Skincare Week: Moisturizers

MOISTURIZER IS A MUST.

I don't care what type of skin you have. You need to find a moisturizer in your lifetime. If you find one for morning and one for night, great! Just the one? Great!  Either way, find something and use it.

Ideally, you are cleaning your face properly, hydrating it with the help of toners and maybe even some serums or oils. Some of you may be skipping some steps. All of that is fine, as long as there is moisturizer somewhere in your life.

There's no hard and fast rules about moisturizers, but incorporating the steps and ideas I've mentioned all week, it will all help any moisturizer work better.

• Moisturize BEFORE SPF and Makeup
• Moisturize AFTER Treatments/serums/oil and Toning

My AM Recent Picks:

Olay ProX Age Repair Lotion with SPF30. The price of this recently dropped from $35-38 to $30. I think Olay was having an issue with their Pro X line's price point. Some things were in the 40's and none of it seemed to be much different from their Regenerist line, which is still more popular, maybe because the prices feel a little more doable. 

I used this lotion last year and had great results with it. It always made my skin look better, but at some point my skin became so dehydrated that this lotion seemed to separate on my skin and leave me very oily. This wasn't really the lotion's fault, this was my skin going hay wire. So I stopped using this as I went into defense mode but recently came back around to this when my skin started to normalize. I've been using it for almost 2 months now and I feel like it's keeping my skin protected and it locks in all the moisture of the toners. 

Sometimes this leaves me shiny. If I give it time to sink it, that goes away, but if i'm in a rush, I pat my skin with a towel and apply my makeup over it and my skin hasn't looked better! 

Last summer I was in love with the Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. Both the normal to dry skin lotion as well as the normal to dry with SPF 20. These thin tubes are nice and lightweight and have 1.7oz per bottle. The pump dispenser keeps everything nice and air tight, but that's a bit of a pain if you're trying to get to the end. 

This worked great through the summer for me. But my skin became a mess last fall and this wasn't enough for me so I moved on to other things.   If you have normal to slightly dry skin, then this is a great facial lotion for you. 

My PM Picks:

Olay ProX Hydra Firming Cream, also marked down to $30 now. This was an interesting find. And it didn't wow me much at first. But this grew on me very much and I learned to love it.  It was very slick and sinks into the skin fast. It doesn't feel quite like a cream, but more thick serum-like. 

My skin always looked better in the morning when I used this, but certainly didn't my skin look good when I applied it.  But I held on because I felt like it was helping some. So I went through a few tubs of this.  

Recently I've switched to the Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream Fragrance Free $26. Not much cheaper than the Pro X. So why the "pro x"? I'm going to follow this to see if it lasts.

It wasn't until I began using the Bare Minerals skincare that I really started washing my face properly at night. I fully admit to being a horrible skin caretaker. But I'm trying to make up for it now. And since the B.E. skincare line, I've really been making it a habit to wash my makeup off at night.  So maybe it's that i'm taking better care in general, but it definitely feels like this cream is helping that.  It makes my skin look better immediately. No waiting over night. My night skin looks just as good as my AM skin! 

This feels more moisturizing and firming than the Hydra Firming Cream. This Regenerist cream actually does what I was expecting, and paying, Hydra Firming to do.  So far this feels like it will carry me through winter, but we'll have to just wait and see. 

This is a pretty new product but people are already giving it great reviews all over the internet and I'd have to agree with them.  A really good product at a higher end drugstore price. 

Skincare Week: Treatments/Serums/Oils

Caroline Hirons says this over and over, spend the money on a product that does one good thing rather than buying a product that does 10 things only slightly well. Makes sense, right? That's what treatments are about. Instead of the moisturizer that claims to do a billion things, why not just get treatments for the problems you want fixed??  

Things To Know:

• **You can layer treatments** That's right people. No one is going to jail for using more than one treatment at a time. Pile it on! Everyone's invited!
• If you use a facial oil, use the oil first, then top with serums, then moisturizer. 
• If you're layering serums apply them lightest to heaviest. Silicone based serums go last. Otherwise nothing else will go through. 
• Oils can be great even for oily skin. There are many facial oils that give a wide range of hydration, which we all know now, can happen to ANY SKIN TYPE.
• You can have AM treatments and PM treatments or ones for both.

