Hair Drying Reunion Show: Where Are They Now?

Almost a year to the date (plus 9 days), I told you all about my Zoe hair dryer and how our love affair had to be put to rest.   The dryer was getting so hot that it melted itself and also, my hair.

It wasn't anything so awful or cringe worthy as this poor girl...

Poor Girl

At the time I thought it was just the one chunk, at the low nape of my neck on the right side, but I later discovered that in fact, it had melted off many others.  The hair above the side burn area, on both sides, and hair on either corner of where bangs would be.  All gone.

Well, they were gone. Now they're growing in nicely in that ever so homeless chic way.
If only that was a thing.

I'm not sure when all these parts will grow into my hair correctly, but in the meantime I let go of my dryer and  our Stockholm syndrome relationship.

But this time, instead of going from store to store looking and trying out new dryer, all my hair drying karma points lined up and I cashed in on the first try!

 I bought this Ion Moisture Solutions Dryer at Sally's for I think $70? Or $80 + Sally's card discount.

I say think because I can't find this dryer online or on the Sally's site. 

I've not gone in there to check if they still have this on shelves or not. 

 There is only one button. You hold it down for 2 seconds to start and stop. And press it once for cool air. The wheel is accessible from both sides, so it doesn't matter if you're a righty or a lefty and that controls both the air flow and the heat.

And this handy blue display tells you everything you need to know.  

Bacon Waves on the left is the heat, and the Pinwheel is the fan speed.  Roll the wheel up to go hotter and faster and down to go cooler and slower.  In case anyone didn't understand that already. 

This comes with only a concentrator and no difusser, which I was sort of bummed about, but I decided to get it anyways because this is a dual voltage dryer!! This makes me happy because I have only had access to one decent hair dryer in India and that is only at a certain friend's house who bought it from a different country.  Other than that, I'm totally hoboville when in India. So I was excited to have a real hair dryer that I could actually travel with.

Normally, I'm the cheap dryer buyer. But after the Zoe Hair Melting Debacle of 2012, I was done fooling around. I went for it and it paid off. Well, I paid, but it was worth it!  I bought this in I think September of last year.  Since then I've dropped it a numerous amount of times and everything is still in tact.  The concentrator snaps in places and stays on! The heat on this thing is intense and awesome and so is the fan speed! Even to get my hair bone straight, I don't really have to go anything higher than 5 Bacons.  And since the fan is so powerful, it lets me use less heat, and that's always a plus. My hairs thank me for it. 

Even though it doesn't have a difusser, I've been using this to dry my hair curly for a while now, because I put away my hair brushes once it hits spring. I'll see them again in September.  I take the concentrator off and hold it very far from my hair.  And sometimes I diffuse the air with my fingers or by holding my hair in certain ways.  I'll have to attempt photos of that for you one day.  That should be interesting. 

1875 Watts, intense heat and powerful air flow. Oh man....we're going to live a long and happy life together, filled with pretty hairstyles and unicorns and rainbows!!

It's late and about to rain, otherwise I would very muchly consider a photograph and me and my dryer skipping off into the sunset to add right here.

We're All Wrong

I've only recently come to know about Caroline Hirons, a down right beauty insider badass. She herself is a 3rd generation beauty 'insider' as she says. She's the professional that professionals go to and thanks to a little thing we call The Internets, she's got a blog all her own to help us amateurs get it right.

Once I found her blog, I scoured what I could, trying to retain as much info as I could discern. Though she lives in England, there's a lot that needs to be translated for my American eyes.  For example, 'flannel' means a washcloth. It took some googlizing for me to finally get on board with that one.

She's a sought after consultant now and the fortunate people of England get to attend her workshops and store clinics.  Oh what I would give to wait in that line....

Instead, I've taken on her first and most basic rule.  How to clean your face. Sure, this seems straight forward. I mean, who doesn't know how to wash their face?? Well, as it turns out, most of the world!

This is what Caroline says about cleansing. Taken directly from Beautymouth.com :  (keep in mind flannel=washcloth)

1. Cleanse your face every night. Without fail. Non-negotiable. You have enough time. 
2. Cleanse your face in the morning - a splash of water will not cut it. You can use a teeny amount of cleanser - but use it...
3. Apply your cleanser to DRY skin. Don't dampen the skin first. I don't care what it says on the pot. Add water afterwards to loosen if not using an oil-based cleanser. (When was the last time you went for a facial and the therapist wet your face before she cleansed?)
4. As a rule - stay clear of 'foaming' on the bottle (there is the odd exception, but they are few and far between) - to get foam you need to use a surfactant - and a surfactant turns your skin alkaline. Alkaline skin is like a petri dish for bacteria. The irony being that so many cleansers pushed on to acne/combination skins are foaming. Naughty, nasty companies should know better.
5. If you are wearing make-up with sunscreen in it or just good old sunscreen you need to double cleanse. If you aren't, one cleanse is sufficient.
6. Use a face flannel and water to remove. Unless you are ALLERGIC TO WATER (which I have heard from clients before - sigh) there is no need to cotton/tissue off. This is 2011 not a Doris Day film. Wash your face people. Imagine only ever using tissue or cotton on your bum. Exactly.
7. Use fresh running water from the tap - do not fill the bowl and splash off. Splash all that dirt back on to you face? That's just nasty. 
8. I have neither time nor patience for eye make-up remover pre-cleansing. Use a cleanser that removes eye makeup and apply the cleanser to the eyes first. You'll get most of the gunk off at the beginning and your second cleanse will clear the rest up.
9. Use hand-hot water and ring the flannel out - if its the right temperature for your fingertips it will be fine for your face.
10. Use a fresh flannel every day. Don't be cheap. Or gross. Primark. £2 for 4. Buy 2 packs and you're good for a week and a spare....You don't have to use muslins or a special cloth. Again. I don't care what they say. Trust me. I've done treatments with the lot and the thing we always went back to? Plain white facecloths. HOT plain white facecloths. Lovely.

