The Search for Great Drugstore Mascara

So I'm starting to notice that my trusty MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara is starting to run low. While I really love this stuff, I just don't want to pay $21 for another one. 

There's got to be a great drugstore mascara out there, right?! In the past, I've tried L'Oreal Voluminous, which has always gotten rave reviews, and I've also tried the pink and green tube of Maybelline mascara, which is supposedly a great product as well. However, I thought they were just ok. I ended up with raccoon eyes with both of them by the end of the day, and they were miserable to try to wash off at night.

My MAC mascara has served me well, that's for sure. It has never run or flaked off, and it's easy to remove. But I wonder... do I really have to pay $21 to get a good product? I'd be curious to hear what some of your favorite mascaras are. 

Satin Pillowcases

I know this might seem completely random, but I discovered a great new beauty product: satin pillowcases! How is that a beauty product, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Satin pillowcases are not only smooth and comfy, but they can also prevent wrinkles and help your hair! 

Traditional cotton pillowcases absorb moisture, so that means that a lot of the cream or other products you put on your face before bed could get wiped off onto your pillowcase and absorbed into the cotton fibers while you sleep. Satin won't absorb. It also helps keep elasticity in your face because it won't pull on your skin. This means no more waking up with funky creases on your face, either! 

Another benefit of satin pillowcases is that they're better for your hair. Again, they're not absorbing the oils/moisture from your hair, they won't crush your curls if you have curly hair, you won't have to worry about so much breakage, and overall you'll wake up with your hair looking more like the way it did when you went to bed.

I tried a satin pillowcase for the first time last night, and I have to say that I was impressed! It felt cool on my face, too, which is always a plus is this steamy weather. I sleep with two pillows side by side, and I generally turn over from one to another during the night. This morning while I was just dozing for a few minutes after my alarm went off, I kind of turned too quickly and my pillow slid right off my bed! So the silkiness can be a little too slick at times! But I saw no other negatives. 

I slipped my satin pillowcases right over my regular cotton ones, but you don't even have to do that. I just wasn't sure if I was going to like them. My friend's grandma gave mine to me because she swears they satin pillowcases have so many benefits. And you know what, listen to your elders! They're usually right!

Goodbye, Unwanted Hair

Well, I finally did it. I decided to try laser hair removal. Last Thursday I went for a free consultation, and after it was confirmed that I'd be a good candidate, I took the plunge. I'll have treatments every few weeks for about the next year and a half. 

I'm really excited about it and hoping for good results! I did my research for quite a while before I even decided to make an appointment. I checked into the type of machines used and the feedback received.

If you wait until the hair turns gray, it can't be treated. Also, if your hair is blond or red it won't work. 

I can't wait for the day that I'll no longer have to use cream bleaches, tweezers, wax, etc! I also have to stay out of sun during treatments. If I do go to the pool or anything like that, it's fine as long as I really lather on the sunscreen and keep myself covered. 

Well, here's hoping for the best, and hoping to be free on the unwanted hair in about a year and a half!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Today I'm touching on a somewhat sensitive topic. It seems to be more and more common, but so many of us women have unwanted hair on our bodies. 

I've been seriously considering trying laser hair removal. I've dealt with tweezing, waxing, bleaching, you name it for several years now when it comes to unwanted hair on my face. It's hereditary, as most of the women in my family have the same issue. One of my cousins actually shaves her face! That's a no-no, so please never try that! And luckily, mine isn't THAT bad, but it's bad enough that I'm using the tweezers every other day. The worst area is under my chin. My mom brought it to my attention the other day that I really need to go get something done with it, because all the pulling I do on the skin there (it helps you see the hairs better so you can pull them out) is going to cause wrinkles and flabby skin as I get older! So now I feel like I really should go try laser hair removal. And if it worked, I'd love to get it done on other areas of my body, too. 

So I'm wondering if anyone has tried it. If so, did it work? How many treatments did you have? What was the cost? I really want to hear some positive testimonials before I take the plunge.