My Personals:

I started last year with this Olay Regenerist Frangrance Free Regenerating Serum $22 for 1.7oz.  I liked it. Very much at the time. But looking back, it didn't seem to help me all that much. It was very siliconey feeling and I wasn't totally sure what this was suppose to actually do for my skin, but I felt like I was old enough to get into serums, so I did. 

If you are looking for just a bit of moisture, this could work for you.  My skin did feel softer to the touch with this and had I been exfoliating properly, this might have worked differently for me. Mostly it felt like a silicone type makeup primer on my skin.  I eventually stopped using it because the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer I was using seemed to look gunky and runny around mid day when I used this serum. 

My next venture into treatments was the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum. I received this small tube and cherished every drop of it. This really did fade dark marks and it made my skin look great! It's pricey, at $60 for an oz. But it's well worth the money if you've got some serious marks to fade. 

I used this to spot treat some marks to make it last longer but the nights I used it all over, I awoke to glowing skin!  My sister also had a great reaction to this product, however, The Indian did not. She told me it made her skin hate her, and I couldn't understand it!  But hey, different folks, different stroke, right?  Too bad, The Indian, too bad. 

Looking for a Murad substitute, I turned to the Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum $20 for an oz. I used at least 2 full bottles of this serum. Besides the wonderful grapefruit smell, this serum never interfered with my makeup and always sank into my skin very nicely, albeit slower than the rest. It gave my skin a tighter appearance, but it was a borderline tight feeling, which was corrected with moisturizer. 

I had to learn how to dispense the right amount of this because using too much would cause it to ball up on my skin when I put moisturizer over it. It did help fade some dark marks, not nearly as fast as the Murad but it helped. But that seemed to be the only thing it really did for my skin despite using it AM and PM. 

Bare minerals Active Cell Renewal Serum $50 for an oz, but I got a smaller size in a B.E. Kit. I really underestimated this product and thought it was the other things I was using that were helping my skin. As it turns out, this Cell Renewal serum gives my skin an intense dose of moisture! 1 time use noticeable. I also rationed out this serum best I could until it was finally gone. This is the serum I used when I felt a dry spot coming up, or if my skin looked dull. The intense hydration perks it all back up over night! 2 nights if it's super stubborn.   

I haven't made the plunge into buying a full size bottle of this, but I know winter is coming, and with that a number of skin issues could arrive.  This time I am prepared and the first sign of skin dehydration will mean a trip to my B.E. Boutique to pick this up! 

Now I'm using the Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir $20-25 for .5oz.  This contains Glycloic acid as it's third ingredient. If you were paying attention yesterday, you know that glycolic acid helps exfoliate the skin. This also claims to bring great hydration to the skin. Can't hurt, right?

I've been using this as my night treatment after toning, for a few weeks now. I like that the bottle is lightweight plastic and that you can see how much product the push up dispenser has inside. The packaging says it's for smoother, tighter skin, and that's what i'm going for!  It's a clear, liquidly serum that feels slippery at first but then sinks into the skin very fast. The box says it needs up to 5 minutes for full absorption. Sometimes I wait the 5, sometimes I can't be bothered. It seems to be working either way. 

The information about this product tells you it replaces your moisturizer. Yeah, I don't agree with that. And neither does Caroline Hirons.  However, using this after my toners actually feels like I've put on a thin moisturizer so I could see why people would think it's fine to stop here but I still suggest using a moisturizer over this.  

The glycolic acid actually does make for great exfoliation and seems to also be helping fade some dark marks. Not incredibly fast, but it's at least helping and not hurting. I also feel like this is locking in some of the moisture I put on before this with my L'Oreal Hydrafresh Toner It's also adding a bit of it's own and every bit counts when you're talking hydration. 

If there is something about your skin that is bothering you, there is surely a treatment out there for you. Shop with your gut. If something is bothering you, look for things that will help. HELP. Don't expect things on a counter to 'fix' anything.  

And remember to know your store's return policy in case something doesn't work for you. Something something frog and prince story....      

 Lucky for you I did a post about return policies right HERE. 

Skincare Week: Toners

You can't believe I'm talking to you about Toners, do you? I know. Me neither. Once we finally got rid of the Sea Breeze commercials, I thought we were done with this part of life. I was wrong. Besides my beloved Washcloth Method that I learned from Caroline Hirons, using toners (correctly) is the biggest piece of advice that has changed the course of my skin forever.