She makes a lot of sense. What got me was, the facialist doesn't wet your face before cleaning....holy smokes, you're right!!  I also knew she was right when I got to the bit about not using the foamy stuff.  As a person who's suffered with awful skin most of her life, it wasn't until I stopped using the acne products that my acne cleared up.  Once I switched to Cetaphil, a totally unfoamy cleanser, my skin took an immediate turn for the better.  And once I switched all my acne products to just plain ol' big girl products, I had new skin. 

So I decided that I would give this a try. I've been doing this for over two weeks now and I've been having awesome results! I apply my Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser on dry skin. Which is brilliant because now I'm not watering down any of the great benefits I can get from this cleanser!  And although I've always shied away from wash clothes on face, thinking they'd be far too rough, they've been incredible with exfoliating just the right amount and leaving my skin more smooth and even making my skin tone better! 

I've even been able to do the double cleanse and it doesn't make my skin tight or dry or over exfoliated and irritated.  How did I not know about this before??

I also like that I can see all the gunk come off my face, in that gross voyeuristic pore strip way. And at the end I can use the washcloth to scrub off any lip stains from products from the day.  Bonus! 

What they don't teach you in school is that too much water can actually cause you to be more dry.  Ok, they actually do teach this in school but not in a way that we think we need to remember it. But since I haven't been keeping my face under the water in the shower and dousing my face with water in the sink at night, I've noticed how much more moisture my skin has on it's own. The constant water isn't stripping it of what it needs and I aaalmost can say I don't have dry skin! Almost. 

Thankfully, I have a fairly good size collection of washcloths, but today I picked up more for 47 cents each at Walmart. I mean...you can't beat that price. They did have a pack of 18 for $4, but those seemed overtly thin, so I splurged on the 47centers.

I don't think I will ever go back to any other way to wash my face. And now when I see those Neutrogena commercials with the face splashing, not only will I think about the ridiculous mess she's making, I'm also going to think about how she's ruining her face. Amateur. 


UPDATE: I've addressed a few questions in response to this post HERE. 

There Can Be Only One

There's a lot of makeup products that I acquire/hoard. Eye shadows, eye liners, recently mascaras, but most of all lipsticks and other lip products.  But the one thing I don't buy is lip liners. 

There's a few reasons. 

• I own far too many lipsticks to have the coordinating liner.
• I never seem to find liners that match. 
• I hate covering my lips in liner because I always have dry lips.
• I refuse to use lip liners just around my lips because I fear the 90's dark liner look more than the thought of the cancellation of The Price Is Right.

But then, I found my answer. 

Clear Lip Liner!!!

This one is the Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in #10 Clear $6

This is the only lip liner I own. And it's the only one I need.  And that is why this looks so beat up. I've had this one liner for some years now. I use it for all my lipsticks, dark to bright and it gives me that extra confidence to wear my bright colors.  This one little pencil keeps all my lip stuff from running all over and bleeding.  

This clear liner is very soft. It's not chalky and tough, it's very soft and waxy. Which is why it's so easy to put on and it's what really creates that barrier between my lips and my skin.  I only use this around the perimeter and not on the entire lip like many artists tell you to do. This is really waxy so I wouldn't do that, mostly because I think it would dull the color of some lipsticks. But I can use this just around my lips and not have to worry about it being perfect because, it's clear! 

When I bought this years ago, it was cheaper. But since I've used this countless times and for a few years now, it's essentially cost me nothing. It's still going strong and when I finish this one, I'll purchase another if it's still available. Anything I can pick up at a local drugstore that really helps any part of my routine is an instant Beauty Staple. 

If the ongoing fear of Chola Lips* threatens your way of makeup, have fear no more, because there is clear lip liner to be had!!  And go ahead and use that fear toward something truly scary. Like hair sprayed wave bangs. 

*: Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

My Summer Activity

Summer has hit New England like a bus full of in-laws.  There is no escaping the heat and the all warm weather activities that come with it. For the record, I'm just not built for hot weather. Give me falling leaves and snow any day.

My wardrobe doesn't really change oh so much from season to season. It's mostly just the fabrics that get heavier or thinner. What doesn't change is my affection for color but somehow, the onset of summer always has me breaking out my bright lipsticks more.  So I guess this is my version of a summer activity.  Because you won't catch me at a beach.  In the daytime. On purpose.

So on Saturday, when it was excessively hot out, I grabbed an old favorite and headed out the door for a full day or pretending it wasn't summer.

Stila Long Wear Lip Color In Daring (left) and Intriguing (right) $20 Each

Daring on the left and Intriguing on the right.

My swatches don't do these colors justice in the least. Please check out the Stila for a better color.

My swatches also make me realize that I need to up my photog game for you guys.

Daring is a creme, so it has some shine to it. And this is one my favorite deep wine colors to wear in the fall and winter, which is why it was part of my Dark Lip Color Post, back in February. The color is very rich! It's extremely dark, but still manages to be really sexy in a deep dark oxblood color. It's not crazy glossy, so it never looks out of place. But it's far from flat. It's the type of color you see on fall runways that you think you can never pull off, but this one proves all of that wrong. 

Intriguing is a super matte dark magenta. In certain light it reads like a bright red, but in true light, this is a great hot pink. My swatch is awful, so check the Stila link to see a more truer color.  It's not neon or cartoony, but still very bright. But the matte formula tones it down a bit and also keeps it nicely in place!

The formula on these sticks is wonderful. They are really soft despite being Long Wear. This is no Revlon Colorstay lipstick from the 90's that could dry your lips out faster than a hair dryer. This stuff is soft, and smooth and never ever feels tight on my chronically dry lips! And it stays!! 

