Verbena, Sea Island Cotton, and Pearberry
Bath & Body Works Fragrance Mist - Sea Island Cotton
St. Ives Olive Cleanser
Queen Helene Pomegranate & Raspberry Scrub
OPI Nail Lacquer - Chapel of Love, Merry Midnight
Conair 3-Way Lighted Mirror
I received these all awhile ago, so updates and reviews will follow within the next few weeks/months.
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation - 100 Ivory
L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick - Peach Fuzz
Rimmel London Lipstick - Crush
Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner
Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Conditioner
Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship Leave-in Split End Protector
Bath & Body Works Body Lotion - Coconut Verbena, Sea Island Cotton, and Pearberry
Bath & Body Works Fragrance Mist - Sea Island Cotton
St. Ives Olive Cleanser
Queen Helene Pomegranate & Raspberry Scrub
OPI Nail Lacquer - Chapel of Love, Merry Midnight
Conair 3-Way Lighted Mirror
I received these all awhile ago, so updates and reviews will follow within the next few weeks/months.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Mini Haul: Hair, Skin & Smile
Being incredibly analytical (not to mention frugal), I'm prone to research products for weeks at a time before finally bringing myself to buy them. I'll search YouTube for reviews by makeup gurus, look at its ratings on TotalBeauty.com, and compare ingredient lists with similar products by other brands. But today I was out and thought I'd finally pick up a few things I've been eying for a long time.
1) Tresemme Vitamin B12 and Gelatin Anti-Breakage Conditioner
Alright, so this one one was kind of a spur-of-the-moment buy. I'd actually been wanting the Garnier Body Boost Conditioner, as I'm cursed with incredibly fine, thin hair that won't hold any style and lies pretty much perfectly flat. Boring. I even went to Target, where the larger bottles were on sale for $4.50 - but when I saw the Tresemme formula specifying "anti-breakage," I was sold. I cut my hair about two months ago and am dying for it to grow out again, which is something I struggle with. I'm hoping this will help my fine hair resist breakage and regain its length much healthier than it was before I cut it.
2) St. Ives Apricot Scrub: Blemish & Blackhead Control
I've heard a lot of buzz about this exfoliant, and I'm hoping that it will llive up to its name and really help me get rid of the blackheads on my nose and cheek area. I tried it as soon as I got home (obviously I was very eager) and am loving it so far, though it's too early to tell. I don't find it excessively abrasive or painful at all, and I am absolutely in love with the apricot scent.
3) Jergens Natural Glow: Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer (for Medium Skin Tones)
The Express version of this moisturizer was on a list of most talked-about beauty products on TotalBeauty.com, so naturally I started reviewing the Natural Glow line and settled on this. I'd read that Jergens recently changed the formula, so that it now has a more tolerable scent and gives a natural and gradual bronzy, streak-free tan that won't leave me looking orangey or fake. With fall and winter upon us, I'm hoping this moisturizer will help me maintain my summer glow. I don't find the scent unpleasant at all, and I'm excited for some results.
4) PlusWhite 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel
I heard about this product on Kandee Johnson's YouTube channel and figured I had to check it out. It was on sale at CVS - I got just the gel, not the kit with the mouthwash and teeth mold thing - and followed her suggestion to buy sports mouthguards at Wal-Mart for $1 each.
Needless to say, I'm very excited about all my purchases and can't wait to see how they all work out in the long-term!
1) Tresemme Vitamin B12 and Gelatin Anti-Breakage Conditioner
Alright, so this one one was kind of a spur-of-the-moment buy. I'd actually been wanting the Garnier Body Boost Conditioner, as I'm cursed with incredibly fine, thin hair that won't hold any style and lies pretty much perfectly flat. Boring. I even went to Target, where the larger bottles were on sale for $4.50 - but when I saw the Tresemme formula specifying "anti-breakage," I was sold. I cut my hair about two months ago and am dying for it to grow out again, which is something I struggle with. I'm hoping this will help my fine hair resist breakage and regain its length much healthier than it was before I cut it.