Some notes:

• Toners are not meant to 'finish cleaning' your face. Disregard those old Sea Breeze commercials of the 80's that showed us that astringents and toners were the way of life and got rid of all the dirt and makeup from your skin. Toners are not cleansers. Cleansers are cleansers. 
• Toners do NOT strip your skin.  If you're using the right ones.
• NOTHING should leave your skin feeling 'squeaky clean'. Ever. If this is happening you need to stop using or doing whatever you are. 
• Toners are not just alcohol and/or witch hazel. It's 2013, people.
• Toners are the next step after you cleanse. They are the dryer sheet to your dryer. They are the conditioner to your shampoo. They are the beer to your pizza.
• Anything containing an acid has to say to keep away from the eyes. But toners with acid are perfectly fine to use around your eye. But obviously, be smart about it. If it burns...stop. 
• You can use more than one toner. At a time. You can layer! This is allowed. Who's going to stop you??

Why Tone?... 

Balancing: It is said that toners reblance the ph in skin that is thrown off after cleansing. Your skin will do this on it's own, but the toning makes it happen much faster, translating into better skin.

Exfoliating: An exfoliating toner is one that has acids in it, such as salicylic or glycolic, which exfoliate your skin without using anything grainy and rough, which, by the way you should NOT be using. Beads and grains scratch the surface of the skin which is just asking for a world of trouble.

Penetration: Toners balance the skin which prepare the skin for maximum penetration of treatments you put on top and even allows you to use less product!

Hydration: Caroline Hirons confirmed a theory of mine. That even oily skin can be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin has nothing to do with your skin 'type', it has to do with your environment and health. Dehydration is also the #1 plague of skin because people don't spot it or aren't taking the right steps to correct it.


What I've Been Using: 

Aveda Botanicals Kinetics Exfoliant $20 for for 5oz. 

 It's soothing. It's refreshing. And it's far more powerful than I realized. 

Within the first 2 days I noticed the change in my skin. The area around my nose that was clogged and started to give me concern is smooth and clear now. The surface of my skin is smoother, more supple looking, and even softer to the touch. And any trace of patchy dry skin has been erased as if done by live Photoshop.

I use this morning and night AND I use this around my eyes.  Caroline said I could.  So I did. And it's been amazing. I never realized just how much my eye area needed to be exfoliated!  I was scared that using an exfoliant more than once a day would be too much, but it's not. Afterwards, my skin doesn't feel stripped or dry, it feels soft and smooth. But slightly tacky. Not bad, but not something I would put makeup on.

Aveda sells this in a 16.9oz bottle for $48. That's seems like a lot, but that's a lot of product. And having been using this twice a day for over a month, I can say I would give them my money.  And because this works soooo well, I will pretend I don't cringe at every Aveda commercial that mispronounce Indian words in chalkboard-nails ways.

L'oreal HydraFresh Toner $6 for 8.5 oz.

I got this L'oreal toner for under $6 and before the Aveda purchase. I figured it was a good place to start. I'm not totally sure why, I guess I was price blinded. Single Digits!!! I used it after my PM Cleanse using Clinique Take Off The Day.  I swiped it on my face, over and around my eyes, using a cotton round.  The scent was sweet and fresh and I kind of dug the pink liquid. It's a nice change on the counter. But I was not prepared to love this as much as I did. As I do.

This simple solution that costs less than a Starbucks Coffee concoction made my skin soooo soft. I could tell by just looking at my skin it was softer. After using this in the AM and PM for 3 days, moisture level in my skins completely changed. Between the balm night cleanser and this, my skin felt, and for the first time, looked hydrated!

I've used countless creams and lotions on my dry skin. I've been on a constant moisture battlezone since I can remember and so many times I thought I figured it out. Just to go back and realize it was temporary or a fluke. This time I can actually see the results!  The lines around my eyes look less because my skin is hydrated and more plump. It's honestly more plump! So much so that I just used the word 'plump' to describe my skin. MY skin!

After realizing just how well this was working, I got my Aveda Exfoliant and incorporated the 2 into my AM and PM routines. After cleansing, I go right in with my Aveda Exfoliant, and then spray on my L'Oreal Hydrafresh, having poured some in a tiny spray bottle from CVS. Once the Hydrafresh toner dries, my skin looks and feels as if I've put on really expensive moisturizer. It even feels that way too!   Now my skin is more hydrated and healthy pre-moisturizer than it was in my entire 20's combined.