The matte stays a little better than the creme I find, but this stuff doesn't budge! I never have to worry about it fading in the middle or cracking or any of that.  I wore Intriguing on Saturday through errands and then an Irish Festival where I drank and ate and it stayed in place all night! I added a little on top to just give it more pop around 10:30pm but I didn't need to. 

These two colors are the most intense ones in the bunch. Which is why I own them. The rest of the line is far more neutral and toned down, but I remember there being more color options. You'll have to check your local Sephora or Ulta for that. 

I forgot how much I loved these lip colors. I suppose I can thank summer for that. 

But it's not getting anything else from me. 

The Rest Of The Rush

So about that Rush Sale....

It was a damn good sale. Which is why what I showed you on Friday wasn't enough.  Oh no. Not enough.  

So I got these awesome kits!....

Left: Tutorials Foiled Eye Kit; Right: Tutorials Eye Lining Kit BOTH for $25!

  Currently for sale together for $40. 

That's right. I snagged both of these bad boys for only $25! 

What I love about the B.E. Tutorials is that each box opens up to a whole instructional deal, complete with pictures  I live for these types of things. Not because I follow them, but because I grew up with magazines as my own self proclaimed lifestyle textbooks. I guess you don't grown out of a good pictorial tutorial. 

The Foiled Eye Kit is all about getting that super shine, night on the town look. And it delivers! It also comes with a double sided brush. One full, flat side to deposit and blend color on your eye and the 'foiling' process, the other side a rounded small tip, perfect for soft lining. 

"Foiling" is kind of exactly what it sounds like.  It looks like high shine foil right on your eye lid! It's actually really cool and far more wearable than what I was expecting.  You get this to happen by using a wet brush to apply some glittery shadow. 

The Eye Lining Kit comes with 2 mineral liners and a Magnetic Multi-Liner Brush. Let me explain. This is a handle, that comes with 3 different brush heads that snap right on and stay in place with magnets. This. Is. Brilliant.  So in one convenient pouch (that comes with this kit but is not pictured) this is a Full-Edged Liner Brush, a Pointed Liner Brush AND a Soft Edge Liner Brush.  I mean really. It doesn't get better than this. 

   

1. Night Owl Eye Color done in "foil". A slightly purple bronze that that looks intense, but manages to be just really flattering. 

2. Night Owl Eye Color using a dry brush.  Yes, this is the same color that arrived in my Bare Basics Eye Color Kit. And it's just as beautiful here!

3. Disco Eye Color using a dry brush. 

4. Disco Eye Color done in "foil". This has a very fine rainbow iridescence to it, which is what makes it work so well with this foiling process. I don't think I would really do a full foil of Disco on myself only because it looks too white and frosty with my skin, but I do love it when it's used with a dry brush.  Looks like my matte days are numbered. 

5. Minx Liner done with a dry brush. You can't see it well in the photo but Minx has a lot of rainbowy glitter. I was scared to use it, fearing I would fall into the Trying Too Hard Category. But it's actually really nice on! I should have known. B.E. wouldn't have me out there looking a fool. 

6. Minx applied with a wet brush. Once it's done with a wet brush, it seems that most of the glitter disappears. you get a few flecks, but nothing major and I'm pretty excited about that because this is a great deep black! 

7. Sable Liner applied with a wet brush. I've been using this daily since it arrived. It's a soft warm grey color that is a nice change from my super black Mac Feline daily routine. 

8. Sable applied with a dry brush.  I went away for the weekend and used sable with the pointed end of my Foil Kit brush or the flat edge side of the double ended brush I got with my bare Basic + Beyond kit all weekend! I really only needed those two brushes and I was ready to be anywhere! 

These liners are really great for anyone who finds it hard to master the smokey eye. They're super blendable but you can still build up the color to something intense and dark, or keep it soft and light for day! 

I love how versatile they are! It's like 4 types of liners all in one!  

PRO TIPS for B.E. Loose Liners: 

• When I, or anyone, says 'use a wet brush', this does NOT mean to run it under a tap until it's soaking wet.  That is never going to help anything. Instead, this usually/always mean damp.
• Do NOT put a drop of water in the cap and then add the liner powder and try to make a paste. All you're going to do is waste the liner, and gunk up your brush with way too much product. Never add water this way. 
• My best way to dampen a brush is to put a few drops of water on the back of my hand. Then, touch just the tip of your brush to the tip of the water.  DON'T submerge your brush in a puddle on the back of your hand. Drag the brush on the dry area of your hand to get the excess water out.  You want the brush just damp enough that the powder sticks, but not wet enough to make anything watered down or runny.   
• Always start out drier than you need. It's much easier to add water than to take it away or wait for it to dry. 
• Be careful of fall out. The powder is very fine so you might night even realize it's there. But because the pigment is so intense in these, the tiniest fall out will result in super black smudges.  For this reason, I suggest doing your eyes before any concealing or foundation under the eye. Why do it twice?

Honestly, I was expecting to not really love the liners. They come just like the shadows, as loose powder. You can use them as is or apply with a wet brush. So I thought, ok, it'll work for a while but there's no way these liners are going to stay the way I put them on. Not with just water. B.E. proved me wrong!  These liners stay exactly where I put them from the beginning of the day right up to the end. I am so excited I love these, as do my contacts. 

Have you ever gotten a waxy liner on your contact lens? It's not cute nor comfortable. But with B.E., if anything should get into my eye, I don't even notice! Everything is so soft that it just blinks away and I'm not forced to dig out my contact and put it back in just to ruin whatever makeup I just did. 