I'd also be willing to try any great products that seem to help. I recently read about this R.E.M. Spring Facial Hair Remover. I'm not quite sure what to think of it, but the reviews seem decent. For less than $15, it could be worth a try!

Affordable Keratin Treatment

As everyone knows, Keratin is the latest and greatest when it comes to nourishing hair treatments. It smooths and protects your hair, makes it easier to comb through, hydrates it, and makes it feel silky smooth. I've never had a professional keratin treatment (and let's face it, they can be pretty pricey), but I did find the best at-home product!

Just last weekend I was with my mom at the store where she buys her supplies (she's a hairdresser). When we got up to the counter, I noticed this new product and saw that it was a conditioning treatment. Ever since I started highlighting my hair again earlier this year, it's been drier and harder to comb out after I wash it. The lady who worked at the store said she had tried this new product and it was great! One excellent testimony and I'm ready to give it a shot!

So I bought some of the Biolage Keratin Dose Pro-Keratin Renewal Leave-In Spray! Whew! What a mouthful! 

I used this stuff for the first time the other night, and I can vouch that it is a miracle product! It says that your hair will be 90% more conditioned after one use, and it's completely true!! It was so easy to comb out my hair when I got out of the shower, and it feels so smooth and healthy! It even looks better! I'm sold on this product! And why wouldn't you give it a try when it's just a fraction of the price of a keratin treatment?!

Sunless Tanners

I consider myself to be a pretty low maintenance person. I've never had a manicure in my life, I've only had a pedicure once (it was not a good experience, so I don't think I'll be getting another one anytime soon), I've never had a spray tan, never had a massage... and the list goes on. I'm a do-it-myself type of person. 

Well, a few years ago I decided to try a couple of different sunless tanners. The two I used the most were the Jergens Natural Glow lotion and the L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Body Towlettes.

While I was pretty pleased with the color I got from both of these products, along with the ease of use, they both ended up peeling off of my skin after a few days, and I'd end up with orange residue on my bath towels, sheets, and clothes. I was not too happy about this! Plus, because it would come off so easily, even after I applied it, I'd have to wait for it to completely dry before I could get dressed.

Eventually, I got frustrated with the process and the fact that these sunless tanners were ruining my stuff, so I just gave up on it and embraced my paleness. But recently I've been hearing great things about some other products, particularly the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad. 

I like the fact that these are a pad because it's just so simple to apply compared to a lotion. My only concern is that I could have the same peeling problem I've had before with other products. I wonder if I just didn't moisturize enough, but I have heard from other people that they've had the same problem, so I guess it's not just me. 

Dr. Dennis Gross also makes the pads for face, so I think I might give this product a shot and see what happens. If I have the same results, then I'll know that my skin just doesn't want to glow!

Subscription Boxes

Everywhere I turn these days, a new beauty box, food box, coffee box, or something similar pops up! Whoever developed the concept of these sampling services is a genius in my opinion! The first one I ever heard of was Birchbox, which seems to get great reviews and appears to be one of the least expensive at $10/month or $110 for a year's subscription. Birchbox contains luxury beauty samples that are delivered to your door, and they also have a rewards program. You can write reviews on the samples you receive, and that earns you points that you can use to buy the full sized products. Pretty neat concept! Some of Birchbox's competitors are Ipsy and Glossybox. 

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I've recently seen more and more of these sample boxes being offered. As someone who's quite the beauty junkie, these boxes really pique my interest. I've never tried any of them, but have been toying with the idea of giving Birchbox a go. I'm curious about how big the samples are. Are they only enough for a couple of uses? And how many different items do you receive? Do you feel like you get your money's worth? 

As a foodie, I'm also intrigued by several of the healthy food boxes I've seen. There are so many, though, I don't even know where to start! I think these seem like such a fun and simple way to try new things without spending a lot of money. I'd love to hear about any experiences anyone has had with these boxes. Love 'em or leave 'em?