Mentions: Some of Caroline's Hall Of Famers
Pixi Glow Tonic: An exceptionally affordable exfoliating toner. Unfortunately, it's only been available in their brick and mortar store in London.  Bollucks.  But I just recently discovered that they are adding it to their online store very shortly!! Eek!
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. This exfoliating toner is not available on the Clarins site in the US, but it's available at the Macy's Clarin Counter and other American online retailers. It's also $38 bucks for just over 4 oz.


I may not be able to tell you scientifically why or how this all works, but I can tell you that with my own eyes I have watched these tips and solutions work for me.  Never again will I scoff at the idea of a toner. But I will probably watch old Sea Breeze commercials on the interweb and laaaaugh and laaaaugh.

Skincare Week: Cleansers

I know....I disappear a lot. It's not on purpose! I'm not avoiding you, I swear.

Where have I been? Oh the usual...being smacked in the face by the arrival of autumn.  Really, how does it always get here so fast??  I've also been busy overhauling all my beauty. I'm talking all new skincare, all new makeup, all new...stuff!! Since my week long blog subjects seem to be on the popular side (and keep me more on track for you guys) I'm declaring this week...

SKINCARE WEEK!

Back in August, I made an adult-like decision to take better care of my skin and to also maybe get ahead of my dreaded Winter Skin Cycle. Which consists of 2 months of me combating all the eczema riddled dryness and patchy skin that my face becomes when the weather cools down, just to finally get it in order for the weather to change again.  Le sigh.

So through the power of the internet and studying The Skincare Bible, aka, Caroline Hiron's Blog for 2 weeks late at night when I should have been blogging (lo siento!), I have a whole knew skincare routine, backed with knowledge that has taken me from Bad Skin to Ok Skin in just weeks!!!!  This is beyond huge, people. Beyond.

I'm going to break all this info down by routine step. Starting today with CLEANSERS.

Before you go any further, in this blog post, in life itself, get yourself familiar with The Washcloth Face Washing Method that I've talked to you about HERE and HERE.

Learn this. Live this. If you change nothing else about your skincare in your lifetime, do this one thing. 

 ^^^^ THIS IS VITAL INFO^^^^

Things I learned from Caroline Hirons:

• You need to cleanse in the AM. To take away any dead skin, sweat, and to prep your face for makeup or SPF. 
• You MUST cleanse in the PM to remove makeup, dirt and other bad things from the day.
• You should have a different cleanser for these different reasons. Having only one cleanser is like having 1 pair of shoes, says Caroline.  Your AM cleanser should be something lighter, you aren't taking off SPF or makeup (or shouldn't be). Your PM cleanser should be something capable of taking off your makeup, SPF, etc. *Please note* if you can't afford 2 cleansers, then don't buy 2 cleansers. But do read on and make an informed decision about the 1 you do come home with.
• YOU MUST CLEANSE IN THE PM. - This was a hard one for me, but it's become actually really enjoyable and now I look forward to my nightly routine. Who am I??
• USE THE WASHCLOTH CLEANING METHOD.  Every. Time.  I've even been traveling with washcloths. I regret nothing. 
• Always apply cleanser to DRY skin.  It doesn't matter what the packaging 'says'. It 'says' a whole bunch....disregard. 
• Don't wash off with water....again...this is what the washcloth method is for.  
• Do NOT use cleansers that say 'foaming'.  'Foaming' agents strip your skin of everything it needs. Back in the day, soaps didn't lather and foam. They worked. But then people had to market things, so people added lathering and foaming agents to soap products to make for an 'experience'. Well that new 'experience' has lasted so long that now we think it's necessary. I assure you, it is not.  Save face. Skip the foaming. Pun intended. 
• Always Double Cleanse. If you don't have makeup or sunscreen on, like in the AM, you can do a single cleanse. SPF or makeup on....Double Cleanse. 

What I've Been Using:

A.M. Cleanser: Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser $20 for 6oz. 

I've been sticking to my Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser. This is easily one of my most favorite products of Bare Minerals. I love the fresh scent and the ease of this cleanser. You don't need much, but it works without being harsh, drying or foaming. 

This leaves my AM skin clean and refreshed and ready for any look I want to put on top.   

It's also so gentle that I can rub it into my eyes without worry of irritation at all, with or without contacts. It does a great job of eating through makeup and because I can put it over my eyes, it takes off my eye makeup without a separate remover!

That is...until Mac Feline came around. That stuff is no joke and though BM Cleanser means well, it is no match for it and I do have to use a remover to take off some after this cleaners.  