And just like that, with a click of a mouse, my summer makeup wardrobe is complete! (for now)

The Bare Basics

If you've been following then you know I have a spot in my heart for the Bare Minerals line. Which is why I'm part of their free FAB program, Friends And Benefits.  Their program is pretty great. I get access to special sales, events, a birthday gift!, coupons, and I even get to choose a day of my choice to save 15%!  Your FAB account also keeps track of all of your purchases. So if you're on the go and want to pick up a refill and can't remember the color..they got you, boo! (I promise I won't say in public.) (unless it's called for.)

The other side of this great club is that I receive emails chock full of sales.  These can get pretty dangerous pretty fast.  And after a long hiatus of B.E. shopping, I caved on a Rush Sale that came to my inbox about 3 weeks ago.  I snagged a ton of stuff! And all of it I am in love with all of it!

Bare Minerals Eye Club Bare Basics & Bare Basics and Beyond For Eyes 

BOTH for $45

That's right. Two full kits  for $45. 

7 eye colors. 1 Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss. 1 Volumizing Mascara and 2 amazing brushes that are really 3 amazing brushes.  

I actually purchased this 2-for-1 set because I wanted the brushes. And I was not disappointed. The Eye Defining Brush ,on left, ($16) is perfect for the crease of my eye and also blending. And the Soft Focus Shadow & Liner Brush ($9.50) is a no brainer. A soft rounded tip fluffy brush that both deposits great color and is great for blending. And on the other end is a perfect flat angled liner brush. What else does a girl need?  Oh right...champagne. That didn't come with this kit. 

I'm even digging this mascara! A mascara from a kit that I like?? What moon is out??

From Left:
Shimmer Eye Color: A true shimmer. For adults. It's a warm based shimmer with a lot of iridescent glitter. But not so much that it's over powering. And it's a perfect color to mix with mattes to give them a pop!

Night Owl Eye Color: This is a gorgeous purpley bronze with just the right amount of shine! I am truly in love with this color. Even though I'm not a glittery, shimmery eye color girl, this is surely going to be one of my new favorites! It's the type of metallic color that would look great on  the fairest of skin to the darkest!

Plush Purple: Unlike the other two colors, this one is a matte finish in a plummy purple. I am in love with this color. I tend to wear a lot of purple and greens on my eyes because I just like the way they look and I also have brown eyes. This is just....lovely! But more than lovely...I understand now why they call this set Bare Basics. These are all colors every woman needs to have on hand!

This set no longer exists on the site and I can't find these colors on their either. What a pity. But they the Eye Club has a whole new Bare Basics set ready to go for $25, and I'm betting it's just as pretty, and essential.

Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in Maverick: (Available for $18) Just to be clear, I'm not a gloss girl. Probably because of a mental block from long ago back when I didn't know how to dress my full lips properly. I stayed away from things with shine because it made my lips look bigger and, at the time, I didn't want them center stage. Well I've grown into my lips and now I love my bright lipsticks! But I still prefer mattes.  

Having said that, this is not yo mama's gloss. This stuff is awesome! It's almost as opaque as a lipstick, so it delivers tons of color, but also the formula actually feels moisturizing! I had no idea I could get that from a gloss. It also doesn't have a heavy or sticky feel. I could totally get behind this product. If nothing else, because it smells like Thin Mint Cookies!! I swear. I would never lie about something so important as Girl Scout Cookies. 

PS: This color I am dying over! It's an amazing color on me, being just a shade darker and yet brighter than a nude, with warm tones to it. Oh Maverick...where have you been??

Wearable Brown Light Eye Color:(Available for $14) It's just that. It's a very wearable brown, but in a very matte finish. On myself, I would use this as a base, or to tone down a color (I can't believe I just said that), but little else. 

Paradise Eye Color:(Available for $9.50) A shimmery peach color that I'm becoming fast friends with. A quick sweep of this gives me just a hint of shine and wash of warmth to my skin for a quick summer eye. Building it up gives me a sparkly peach eye that I love blending with other colors already in my eye shadow wardrobe. My favorite being mixing this with Heatwave from the B.E. Wanderlust kit from last year that started this whole blogging business!

Banana Smoothie:(Available for $9.50) Who cares! It's called Banana Smoothie!! Enough said.  Ok, really, this is a fun light yellow with some sheen to it.  I use this as a highlighter color and it's been doing great things! Mixing it with Heatwave, like I mentioned creates a natural golden color. This new kid is fitting in just fine. 

Real Deal Eye Color:(Available for $14) These names on spot on because this is the real deal.  I know it looks a bit limey in the photo but I am obsessed with this color.  The minute I opened it up I knew we were besties. This also has a sheen to it and I can mix it with some Banana Smoothie to give me juuust a hint of golden khaki green color on my eye. Or I can build it up and go GREEN! And what an amazing green this is.  If I had to put a name on it, I would call it a grass green. It's very earthy and warm and oh so wearable. 

This kit also is no longer available as is but the colors are still available separately. I highly recommend the green Real Deal color for everyone, especially the medium to dark skin ladies. And fair ladies, you need to get on Paradise before the summer ends. This color is aching to be poolside with a matching cocktail!

Oh...you thought I was done? wrong! There's more!! 

That's right, I got more during this Rush Sale. But I'm going to save that for next time. 

Gotta keep you guys wanting more, right?

"Smiling's My Favorite!"

"Santa! I know him!"

Ok, enough Elf movie quotes. But I can't help it. It's a wonderful movie full of classic Will Ferrell lines and it's what comes to mind when I hear the word elf.  Except that in the beauty world, elf means the cosmetic company e.l.f., which means eyes, lips, face.  Kinda brilliant, huh?

I keep going back to the e.l.f. section in Target, (and now in tons of new stores like walmart and drugstores).  I so desperately want to love this line of products. Maybe because it's so well lit all the time. Maybe because the packaging is no nonsense. Maybe it's the uber cheap prices.  

Ok fine. It's the uber cheap prices. And I do mean uber. We're talking $1 glosses, $3 eye shadows, $3 powders...and a slew of other goodies! 

