Little Collective Haul

Hey there! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted something here. I honestly thought that I had posted something, and I think computer troubles may have kept that from happening. Anyway, I decided I would talk about a little makeup shopping I've done lately.

First of all I got two shimmer strips bronzers from Physician's Formula.  The specific names are Vegas Strip and Waikiki Strip.  I really love both of them from the start, but seeing as I just got them there needs to be a little more time to be sure for an actual review.  Vegas Strip is very golden and has been considered a dupe for MAC's Soft and Gentle.  It has also been compared to a Dior bronzer.  I don't personally know because I've never used Soft and Gentle or Dior.  Waikiki Strip is called a Peachy Glow Bronzer on the packaging, and I agree.  I like that the bronzer end is darker than most of the bronzers I have.

I couldn't find my camera until already being halfway through this post, and the lighting isn't good since it's almost night, so I've found some pictures that I feel are the best representatives of the products I've purchased.  When I actually review them, I'll probably include some pictures of my own.

Vegas Strip

Waikiki Strip

Since my drugstore had a 50% off sale on Wet'n'Wild makeup, I decided to go ahead and buy some palettes that I've been wanting to get.  The first is the Petal Pusher palette, the second is the Comfort Zone palette.  I also grabbed the single in Kitten because I thought it was a pretty purple.

Now, I haven't tested the colors against anything yet, but just by looking at the swatches on the back of my hand (sorry I can't take a pic now, but as I said before, the lighting is shot), I think I'm seeing a couple shades that are similar to Urban Decay's Chopper and Smog.  I really like the top color on the green side of the Comfort Zone palette because it's a beautiful taupey, golden green.  It's very interesting.  It's also very soft.  Some of the shades are more on the powdery side, but I'll talk more about that in a review I'm sure.  Unfortunately, I've only swatched "Comfort Zone", but this is only a haul after all.  I hate to go throwing words around that I'm not entirely sure I have the correct meaning of, but I want to call "Kitten" a duo-chrome shade.  It looks purple straight on but it has a blue undertone and a gold sheen. I can't wait to try it on.

I also have a couple blushes ordered from CherryCulture.com, so I'm looking forward to getting those.  After they arrive, though, I'm afraid that my makeup splurging will be over.  I need to gain some self control, but it's not that bad because I really haven't bought any makeup in a while.

P.S. Have you noticed that there's not a lot of talk about brushes in the reviewing world? It's really irritating. The only guru/reviewer/blogger that I've ever seen talk about a brush or set of brushes is emilynoel83. She's becoming my favorite YouTuber.

Pic Credit:
Vegas Strip: http://www.discountbeautycenter.com/prodimages/155413-DEFAULT-L.jpg
Waikiki Strip: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrlJJn8UNRYaGWQOBrCmGid_Q6n8mBAqiytfzVAWVdZVHWLIW8EFpA5LYZaFpCF7N-wvPFg-i0e1h1sl-UreOcH-7uhYtfJVU7_nY00-zJ0qNNcmXA843UG-HwM1YWXioYpuTL-sYDm4e/s1600/WAIKIKI+STRIP+2.jpg
Petal Pusher: http://themakeuptrain.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/petal-pusher.jpg
Comfort Zone: http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn281/leanneamy/blog/Feb2012/ComfortZone1.jpg
Kitten: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn8wqngY3hRDXUMpjYbUtcio-BJZHK9YrnrWR9eLycsv7kXmjdSVH33N9AQWWXdyKQ3b_zDKGjV0zys_5wDjIsLFXJX-30f0eRX6-gHJMB_RUao7lP57rjPjhvmSuj0xQI2aVKgXxgA4/s1600/WnWEyeshadowSingle_Kitten.jpg

PR: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Silkening Detangler

Wow, it's been a really long time since I've posted anything!  Well, I finished this product and I saw it sitting on my counter in its pretty little bottle, and I thought, "You know, I should do a product review!"  So I am.

So to start off, I don't normally use a detangler because I remember using one as a little girl and, you know, I'm too "mature" for that kind of nonsense now, haha.  But then I was helping my grandma babysit my cousin, and her parents and my grandma used a detangler on her hair all the time because it's just so dang difficult to brush through without one!  So then I started thinking about getting one for myself because it smelled so good.  Of course, the only kind they talked about was by Suave for kids, and I didn't know if I wanted to go around smelling like I was five.

Right around the time I was seriously considering giving in and just buying the kid stuff, I was meandering down the hair products aisle and saw that Herbal Essences styling products were on sale!  And they had a detangler! And to top it all off, the detangler was specifically targeted at those of us cursed with curls.

I don't buy products because they say they're for a specific hair type.  If I want something, I'm going to get it.  But I found it interesting that it was in the Totally Twisted line of hair products.  It makes sense, though, because curly hair is naturally drier and rougher.  The cuticles are more raised and they act kind of like Velcro and become very easy to tangle.  Enter: the need for a detangler.

The initial reaction I had with the first spritz was: THIS STUFF SMELLS AMAZING!!!  On the back it labels the fragrance as "Tropical Mystique".  Very sultry sounding.  Makes you want to just hop on the next flight to Hawaii and let your curls run free!