P.M. Cleanser: Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm $28.50 for 3.8 oz.

 

Caroline swears by a few trusted balm cleansers that she says is the best thing for nighttime cleansing. These balms are thick and oily and eat through makeup, dirt and oil. After much research into her favs and what was available here in the states, and in my budget, I decided to try out a cult classic.

I. Am. In. Love. 

From the very first try, I knew we were going to have a very long love affair. 

Caroline calls this the basics of all balm cleansers. It's the one every woman should have in their kit because it's a no nonsense get in, get out cleanser.  In fact, they should make a new word for cleanser for this because this is amazing.   

Lard-like.

The tub opens up to a milky white lard looking substance. It's not appealing. It's not enchanting or appetizing. It's not even scented. This is like the old no nonsense grandma of the cleanser world.  You scoop out a small amount with a finger and you see it comes up really easy. It's not like hard butter, but like really soft frosting. And the second it hits your face, it turns into oil. 

I know...that sounds gross. But trust me, it's not.  It's not a runny, thick or sticky. No, instead it's very slick, almost like butter, but smoother. The oil immediately pursues every trace of makeup on your face and eats through it in record time! Waterproof liners, mascaras...even Mac Feline....everything is GONE in about 2 seconds with this cleanser! 

There is no scent. There is no tingly feeling or minty after anything. But the slickness of the oil consistency this takes on makes it feel like you're giving yourself a facial massage every night! 

Then when you wipe it off with a hot washcloth, you're left with amazingly clean, yet still hydrated skin. This balm cleanser has actually made me get into a very strict nightly routine because i honestly enjoy using it so much.  And since I've started using this, I haven't touched a makeup remover. 

I can't believe I never used this before. But now I will never be without. 

If you're looking for something with a little more flash and scent, Caroline recommends the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. It's more than twice the price of the Clinique, but the tub is also much bigger, so it's up to you and your budget.  

The Body Shop also has a cleansing butter, which is on sale right now for UNDER $10! but Caroline did give a mention that this one might not be the best for people who tend to break out easily, so I skipped this and went straight for the Clinique which has resoundingly favorable reviews online, and for good reason. 

Honorable Mention:

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Creme Cleanser $21 for 5oz. 

I've got my hands on a trial supply of this and I've been really loving it. It's a very runny milky consistency that doesn't feel like it's doing much until you wipe it off. Then you realize just how refreshed your skin feels, yet also really soft. 

This actually feels like it's giving some moisture back into the skin.  

The smell wasn't my favorite when I got this. It reminds of  very old Indian cologne smell, which isn't my thing, but after a while of using this off and on, I've grown to like the smell of this.  However, this most certainly stings when it gets in your eyes. Which I always forget because my go to Bare Minerals doesn't give me that problem.  

Compared to the bare minerals purifying cleanser, Aveda is much more moisturizing, but Bare Minerals feels more clean and refreshed. I still use this on the mornings I'm feeling more dried out, but there isn't much left. I would definitely consider spending on my money on this for the winter months if i felt my skin needed a little more help. 

** Tune in tomorrow when I talk about toners. That's right, I said toners. And I'm not even joking! 

RETRO MATTES

BEST TUESDAY EVER!

I just found out that MAC has put out a Retro Matte Collection! That's right, folks. A line of totally matte lipsticks and lip pencils that is inspired by the matte-ness of Ruby Woo, which I looove. 

MAC RETRO MATTE LIP COLLECTION $15-$19.50

I am sooo excited about this!

If I manage to get my hands on any, I will come up with swatches for you guys, but I wanted to get this out to you before they sell out. Because MAC loves them some limited edition stuff! 

So get to your local MAC store or website today. 

It was a long weekend. You earned it. 

Makeup Tooling Around

By now, I could have pooled and saved my money and bought really good makeup brushes. But instead of that, I've just collected a bunch of them since the age of about 14 onward and continue to keep trying new ones.

Why? Because that keeps me busy and out of trouble, mostly.

My lastest attempt was with 2 brushes from Sally Beauty.

The Face Secrets Duo Shadow Brush $7.50 

and the Face Secrets Eye Contour Brush $7.  (prices with sally's card) 

The Shadow Duo is a double sided brush. Perfect for travel and quick mornings. 

One side is a fluffier, angled brush.

This is super soft and does a great bob blending the crease or above. 

Most days I really only need a brush to blend some eyeliner and this double ended brush and I can be out the door! 