So during a Target trip, I pick up these All Over Color Sticks.  for a buck each!

 e.l.f. All Over Color Stick $1 each

Left: Persimmon  Right: Pink Lemonade

Left: color swatches directly from the tube. left-ish: Persimmon right-ish: pink lemonade

Right: the swatches blended with my finger

So right out of the gate, while still in their packages, I could see these had a lot of shimmer and glitter in them. And I knew, despite the claim of using all over the face, that the option was using this as blush was already gone.  But that's ok. There's so many other parts of my face! and this is for all over!  and it was a buck. So why not?

Persimmon is a very white shimmer. With a loot of shimmer. It's got a hint of pink to it  but mostly it reflects light like whoa. Pink Lemonade is a soft petal pink, and part of me was hopeful about it's potential as a blush but that's only the crazy part of me that also remains hopeful that one day Common and Alicia Keys will find their way to each other forever because I think they belong together.  

The sticks themselves aren't too bad. They blend pretty easily and don't feel sticky or tacky on the skin. 

The card that these hang from in the store says "instantly brightens eyes, lips and face."  Well, yes. It does in fact do that. But in the same way a child's glitter art project brightens a room.  The shimmer in this is very overwhelming for my eh-hem aging eyes.  I don't consider myself old, at all. In fact I'm digging my 30's more than I should, but the shimmer in this is not meant for my age bracket. Even I know that. 

Now, the back of the package says "twist stick and apply liberally to face, eyes, and/or lips."

Do NOT do this. I repeat. Do not apply liberally to your whole face.  Unless it's Halloween or you've lost a bet of some kind. Part of me considered actually doing that for you folks.  But I imagine that image would get anyone reading this from a job fired immediately for oh so many reasons.

At the time, I was really hoping that one of these would work as a highlighter on my skin. Giving me that summertime glow that I've been pitched every time J.Lo comes on my tv screen. Unfortunately, the Pink Lemonade was a truly horrible shade of pink for my skin tone regardless of where on my face I placed it and the Persimmon was so white on my darker skin that I looked more sickly than glowy. 

whomp whomp whoooomp. 

Despite my unsuccess, these All Over Sticks would be great for the high teen and 20 something crowd, who have very fair skin and go to those untz untz untz clubs. I just happen to be none of those things. Thank all my Gods. 

An Extremely Personal Post. Please Read, Share and Consider.

It's hard to know where to start with a subject like this. Especially because it ends with a very big question. 

Those who know me and my family know the struggles my sister, Sameera, has gone through with her health for more than half her life. And though she's been through more than I've ever witnessed elsewhere, she has never complained, asked why or taken on a lifestyle of self pity.  Instead, she had pushed through time and time again with courage that I only call immeasurably inspiring. 

In the beginning of 2008, a was awarded the absolute honor of giving her a kidney by the University Of Alabama Birmingham's amazing transplant team. On June 17th, 2008, with our family by our sides, we went through a very successful kidney transplant. Though her medicine cabinet was bursting at the seams, I was able to give her a full year of 'normal health'.   Unfortunately, like many transplant recipients, she went into rejection.  

In 2012, after a completely miraculous pregnancy and birth of my beautiful niece, my sister's health took some nasty turns. For the last year she has taken hit after hit, beginning with gall bladder surgery, and ending with emergency dialysis and open heart surgery. But through it all, her head remains high and her will remains stronger than most people I know. 

After an extremely tough year for her, her family and ours, Sameera has finally been cleared by Johns Hopkins University to undergo a kidney transplant. A transplant that can give her back her health, her well being and hopefully a life that she so greatly deserves. 

If I could give Sameera a kidney every year for the rest of my life, I would do so without a second thought, but unfortunately that's not possible. And here in lies the grand question. 

Would you be willing to donate a kidney? 

If at all you think that you would be willing to do this, I urge you to please contact the transplant coordinator at John's Hopkins (info below).  Even if you just have questions about the process, please contact Pamela or myself.  I will answer any and all questions to the best of my ability, having gone through the process myself. And anything I don't know personally I will find answers for. 

Whether you think you can do personally or not, please pass this on to any and all family and friends.  Unfortunately, Sameera isn't the only person in this predicament. There are thousands of people who are out there, hoping to find a kidney match to lead the type of lives we take for granted. 

For questions or to find out if you are a good candidate for donation, please contact:

Johns Hopkins University

Donor Nurse Coordinator : Pamela Walker

Office: 410-502-6153

1-888-304-5069 #2

Fax: 410-614-6906

pwalke15@jhmi.edu

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant

Or you can contact me directly at Sharmanicole@gmail.com

I understand this is a very big question, but it's one that can not go unanswered. All I can ask if that you consider this and consider the amazing gift that you would be giving my sister and all those that know her. 

Thank you to those who have come forward already and many thanks to those who will.  The gratitude my family has for you all can only be called love. 

                                     

Brilliant or Dumb?

After chatting up a stranger in the nail aisle in Wal-Mart about how she likes the Impress Press On Nails....I came across some BoD? products. Brilliant Or Dumb?

First up....

 The Brush Guard  $5.50 for the set of 6

The name says it all. These are brush guards! Circular nylon netting to keep all your makeup brushes in tact. 

At first I thought....who reeallly needs these?? Who can't shape their brush back to form after washing it??

Then I had a commercial-like bubble over the head with montage playing moment of all the times my brushes have dries in weird angles or just not perfect enough for my Virgo eccentricities. 

Then I flipped to the back.

Travel and storage.

Damn Brush Guard. You got me. 

I can't count how many times I've had a moment of panic as I almost, or do, get a makeup brush caught in a zipper of a cosmetic bag when traveling. And for that alone, I would buy these.  I didn't pick them up, but I will in the future. 