After finishing a whole bottle, I can say that I am very pleased with the product.  It makes my wide-tooth comb run through my wet hair very easily and even acts as a sort of leave-in conditioner.  The French translation for "detangler" on the bottle is "démêlant" which is the word I learned for conditioner, so "curl silkening" may be the way they decided to cryptically call this a leave-in conditioner.

So if you have curly hair, I strongly recommend trying this product.  I really like it.  Also, I read that curly hair is in for spring, so we don't have to try so hard in taming it!  All we have to do is keep those pesky little frizzies in check and we're good to go.  Yay us!

I hope each day is beautiful and that your spirit keeps on soaring.  Don't let life drag you down so that your inner beauty is kept from shining for the rest of us to see.
~Stacie

Pic credit: http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/396517/300.JPG

Changing seasons means change in routine

That's right, it's that time of year.  The time when leaves are falling off the trees and the temperatures start to drop.  Okay, so in Michigan, most of the leaves are already off the trees, but maybe not so much in the states a little further south.  I meant to post this sooner, but it still applies, it just won't be proactive like I wanted it to be.  For those of you in California and the South, this may not apply to you (and most likely not any countries near the Equator either).  But if you're in a temperate zone and you have four definitive seasons, read on!

So if you've lived with this type of weather for a couple years, you know that the change to colder temperatures can wreak havoc on your body.  The major problem that few people are spared from is dry skin.  Even my mom--who has oily skin--is no stranger to chapped, cracked skin.  Let's break our body into categories and see what we can do to prevent/heal the pain.


Body

A lot of people don't think about it, but the battle against dry skin can start in the shower.  If you use a moisturizing body wash or soap, you can send nutrients to the skin when it's in its most absorbent state.  I like Dove soap because it's made up of 25% moisturizing cream.  The "Nourishing Care" beauty bar with shea butter packs an added punch because shea butter is uber moisturizing on its own.  It smells good too.

It's important to exfoliate during this dry time, too.  And just because you're not using a body wash, doesn't mean you can't use a loofah or pouf.  Just lather up using your beauty bar and then scrub down using your pouf.  This is the method I prefer because I usually overdo it with the body wash and that's just wasted money.  Plus, the beauty bar is a great multi-tasker--I use it to shave, too.  In these hard economical times, who isn't looking for a way to save a little money here and there?

Another more obvious step is lotion.  One of my favorites is the Secret Wonderland Triple Moisture Body Cream from Bath & Body Works.  I love the smell and the moisture it delivers is great.  They have a shea version, a body butter, and a hand cream, too.  I love all these options because they're all very rich.  I think we've all come across those lotions that are real lightweights.  Those are good in the summer, maybe, but when it comes to winter's evil, you need something that packs a real wallop.

A body lotion that's rich enough to deal with hand issues (I get the worst dryness on the back of my hands--it's terrible!  They crack and bleed like no other) is from a brand called Onsen.  They have a lot of good smells and a nice one to use before bed is Lavender & Chamomile.  The Savannah Bee Company has a decent hand lotion.  I may be biased though, because I have a sick obsession with Magnolia blossoms.  Bath & Body Works used to have a scent called Magnolia Blossom and it smelled deliiiiiiiiiiiicious.  I'm so upset that they stopped carrying it.  I use Jergens Original Scent Dry Skin Moisturizer when my skin isn't in too bad a pickle, but it's not the most hydrating lotion out there.  If your skin is in serious distress, Olay has a great body lotion--their Quench Therapy body lotion.

Just like in the shower, it's important to moisturize while the skin is soft and absorbent.  So, apply lotion soon after getting out of the shower for the best results.

Face

When it comes down to it, the best moisturizer I have ever used is Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.  When it comes to wintertime, I use it every night.  I've learned my lesson; if I let my face start to get dried out and flaky, there's no recovering until springtime.  So while my skin is still in pretty good condition, I'm starting to work this baby into my routine.  Another good moisturizer is Bioré's Nourish Moisture Lotion with SPF 15.  It's oil-free and it adds a beautiful radiance to the skin.  If you can't get to some Clinique DDML, then try the Bioré.

Just as exfoliating the body is important, so is exfoliating the face.  I have an apricot scrub from St. Ives that I use when I'm lazy (or if I'm particularly broken out, since it is targeted towards blackheads).  When I don't use that scrub, I use a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice and sprinkled with sugar.  It smells like lemonade and it leaves your skin feeling so soft and smooth.  I got the idea from Kandee Johnson--she's amazing!

I haven't tried this out yet, but it sounds very promising.  I have an Herbal Hydrating Mist from BeautiControl.  It talks about spraying it on top of your makeup and I feel like this might be really good in the wintertime to help prevent dryness.  I know there are a lot of sprays out there that claim to do different things.  I'll try it out and let you know what I figure out.  I also feel like spritzing your makeup with a spray bottle filled with water might work.  I'll try this, too.

Another thing to consider is the type of makeup you use in the winter.  If you suffer from dry skin, you should move away from powder foundations and towards things like tinted moisturizers and liquid/cream foundations.  Even some liquid foundations can be slightly drying, so if this is the case, try mixing your foundation with moisturizer or applying it with a wet sponge.