The other side is a smaller pointed side, but it's still pretty fluffy for a pointed brush. This side holds a lot of product also so it's good for depositing color in very specific areas like the inner corner but also can flatten out to cover a bit more area.

Though it's good for blending and smudging the lash line, it's not meant for blending above that.

I really like this brush. The bristles are soft and don't fall out. It holds shadow well and even though it's a painted brush, it's not slippery in the hand at all. A+! 

Shadow Duo on LEFT; Eye Contour on RIGHT

The Eye Contour brush is a tapered eye shadow brush. This shape is good for the crease in your lid as well as buffing and blending eye shadow. 

The size and shape of this brush is exactly what I'm looking for, but unfortunately the one I got was really...itchy. 

The bristles felt scratchy on my skin and very dry. I didn't like how it felt at all. 

Thankfully Sally's took back this purchase because I kept my receipt and knew my Return Rules! 

And because they know I'll be back. 

P.S. Really beauty people? The best name you could come up with was " Face Secrets "? I'd very muchly like to know what the other options on the table were. 

Another E.L.F. On The Shelf

I keep trying those E.L.F. products.  Why?  Because it's all so cheap and so badly want to love something enough to replace something expensive. So I keep on keepin' on.

e.l.f. Essential Triple Tip Waterproof Eyeliner Pen $2

Yup. It's 2 bucks! Which is why I want it to work, right?

Yeah, not so much. 

The tip is indeed a triple tip pen. 3, hard as a rock, felt tip pens conveniently nestled in a BIC pen casing to put near your eyeball!  

I'm sure there is someone out there loving this and using this daily. I am not that someone. 

Pros: The color does come out super black and you have full control over the thickness of line, almost calligraphy style.  It's mess free. No brushes, no waste. And cheeeaaapp!

Cons: The tip is hard and hurts my eyes. (Or maybe I just don't know my own strength) The color and line is very inconsistent. Which is what sealed it's fate with me.

The inconsistent lines. 

If the color and wear was great, I would keep trying to make this work and learning how to use it properly to work for me, but I don't see the point. I have plenty of other options that I'm quick with, so this poor BIC pen/eye pen deal is being shunned from my makeup tray. 

Sorry e.l.f. Essential Triple Tip Waterproof Eyeliner Pen.  You can't sit with us. 

Afro Circus

If you have never wanted an afro at some point, then I don't know what you've been doing with your life.

I've always thought about them and convinced myself that it was manageable for my hair to make one. Under the right circumstances. As it turns out, those circumstances are now.

My hair is curly. It is long. And I bought sponge rollers.

I bought 3 packs of 16 each of the smallest sponge rollers that Sally Beauty had for under 3 bucks a package.  I washed my hair, let it air dry a bit and then got to rolling my hair. I didn't put anything in my hair, but if you decide this is for you and you have straight hair, you might wanna think about a mousse or gel.

I held the roller close to my scalp and wrapped small sections around it so that the lift and curl came right from there and not from the bottom up.  I worked down the mohawk area first...then just sorta worked my way around the sides until everything was wound and secure.

Eventually it looked like this. 

I wrapped it up in a scarf and hit the sack. 

(Yes, I do have a pair of hot pink glasses for my blind eyes.)

The next day I let it sit in as long as I could and even used my hair dryer with the difusser on my hair for about 10 minutes, just to make sure it was dry in there, because my hair takes aaaages to dry if tied up. 

I took out the rollers and my hair looked like this!

Yup, this is leaning over. Noormally, this side of my hair would be over a foot long. 

Sponge rollers are no joke!

Then I began combing out the pig tail curls with my fingers.

This is me not containing my laughter at myself having not even gotten 1/2 way through. 

 The Result!

My stomach hurt from laughing.

Notice the basket of curlers I used. I think there was about 40 used. I had some left over, which means I could go even smaller with the sections for even MORE fullness!

I know.  It's nuts!! And I adore it!!!

It actually got even bigger than this. It seemed to keep growing!! But finally began to fall just a bit by the time I went to bed after playing with it so much. 

This might just be the most favorite way to wear my hair from now on.  

I'm really thinking about putting this into the regular rotation.  

Lip Week Day 5: Bright Pinks

I'm a firm believer in bright pink lipstick. It's a very different experience from wearing a red or a nude, which might sound funny because I'm not looking at my own lips all day, but it's true!

Red is a statement.  Nude is a look.  But a hot pink lot is just plain ol' fun!   