The Scents of Spring

A couple weeks ago I wrote about The Shades of Spring, where I highlighted some of my favorite nail polish colors. Today I'm going to highlight some of my favorite scents. My go-to for a while now has been Kai fragrance. I have the lotion and perfume, and I have to say that it's definitely one of my favorites. it always smells so fresh and clean. It reminds me of gardenias and being on the beach in Hawaii with a flower in my hair (even though I've never been to Hawaii)!

One of my other favorites is D&G 3 L'Imperatrice by Dolce & Gabbana. This perfume is just so feminine. It's a little floral, but definitely not overpowering by any means. I like light fragrances. In fact, there aren't a lot of perfumes I can actually wear. Many of them make me sneeze after a while, but this one doesn't, and neither do any of the other scents I'm featuring here!

My newest obsession is a scent called Pink Sugar by Aquolina. This scent is just so fun and perfect for spring. It reminds me of cotton candy or something fruity and tasty! It's really inexpensive, but it definitely doesn't smell cheap. You can find this perfume at almost any store, too. Even Target carries it!

I think all of these perfumes can carry you through summer, too. They're all perfect for the warmer months. 

The Shades of Spring

Spring has sprung and if you haven't already started wearing all the fun, bright colors, what are you waiting for?! We only have a short window of time before we'll be in the summer wardrobe and color rut again. I mean, when you think about it, what are the "official" summer colors? Are they red, white and blue for 4th of July? At least fall and winter have all the earth tone shades. 

Anyway, I found 3 new nail polish colors that I had to have for spring! These just scream Easter and they make me think happy, cheery thoughts! :) Below are my top 3 shades. 

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Butter London Jasper

Butter London Molly Coddled

I own all of these and I've been rotating them each time I paint my nails. And here's a funny side note about the Butter London shades. My family dog is Molly, and my aunt and uncle's dog is named Jasper! These colors were meant for me!!

I'd love to hear about other fun spring shades, whether it's nail polish, clothing, home decor, whatever!! 

Unruly Brows

For whatever reason, I have the most unruly eyebrows! They drive me nuts! When I was younger, I once had my mom put a professional straightener on them to try to tame them. It worked for a little while until they started to grow out again, which was about 2 days later. And because my brows are so dark against my light skin, every little hair shows. When I was a young teen, someone once suggested that I use clear mascara on my brows. I couldn't understand what that was going to do, but I thought I'd give it a try! Well, lo and behold, it was amazing!! I've been using CoverGirl Clear Mascara on my brows ever since.

It truly is a miracle product, and one of the top beauty items I can't live without! It has a perfect applicator wand, and just the right amount of "gel-ness" to hold my brows in place without feeling too stiff or sticky. If your brows are unruly like mine, give it a try! I promise you'll be hooked!

BeautyBlender

Ok, so I have to admit that I was a little skeptical when I first read about the BeautyBlender. I just couldn't figure out how it could make that big of a difference on how makeup is applied. But, I was wrong!! I ordered a twin pack of these (because it was cheaper than buying just one), and I've been hooked ever since! 

Basically, the BeautyBlender is a makeup applicator/sponge that allows you to get in every crook and crevice of your face, and it blends your makeup flawlessly. The cone shape lets you use the pointy top to get around places like your nose. The BeautyBlender can be used damp or dry. I always use mine damp. I run water over it and then squeeze it all out and blot with a towel. Then, I dab my foundation on it and start "bouncing" the blender all over my face. I'm telling you... it's really so much better than blending makeup with your fingers! The best part is that it's anti-microbial, can be washed and re-used, and it will work with any type of makeup!! I promise you'll love it as much as I do! 

Lip Scrub

There is nothing worse than dry, cracked lips. It'll drive you crazy, and of course, you just want to keep licking them, even though that's drying them out even more! Even in the summer, I find myself getting dry, peeling lips. Not cool. I've used my toothbrush before to try to brush off the dead flakes, and it helps, but it's not the best solution. For Christmas, I asked for a lip scrub I read about online. I got the Vanilla Bean Sara Happ Lip Scrubb. Amazon or Nordstrom are typically the best places to buy it. It's not cheap, but if you use it regularly, it'll make such a difference! It softens your lips and exfoliates them. Plus, the vanilla bean smells so good! You can almost taste it, and believe me, I'm always tempted! But you're not supposed to eat it! You just massage it onto your lips and then wipe it off with a tissue. Simple! Soft, supple lips are just a scrub away!