Hair

Since your scalp is skin and your hair is made up of dead skin cells, it's no surprise that your hair and scalp take a beating this time of year, too. I use a Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner system from Swanson Health Products (Tea Tree Oil is known for having a moisturizing/soothing quality) and a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner from Bain de Terre.  Another good thing to have on hand is Dove Daily Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment.  It leaves your hair feeling so great that you'll have a hard time not playing with it constantly!  Which increases the damage.  Argh!!!  It's such an unforgiving cycle.

Two after-shower products that come in handy are Infusium 23's Moisturology Leave-in Treatment and Avlon's KeraCare Glossifier.  The leave-in treatment sinks into the scalp and hair to add much-needed moisture and the glossifier seals off the scalp and hair to keep in the moisture.  Just be careful to not go overboard on the glossifier.  A little goes a looooooooooooong way.  I have a review on it.

I might have some more to add later on, but this is a pretty decent springboard.  Now is the time to start treating the symptoms before they arrive or before they get way out of hand!!!!

~Stacie

New Video

Not really! Ha.... sorry about that. I posted this thing toward the beginning of summer, and I'm finally putting it up here and on the website after summer is over. Wow, that's a sad thought. I have a hair tutorial too, and it will go up, but it won't even be helpful for anytime soon. Well, it's here anyway. Sorry again. :\

Until next time,

Stacie

PS I'll try and do a review of something soon! I've just got so much going oooooon. Ack!

Videos and Reviews Postponed

I was planning on having that hair tutorial up a while ago, but things have been really crazy lately. And right now, I'm not even home to be able to work on it. I'll be gone for the next two weeks, but I might be able to do a review or two. But don't count on it. I am really liking the Revlon Colorstay bronzer in the darkest shade (I think it's Sunkiss or something like that, but I'm not sure). There's your review! Ha!!! Jk. Although I do recommend that product highly. I use it every day.

I hope at the end of the two weeks I'll have stories to tell. I should, but who knows?

Til next time,

Stacie

PR: L'Oréal Paris Sublime Mousse Permanent Color

I'm sorry it's been a long time since my last post, but I've been sooooo busy with everything going on you would not even believe it! Anyway, it's good that I gave this product about a month before I reviewed it because I may have something to say right away, but my opinion may change after a while.

A lot of people said that this really dried out their hair. It did kind of dry it out at first, but after about a week your hair is pretty much back to normal. That's the thing about chemically treating your hair, though: you have to take special care of it! Once you color your hair, you need a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and/or a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for colored hair.

As for the color itself, it's really nice I think. It said that it preserves the natural tones in your hair, and it does. Beware: this also means that it will preserve your highlights/low-lights if you have any. So it's not some magical eraser that will make all your hair look the same. This may be bad for some people, but it was good for me because I'm trying to work my hair back to it's natural color so by slowly letting the roots grow out but kind of keeping them colored, I'll eventually be able to stop coloring it. Also, a lot of people said that it turns out darker than the box says. It did that a little for me, but it probably depends on how light/dark your hair is. Since my hair was already pretty blonde, it didn't really have that much work to do, so... you know.

Overall, I really like it. I plan on using it again when the time comes.

I hope this review helped you at least a little. I might do a video review, I don't know. I don't exactly have a lot of down time lately. I've got a lot going on in preparation for this upcoming year in school. Gotta start thinking about college.... Life is tough.

I hope your life is filled with many blessings!!!

~Stacie

Gonna dye my hair!

I'm so excited! I've never actually dyed my hair before, I've only highlighted. But my hair has been highlighted so much that it pretty much looks like it's dyed so I figured I might as well. I have the kit sitting in front of me and I'm gonna use it when my mom decides to show up. I'm pretty sure I could do this on my own, but she wants to be here to "help". I guess it's just become a tradition that she colors my hair that she doesn't want to break.

The kit I will be using is the L'Oréal Sublime Mousse permanent conditioning haircolor. I wanted to use the créme gloss or something like that, but it washes out in 28 shampoos and there are some days that I take a shower more than once (and every time I take a shower, I shampoo). I'm a teenager, even though I'm in the late years of teenhood, but I still need to shampoo often. I can't wait for those future days of not having to shampoo every day. I've only heard of them, and I really hope it becomes a reality for me. I really, really do.

So the color I got was the lightest they had in the store: 90 Pure Light Blonde. I'm actually looking to make my hair darker, not lighter, but in my research, a lot of the complaints were that the kit made your hair a shade or two darker than the box promised, so I'd rather have lighter hair that everyone's used to than super dark hair than I'm not even used to. I'll just keep working my way down to the darkness I want.

The color on the computer screen here looks a little darker and more like the color I want than the color on the box. If I can't get the darkish color I want, I'd like my hair to look like a field of wheat, not a fakey, yellowy color. We'll just have to see. I'll probably do a review on it and maybe even a video. I've got a lot planned for tomorrow, what with it being the end of the world and everything. I wanna look my best when I die XP

I'll talk again soon. Bye for now.

~Stacie