This set contains 1 XS, 2 S, 2 M and 1 Large. Not a bad deal for $5.50! (also on Amazon for $5.50 + free shipping if you're into the online shopping like I am)

Conclusion: BRILLIANT! 

On to the next one (gratuitous jay-z link)...

The Beauty Spoon $5  

available online for $10 for a 2 pack of this size and a larger size

Yes. My first thought was a sarcastic Weekly News Update reeaallly?!

Now, I've actually seen a different version of this, a much smaller, thinner version somewhere a while ago, but I never looked into it and quite forgot about it. Until I saw this. 

I'm a store a bottle upside down type of girl. At least one product a day is something I get to by banging an open bottle against the palm of my hand like the new chimp at the zoo. But that's what I've done my whole life so I never bothered to think I needed to change that.  (unless I get diagnosed with some sort of hand ailment from all the bottle bashing that leads to a subsequent Lifetime movie about my hand struggles)

But isn't 'bottle bashing' normal?? It's part the process.

UNLESS, it lets me get that last bit of conditioner that sits that the top of the bottle during my bottle bashing routine that I just can't quite reach.  

Hmmm....maybe this isn't such a bad idea!  

This size is the small and there is a larger one for bigger bottles, like shampoos and lotions. I wish they had another size with a smaller spatula head because I really need this more for my small facial product containers in which this wide head won't fit. So I will wait until they come out with that to put into a combo pack. Until then, I'll stick to my cavewoman carpel tunnel. 

Conclusion:  dumbish....but brilliant! 

My #1

Since I showed you my extendable mirror that has become indispensable to me, I thought I'd share with you another Top 5 Beauty Tool. In fact, this might just be my #1. (subject to change, as I am a lady and  hold that rite)

Sonia Kashuk Dramatically Defining Eye Lash Curler $8.99 at Tarjay!

 Yes. The beloved eye lash curler.

This one piece of beauty equipment is single handedly responsible for making men confused and scared of all things beauty related and has beaten women around the globe into thinking there just aren't destined to look their best. 

I'd love to tell you that this isn't for everyone. I'd love to tell you that this is a mastery tool. But I'd be lying.

You need this!

This is the one thing in your makeup routine that shouldn't change. Everything else can come and go. Everything.  You can change out your foundation. You can skip the blush. You can bronze yourself into a Snooki-orange for all I care, but for the love of all my Gods, get an eyelash curler. And more importantly. MASTER IT! 

This is going to take some practice, and maybe even a few different brand of curlers, some cuss words and a few tears. But with time and practice and the right tool, you will be forever hooked and angry at yourself for not using one sooner. I guarantee it. 

 A lot of the ones I tried had a very shallow curve to them, which made it very hard for me to use them. It would only get the front lashes and going back over would result in kinks or pinching when trying to get the edges. This Sonia Kashuk one has a nice deep curve which makes for a much better curl. 

I actually bought the Revlon curler over a year ago and loved the curve of it as well as how it curled, but TWO of them slightly broke after just a week. The top metal piece would slide right off the posts on either side every time I would go to curl. This Sonia Kashuk is made differently so that the metal piece is actually IN the metal post, so that it can't go anywhere. Smart Sonia. Very smart. 

Even if you're not a makeup girl, I urge you to try one! It takes practice, but it's instant gratification!! Even without mascara!! 

Curled lashes makes your eyes bigger, brighter and more defined.  (It also keeps my lashes from rubbing on the lenses of my glasses every time I blink which drives me insane!...bonus!) 

I couldn't take any decent enough pictures for a tutorial, so I'll do my best in describing the best way to use one.

Instructions:

With your eye shut, but not scary movie squeezed shut, put the curler at the base of your lashes, at your eye. Relax. Squeeze the tool so it shuts. You don't have to squeeze with all your might. Just get it closed, and then squeeze just a bit more. Release the curler, slide it away from the base just a tiiiny bit and squeeze again. Do this 3 or more times along the lashes until you reach the ends.

The end!! 

PRO TIPS:   

1. Curl your lashes BEFORE mascara.  

2. If you're not getting a curl, heat up the tool a bit. A hair dryer for a few seconds will do the trick! 

3. Try a few brands if you're not getting the hang of it or if you're making the same mistake over and over.

4. Don't be afraid to get to a beauty counter and ask them to show you! If that still weirds you out, phone a friend! (totally relevant reference) Find someone you know who uses one and barter a tutorial with whatever you have available...who doesn't love a good brownie barter??

Who's The Frack-ing Fairest Of Them All?

Ali can sit on her bed and put her make up on in the mirror of a compact. Fascinating. The Indian can put eyeliner on her lower and upper waterline with one hand and doesn't even need a mirror. Fascinating.

There are not things I can do. I'm a lean right into the mirror kind of girl. Maybe it's my appalling eye sight, maybe it's just habit, maybe it's because it's what my old sister did. I can't be sure, but I don't think there's going to be a 20/20 investigation about it.

I've always had a mirror in a hallway, or on a door or somewhere I could walk right up to so I didn't have to bend my short torso over a sink to apply anything to my face. But in the last few years I've upgraded to what I now behold as one of my Top 5 Essential Beauty Tools.

I present.... The Frack. 

Some might call it a shaving mirror. Some might call it an extendable mirror. I now call it family. 

The Frack extends, it swivels, it tilts, it magnifies! ALL for the low low price of $4.99!!!

One side is a regular mirror, and the other side is a 2.5x magnifying mirror. The entire mirror extends, plus is moves back and forth for getting it exactly where you need it to be and where you need it to not be when not in use. Plus the mirror itself does a full swivel action. Basically, every part of this moves! Which is perfect for my short height, but great for the normal heighted people who come to my bathroom. 

Although I have done my makeup in compact mirrors, I really hate it. And if this only costs 5 bucks, I shouldn't ever have to again! (Proven by the fact that I already broke the first one and replaced it.)