2) St. Ives Apricot Scrub: Blemish & Blackhead Control
I've heard a lot of buzz about this exfoliant, and I'm hoping that it will llive up to its name and really help me get rid of the blackheads on my nose and cheek area. I tried it as soon as I got home (obviously I was very eager) and am loving it so far, though it's too early to tell. I don't find it excessively abrasive or painful at all, and I am absolutely in love with the apricot scent.
3) Jergens Natural Glow: Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer (for Medium Skin Tones)
The Express version of this moisturizer was on a list of most talked-about beauty products on TotalBeauty.com, so naturally I started reviewing the Natural Glow line and settled on this. I'd read that Jergens recently changed the formula, so that it now has a more tolerable scent and gives a natural and gradual bronzy, streak-free tan that won't leave me looking orangey or fake. With fall and winter upon us, I'm hoping this moisturizer will help me maintain my summer glow. I don't find the scent unpleasant at all, and I'm excited for some results.
4) PlusWhite 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel
I heard about this product on Kandee Johnson's YouTube channel and figured I had to check it out. It was on sale at CVS - I got just the gel, not the kit with the mouthwash and teeth mold thing - and followed her suggestion to buy sports mouthguards at Wal-Mart for $1 each.
Needless to say, I'm very excited about all my purchases and can't wait to see how they all work out in the long-term!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
My First Makeup Encounter
I'll be the first to admit that my fascination and experience with makeup are limited. Throughout most of my school years, I lived in a household that forbade makeup and fervently believed in the parental mantra: "You're beautiful enough just the way you are!"
Once in elementary school, I went to a birthday party where the hostess gave out little goody bags. Among the contents was a miniature silver nail polish with Hello Kitty's face on the bottle. Nail polish was a definite no-go as well, but I kept the pretty bottle in my little silver train case of miscellaneous treasures, among them marbles, cards and pony bead bracelets.
It was years and years later, already in the 9th or 10th grade, that I picked up a bottle of nail polish again. By now my parents considered me old enough to wear it, as long as I chose a "tasteful color" -- absolutely no gaudy reds or outrageous neon greens. Not knowing anything about brands or quality, I picked up a bottle of creme baby pink polish by N.Y.C. because it was 99 cents, and put it on as soon as I got home.
My mom hated the color so much, she called it "Pepto-Bismol Pink," which wasn't too far from the truth. The polish was chunky and uneven, applied with the sloppy hand of a novice who'd never touched the stuff before in her life. Even so, I found I loved it. One of my simple joys was picking up another 99 cent bottle of N.Y.C. polish at every visit to Target.
So there you have it: my first "official" experience with makeup (if nailpolish is considered makeup). It was actually a few years before I ever ended up purchasing real makeup - my very first eyeliner - but it was a start in the right direction. :)
Once in elementary school, I went to a birthday party where the hostess gave out little goody bags. Among the contents was a miniature silver nail polish with Hello Kitty's face on the bottle. Nail polish was a definite no-go as well, but I kept the pretty bottle in my little silver train case of miscellaneous treasures, among them marbles, cards and pony bead bracelets.
It was years and years later, already in the 9th or 10th grade, that I picked up a bottle of nail polish again. By now my parents considered me old enough to wear it, as long as I chose a "tasteful color" -- absolutely no gaudy reds or outrageous neon greens. Not knowing anything about brands or quality, I picked up a bottle of creme baby pink polish by N.Y.C. because it was 99 cents, and put it on as soon as I got home.
My mom hated the color so much, she called it "Pepto-Bismol Pink," which wasn't too far from the truth. The polish was chunky and uneven, applied with the sloppy hand of a novice who'd never touched the stuff before in her life. Even so, I found I loved it. One of my simple joys was picking up another 99 cent bottle of N.Y.C. polish at every visit to Target.
So there you have it: my first "official" experience with makeup (if nailpolish is considered makeup). It was actually a few years before I ever ended up purchasing real makeup - my very first eyeliner - but it was a start in the right direction. :)
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