It makes me happy and I love wearing pink lips with a red outfit. Because I will never wear red lips with a red outfit. I do not live in a soap opera and I am not a new caster.  Seriously, news MUAs, stop doing the red on red. It looks silly and distracting like two different black fabrics in an outfit.

Pinks are hard to show on a computer. I did my best in getting the colors as close as possible, but swatches are hard, man. 

Lancome Color Design $22

This is the very first bright lipstick I purchased many years ago.  It's extremely creamy and feels great going on and stays on pretty great. It's a cream finish, nothing overly glossy, nothing mate. It looks brighter in person, but it's a rosy based pink which makes it easy to wear for almost anyone. You could get away with this just about anywhere. It's a really great Starter Bright. 

NYX Matte Lipstick $6

This is a straight up, no holds bar, hot pink. It's got a blue undertone and is basically neon, which I am currently loving! It also stays really well. It stains the lips so as it fades it just looks less neon, but you never lose full color. The brighter the lipstick, the more matte I like it. Because neon plus shine is a bit much. Even I know that. But also, the matter finish allows the color to be seen without interference. Not that this color is going to take a back seat to anything. 

LAQA & Co. Lipstick $16 for a pair

This comes in a lip duo through Birchbox. I love the packaging of this and I love the feel. It's extremely creamy and very pigmented. It's also named Pinkman during my very serious love affair with Breaking Bad. This pink is a very true magenta and Birchbox did a much better swatch photo for you guys on a bunch of ladies for you HERE.  (ps. I so wish I got Lambchop, not only for the great name but because I like the brighter neony pinks more)

Stila Long Wear Lip Color $20

I no longer see this color available, which is a bummer. It looks red here because in some lights it does, but in sunlight this is a fuschiay magenta with, yes, a lot of red in it.  It's a full matte, long wear color.

You can see my full blog post about this HERE.

Cover Girl Queen Collection Lip Color $6

This is a really great true pink. It's actually very pigmented so it gives a lot of color but it's not very neon. It is a blue based pink, but also has a lot of rose tone to it, but it still is very bright in person. 

Just like the other Cover Girl Lipstick in my purple collection, this stains like crazy. So if I wear this for a whole day, I look like I have on a lip tint the next day too. So be warned. 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick $5.50

I debated whether to put this in pinks or purples because this color is smack dab in the middle. 

On fair skin, this might look darker and far more purple.  On me, it sits like a muted orchid color. Which I highly dig.  You can read my full post about these lipsticks HERE.

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color $2

That's right, good ol' wet n wild! 

I actually love how this lipstick feels. It's a semi-matte color with a lot of pigment! These are really opaque but not drying at all. I would probably buy a lot more of these if the displays weren't always a wreck.  This color is a strange mix of very rosy plus neon pink. It's got a lot of white in it so I don't wear this color alone. But I've added it here because this would be a great Starter Bright for the fair skinned.  I mean, for 2 bucks, how could you not try it?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain $7.50

A bright rose pink that delivers! 

I keep 4 colors of these stains close at hand at all times. They are fast, they are easy, they smell wonderful and stain and last forever! FYI: My lips were already stained from other colors so this is not the true swatch you deserve, but it's the end of the week. Slack, por favor?

You can read my full post about these stains HERE.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain $7.50

Deeper thank Sweetheart, this color is a bright magentay fuschia.  Again, this is not the best swatch because of how stained my lips were prior. Just imagine this is brighter. and magentayer. That's a word, trust me. No need to Googlize it. 

And thus concludes Lip Week!!

Minus ones that I returned of the Lip Butters and Lip Creams, these are all part of my permanent collection. That doesn't mean this is my entire collection. Oh no. There are more. And there will be more, as I already have a list of colors I'm itching to try, ie. Candy Yum Yum by MAC which is a wonderfully ridiculous neon pink! Must. Have.

And yes, I know I didn't cover reds.  In due time, kids. In due time. 

Lip Week Day 4: The Purples

Back story:  See...I've been on the search for a true purple for my lips for decades now. I'm not one of those girls who is obsessed with purple. It's never been a color I gravitate towards in clothing and accessories, but I love purple makeup.  I've been trying out purple lipsticks since I can remember. Trying out my mom's, my sister's, and then buying them on my own when I got old enough. But none has ever really excited me the way I wanted. They were too flat, or too pink or too dark or just maroon.