I'm lucky enough to have an Ikea close by, so I can pick these up anytime. If you don't, I suggest busting out that Ikea Wish List and get online shopping. If not, you can find alternatives at big box stores everywhere, but most come with a much higher price tag. 

WARNING:  Objects seen up close may not be what you expected. I'm only suggesting the mirror, not that you'll be happy with what you see magnified 2.5 times. 

The Rest Of My Fruit Basket

So I found a serum in grapefruit that I like. So you know what that means.

Get ALL the grapefruits!!

Left: Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Body Creme $10

Right: Yes to Grapefruit Exfoliating Body Wash

Ok, not all the products.  

Dark Sport Correcting Body Creme. I love this stuff. It took me a while to realize that I need less than half of what I really think I need, which is why I went through the first tub so fast. But mostly I was slathering it on because I'm head over heels about the smell!  You would think I'd be sick of it by now. Nope. Never! 

It's a basic white creme. No extra nonsense of dyes and it sinks into the skin pretty fast.  What I was surprised about was that this is actually really moisturizing and I don't have to layer anything else on top! When I started using this when it was still cold out. Although, here in New England, any month can be a cold month now that seasons mean nothing.  So I was assuming I would have to cap this off with some Aveeno or something, but I don't! It keeps my skin smooth and hydrated and smelling delicious! 

Like the serum, this is suppose to help correct dark marks. I don't think any product is going to just erase things. Products help, that's the best they can do. (insert proverb about a fish and a tree or a rose or something)  I have pleenty of dark marks and scars, old and new, that could use correcting.  I had a lovely fresh burn on my forearm from baking cupcakes in March that I've noticed has lightened up considerably since I've been using this. It's definitely speeding up the process for me!  It's also lightened a few leg wounds I've received over the years in the ongoing battle of Me Vs. Furniture & Anything That Could Hurt Me. (I'm losing) 

Exfoliating Body Wash. This I picked up fairly recently when I was on the search for my 2nd tub of body creme.  This stuff makes me happy. Especially during morning showers because I am anti-morning. Through and through. But the smell of this just puts a smile on my face. It's actually a different scent than the other products. This has a lot more other citrus scents in it, I get a lot of tangerine and orange. It's kind of beachy and happy and it screams summer! 

It's a thinner consistency than most exfoliating washes I've used in the past, but it has tiny tiny pieces of pumice in it. They're almost particles. You can't see it in the wash in your hand, but once it's on your skin you feel the scrubby action. Yes, that's a high end beauty biz term. Scrubby action.  Thankfully, it's not course and scratchy, it's pretty relaxing and doesn't irritate my skin at all.   There's no residue left behind, no sticky feeling, no scratched up skin. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean.  This is definitely my summer scrub. 

Now the only problem is the rest of the products in this line....do I try them all at once, or space them out?  

I Say Yes

Though I become very loyal to certain brands or products, I can't seem to squelch the urge to try new things!  Despite that, there are still some things that I buy over and over.  If I buy something twice, then I know we're meant to be! .... At least for a while.      

I bought this serum months ago and have been loving it! And recently I went and bought a second!

Yes To Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum $20

You may have heard of the Yes To brand. First it was carrots, now they've moved on to many fruits and veggies! I'm glad they went with grapefruits because I've always completely loved the smell of grapefruit. Especially in beauty products! I spent years using the Neautrogena Body Clear body wash in pink grapefruit not for it's acne fighting properties, but because it smells like grapefruits! 

It makes me happy. 

So here's how this serum stacks up.

It's in a nice light plastic package. Nothing easy to break. Nice pump dispense. Except that if you do a full big pump, will you get enough product for about 3 days.  This is a little goes a long way product. 

With most serums, you do have to move fast, and this is no exception. There's no lollygagging in seruming! 

Now, when you see it, it's not....appetizing. It comes out looking like yellow snot. Sorry for that visual, but it's true. But what it lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for in scent! 

It's a very slick consistency and because of that, I find it a bit cooling on my skin when I get it on.  It takes a few seconds to sink in, so sometimes I stand in front of the fan, and that really ups the anti of cooling effect.

There's a bit of learning curve with how much to use on your face. If you use too much, it will begin to get flaky once it dries. Or bead up under your moisturizer. But all that wipes away pretty easily. I find I don't have to do that if I use the least amount I can to cover my face and give it a full minute, maybe 2, to sink in. 

I wasn't expecting this to work as fast as the Murad Lightening serum, but I did have a dark mark on my cheekbone when I began this product and I can say it's helped lessen that mark faster than it would have on it's own. I do have darker skin, and I do scar extremely easily and for an extremely long time, so any time shaved off is really great for me.  Obviously, other people will have other results. 

A few times I switched back to my Olay Regenerating Serum, and I noticed that my skin didn't look as hydrated, and had a more dull appearance. Once I went back to this serum, it was just.....aaaahhhhhhh. 

I don' t know if it's the natural fruit extracts or what in this, but once this sinks into my skin, it makes my skin appear smoother than the Olay serum. I can tell especially on the very tops of my cheeks, close to the nose. That whole area looks like my pores are tighter and my skin is much smoother. 

The Olay serum is also very silicone based, and especially in the warmer climate coming up, my makeup sits on the Grapefruit serum much better. 

Bottom Line: I think this serum is really great on my skin. It keeps it looking hydrated, smoother and tighter and actually is helping reduce my dark marks and making my skin brighter. And the oh so lovely smell is a wonderful bonus!

Did I mention that it's only costs 1/3 of the Murad serum??

I'm A Greedy Gus

Shout out to Big D, aka my grandmother, for teaching me that phrase and countless other gems!

But yes. It's true.  I'm a Greedy Gus.  Because June's Birchbox arrived!!!