On the Up & Up

I'm definitely not a name brand person. I have no problem buying store brands. I learned a long time ago in marketing classes that many products are often manufactured by one company that just puts different labels on them. So, in reality, you're getting the same thing, but with a different name on it. I've found that store brands cost a lot less and are usually very satisfactory.

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Hence, my discovery of a great store brand beauty product. Yes, a beauty product. Well, kind of. I am in love with Target's Up & Up brand of nail polish remover! I bought it for less than $1 and it works wonders! I recently ran out of the salon brand nail polish remover I'd had for years. It never did a great job, but I figured it was just me. I tried using cotton balls, cotton pads... you name it! But no matter what, it was still difficult and time-consuming to get the polish off my nails, especially my thumb nails. They have ridges in them (that's another blog post-- I need some good products recommendations for this issue). But with this cheap-o polish remover from Target, it swipes right off, making my self-manicures so much easier to handle! I highly recommend giving this Target beauty wonder a try!

A Lipstick Kick

I've been on a lipstick kick lately. I used to always have one or maybe two lipsticks or glosses that I'd use, but for the most part I'd use the same one every day. Well, I've recently realized how fun it is to change your look completely by wearing a different lip color. I'm really into the pink shades right now, and a good product really makes all the difference. 

I've been a fan of the CoverGirl NatureLuxe glosses for a while. They're inexpensive and moisturizing, and they have a great line of shades. I keep one in my purse for touch ups, and to use when my lips feel dry. My favorite shade is Thistle.  

I recently discovered some of the higher end lipsticks and glosses, and they are amazing!! I especially loves Nars and MAC products. I currently own MAC's Snob lipstick and Nars' Moonfleet gloss. 

They are both gorgeous shades, and I love wearing them together. I have lots more Nars and MAC products on my wishlist, and I can't wait to try more and wear lots of different shades!

Hair Repair

I'm one of those people who always wears my hair down. Unless I'm working out or doing something adventurous or strenuous, it's down. I don't like the way my I look when my hair is up and I honestly feel pretty limited when it comes to cute ways to wear it up. This shouldn't be a problem for me since my mom is a hairdresser and has been doing hair since before I was born. Everyone thinks I should've just inherited that gene and have magic hair hands, but that's unfortunately not the case. Well, in order for me to wear my hair down, it usually requires straightening it. I recently burned my hair kind of badly! I don't know if I did it with my straightener or blowdryer, but it was not good! I, of course, asked my mom right away what I could do for it and she said there wasn't really a good solution. But she did buy me a great deep conditioner to try, and it has worked wonders! It's by Joico, and it's called K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor. The damaged part of my hair improved after the first time I used this stuff! While it's not completely repaired (I'll just have to let it grow and keep trimming it), it's so much better and not noticeable now. Even if your hair hasn't been burned like mine, this is a great treatment to use on a regular basis to keep your hair healthy, especially if it's color-treated or dry. 

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Skintastic

I've recently come to the realization that I need to take excellent care of my skin now because it's easier to prevent problems than try to correct them. I'm not interested in baking in the sun anymore. If I'm feelin too pasty, there are plenty of decent self-tanners out there. Keeping my skin and face healthy is more important. After all, I only have one face... better take care of it!

I've been intrigued by the Clarisonic for some time now, but just couldn't justify the price. Well, I finally found a good sale on it on that was only being offered on 12/12/12 at askderm.com. They were offering 30% off plus free shipping! I caved and ordered one, and I haven't put it down since I got it! I LOVE it! My face feels so much cleaner and smoother after I use it! And the best part is that you can use whatever cleanser you like with it! No need to buy any special products. It may seem pricey, but I can vouch that it's definitely an investment worth making!

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