This year, MAC put out a limited edition purple called Heroine. I have no idea how I missed this because it's THE color that I want AND it's a matte, which is what I'm craving! But it sold out fast and now it's on ebay and such for 3x the price. Then, MAC kicked me while I was down and came out with Strong Woman, also the purple I want, also limited addition.

I've since added myself to every MAC newsletter I can. Fool me....twice?

So my search continued, as it does. Until I went to Ulta to pick up some Lip Butters and happened upon a Stila lip color that made the clouds sing and the sky shine!! I am in LOVE!   But again...I'm going to show you The Stash so you know what I'm working with here. I've included 3 colors that are in the DIY Lip Compact I made last year.

Stila After Glow Lipcolor $18

This fat tube of awesome is just what I've been looking for! (minus the matte finish) It feels and works like a stain, so I can put on a little, or a lot!  It has a lot of color, so even a little will give you a good amount of color, but packing it on makes it's bolder and truly vivid!

I love the way this feels on my skin and I love that it stains so it stays on. I'm not sure how happy I will be once the point wears down, but I love the color sooo much I will always make it work!  The Stila site only shows 2 colors right now,but there are actually 6. I went back to ULTA to check them out, but they were gone because my local Ulta doesn't carry the entire Stila line, which is a major bummer. 

But wait...there's more!...

Did you see that?? It's Black light sensitive!!! shut. up. 

I have yet to test this out because, well, I don't' hang out in college dorms but I might just have to go Disco Bowling to test this out while I drink beer openly as a pseudo adult. 

Stila has a video on these that you can see HERE.

Cover Girl LipPerfection Lipcolor  $6

I really like the color of this lipstick. It's very bright in a neon way, but in most lights this reads like a magenta or fuschia, which I have enough colors of. This is one of the colors in my Lip Palette because it's almost right, so I only wear it when I mix it with something else. I suppose I could try a lip liner under this, but that would be way too easy. 

My gripe about this lipstick in particular is that is stains like whoa! Even for less than a minute, taking this off leaves me lips totally red stained. Which isn't horrible, but it never stains evenly, so I just look crazy. If it stained a purple I could layer on top of, I wouldn't be so annoyed by this. 

But all in all, these Cover Girl LipPerfections feels good on the lips and have a pretty good staying power if you don't mind the stained lips. 

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick $6

This swatch is more of a cautionary tale. I don't want anyone getting inspired to go get a purple, get to the store, read the name violet and think YES! Because, this is not the violet you are thinking. 

Yes, this have violet in it. But it also has straight up black in it. In person, this looks like I am wearing full 90's goth black on my lips. It's a very intense experience. I've actually had this a long time, why? Because I love Halloween and I never know when I might need a black lip. 

However, this does reside in my Lip Palette. Why? Because it has clear violet undertones to it, so it mixes perfectly with the CoverGirl Divine and others to get the color I want. But I only use veeeeery little. I will never run out of this color. Ever. 

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick $6

Berry Haute is very close to the color of CG's Divine, but not as bright. This is much more lavender based than violet and is a really wearable purple for a lot of skin tones. If you're a purple novice, I would start here. 

I very muchly wanted to love this right out of the tube, but it lacks the pop that I'm looking for. This is in the Lip Palette because I mix it with Divine and Va Va Violet to get the right shade.

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids $5.50

I was so excited when I saw Maybelline's line of Vivids. The color range is indeed vivid and bold! 

This is an on the fence product for me. It's somehow very pigmented and very sheer all at the same time. I feel like I have to put on a lot of coats to get the color to be actually vivid on me. Which is a shame because I hate doing that. The more I put on the more I can feel it just sliding it around my lips and I don't care for that feeling because I know it's just a matter of time before it slides right over to my cheek, and chin...and clothing. But I do love the color. If this was in a thicker, matte formula, I would have ended my search right here.  

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick $6

If Berry Haute seems way too wild for you, then Mauvy Night is your best bet. It's a true mauve with lavender tones. This is almost a rosy color, but somehow still reads as a purple, A very wearable, I have a daytime real job, kind of wearable. So naturally, it's not my favorite, but I keep it around. 

Even though I say my mission is complete, I don't think it ever will be. I'm still going to keep a look out for MAC's limited editions next spring to see if a new purple comes in a matte finish that I can get my hands of for a reasonable price. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go put my lips in the sun and then find a Spencer's Gifts to see how this black light stuff works.  Yup...Spencer's is still around.