It actually got here last week, 2 hours before my shipping notification email came.  I'm not complaining. That was awesome.

June's Birchbox is titled Wanderlust.  

Because aren't we all itching to get somewhere this time of year?

1. Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo: a 2.5oz sample is a simple stubby travel bottle. The no fuss label makes me think this is meant for business! It says it has moisturizing Indian fig extract and olive oil.  

Are my homeland figs moisturizing?? I need to look into this. 

The label itself says for dry & frizzy hair. Oh, I'll be the judge of that, for sure.  The scent hits me at first like dish soap. Seriously, a dish soap. I can't put my finger on which one. So at first it's like...uh oh, but if you can get past the first 2 seconds, you can start smelling other things. Citrus and just light, very clean...something.  It's not bad! I could dig this. 

2. Davines Love Smoother Conditioner: Now this one says for Harsh & frizzy hair. I don't know that means. I've never heard of anyone refer to hair as harsh.  Is my hair harsh?? How do I find out?? Don't fail me now, Google!  I can't sniff this one because it's in a sealed little pack. 

3. Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion: Well this sounds promising! It says it contains Roucou oil. You're killin me June Birchbox!! I have lots of things to Googlize. This says it's an "antioxidant-packed potion to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time."    

It's a very small packet, but I'll give it go one day.  When my Moroccan Oil isn't looking. 

4. This might be my faaaav! LAQU & Co Lil' Lip Duo: This fat little lip pencil isn't like the rest. I can't compare these to my beloved tinted balms, because it's not! This comes out like a full satin finish lipstick! The color is amazing and rich and very pigmented, with one swipe I have complete full lipstick!  But, like the tinted balms, it's still got the mintyness that I love!  Recap; hot pink lipstick, in a small lip pencil, that is creamy and minty and feels amazing. There is nothing not to love here.

If you're hip to the Birchbox and have 'liked' their facebook page, then you already know that this product is exclusive to Birchbox and was one of the products that every member in June received! Birchbox sells these in a duo pack, exclusive to Birchbox, for $16! The one I received is called Pink Man and here's a photo to demonstrate just how awesome these colors are for every skin tone! 

5. Furlesse Elevens Frown Line Reducing Patches: So these are suppose to be patches that you put in certain spots on your face that reduce the appearance of lines as you sleep. This pack of Elevens is for the frown lines between your eyes. They have other patches; Crows, obviously for eye lines ; Lip-sticks, for lip and expression lines and Rows, for the forehead lines. 

I don't exactly have these lines, yet, so even if I try these, I'm not sure I could review them very well. 

There are 3 patches in this trial pack and each is shaped like an open Japanese fan. Just the right shape for between the eyes! Now I just have to find someone to try these out....

6. Color Club Nail polish: This is actually Birchbox + Color Club, who have come together to make a Wanderlust Collection just for Birchbox! And I am ecstatic about this color! It might not read very well on screen, but in person this color is a neon peach. And I am in such lust with it!   I have quite a few nailpolishes. More than I should, and of those, most are brights. This is the one color I don't have and I'm beyond excited to wear it! 

Again, if you were hip to The Box, then you would know already that every box contained one of the Wanderlust Collection polishes. I'm so happy I scored the one wanted.  50cent Bubble Prize Machine Vindication!!

7. To round out the Wanderlust box, Birchbox sent along 5 postcards of different cities around the world. Each one has a little blurb on the bottom called One Perfect Day where it gives you a great day's itinerary for each city.  Who doesn't love postcards??

If you're still unsure if you want to sign up for a Birchbox of your own, let me just say this...

DO IT!!!!   Seriously...have you not been paying attention?? Did you not see what I've been getting??

Just click on this link and sign up. It's 10 bucks. That's less than 2 fancy coffees.  And you can stop them at anytime! You know you want to!

It's Simple Really

I really thought I posted about this product already, but I guess it was just in my head.  I do that a lot.

I came across a list of beauty products at the end of 2012. Things that were suppose to be great to try in 2013. I've made my way through a good number of the products, the ones I wanted to try anyways.  This was on that list.

Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-up Remover Pads $4 at Walmart, can go up to $6 at other retailers

This is the first item I was able to find on my List of Tries. And it might be my favorite. 

It's a small pack of wipes, about the size of a pack of cards, but more square. I wanted to try these because it's much easier to travel with wipes than it is with a bottle of liquid remover. 

Each pack comes with 30 wipes and they are a good size. I was expecting small oxy pad sizes. (do they still make those?? poor teens) 

One side is a smooth texture and the other is more waffley. The waffley side is actually softer on the skin and I use that side more. 

The large size means I can easily take both my eyes off with one pad. And it's easy! There's no tugging and rubbing. No scratching and pulling. If I'm wearing a lot of makeup, I hold it to my eye for a few seconds, then do the Remover Wiggle, that's where you just shimmy the pad over your eye just a tiny bit, just to loosen everything up, then just wipe away! 

I know...grooosss. But this is the ugly side to the glamorous world of makeup. 

And this was just after a 'regular' I'm running out the door with only eyeliner and mascara day!

The best part is this contains no alcohol and no oil. So I'm left with just fresh, clean skin. Nothing oily, nothing dry and cracky. It doesn't irritate my eyes or contacts and it doesn't burn! There's not really a scent or anything. There are no perfumes. There's really very little that could irritate your eyes! 

This is my second pack. And I picked up another back up pack when I saw them on sale a few weeks ago. 

I still use my beloved Rimmel Remover. But I use that more for spot cleaning, like when I'm doing cat eyes, or when I just have some left over makeup that needs to be taken care of and I don't  want to waste a full wipe.  Both feel equally good on my eyes.  But Simple wins juuuuust by a hair only because these packs won't get me pulled aside at airport security.  Not that it matters. I always win the free baggage check!