Favorite Beauty Tips

My favorite beauty tips:

*If you use acne medication like I do, or just have dry skin, I’m sure you’re familiar with having your skin on your face get flaky.  Although the initial response is to just scratch of the little pieces of skin, I’ve found a better way! I read this somewhere and now do it all the time.  So you put a little bit of lotion (non-scented) on a washcloth and then use that to scrub gently on the part of your face that is flaky.  It takes off the pieces of skin that are flaking off, and puts moisture back into the skin at the same time! Because you’re basically exfoliating, it might be a little pink right after but it usually goes away within five minutes.

*I have really oily skin so I love using those oil-blotting sheets. But if you don’t have any nearby, the brown napkins that Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have work just as well! They blot away oil from your face without ruining your makeup! It’s easy! And you didn’t pay for them. Score!

*Always use eyeshadow primer! It makes a huge difference! Your eyeshadow lasts longer, it doesn’t crease, and the color looks way better.  When I first tried this, I used the too faced version but found that my eye lids were still oily.  Now I use the Urban Decay one (it’s called eyeshadow primer potion) and I absolutely love it.  I use it even when I don’t wear eyeshadow because it helps soak up any oil on my eyes so well, which helps keep eye liner smudging down to a minimum.

*Wash or clean your makeup brushes.  I know this might sound silly, but think about it…if you’re using those brushes to put makeup on skin with acne, bacteria, oil, and dirt on it, than you’re basically re-applying all of that onto your skin the next time you use them.  Since I’ve started cleaning my brushes, I’ve noticed a difference in the amount of acne I have.  I also notice a difference in how well the brush picks up powders.  I use a brush spray from Sephora that works really well.  I don’t do it every day, but maybe once every two weeks or so.  It’s really

easy and completely worth it.

*Drink a ton of water! The weeks that I’m really good with drinking water all day are the times when my skin looks the best!  Also changing the pillow cases often helps too.

*If you have hair that gets tangled a lot, try using Itsa10 with keratin.  This stuff works wonders! It makes your hair super soft, de-tangled, and less frizzy! I use it almost every day.

*If you ever run out of shaving cream and need something to shave with try using aloe vera gel (the kind that you use for sunburns) or conditioner.  They work just as well and leave your skin soft.  Just make sure you don’t shave right away.  Let the steam open up your pores a little bit first before shaving.  That will help prevent razor burn.

 What are your favorite beauty tips and tricks?

Oh Hello, New Favorite Lip Stuff!

Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm

This stuff is AWESOME!  I just finished my first one, and went to Ulta immediately to get my next one!  The colors are all pretty sheer, but still have a bit of color which is great.  It's so feminine and pretty looking!


The best part: it's the most moisturizing and silky smooth lip balm I've ever used! It literally feels like lotion or shea butter for my lips!  I just can't stop using it!


I'm in love!

Salon Effects

So many prints to choose from!

I tried Salon Effects today, for my nails. This is the stick-on kind of manicure that you can buy at the store.  Here's the one that I bought:

Pink Glitter

And here's how it turned out:

Sorry if it's a bit blurry...apparently the sparkliness created a reflection! I got a sparkly metallic pink color and I love it! It was a bit difficult to figure it all out, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't so bad.  I think next time I try it, I'll be a pro at it! 

I saw another on that had words on it, like a newspaper, but in cursive font.  I loved it! I might try that one next.  Or maybe a crazy animal print! 

OMG...I was looking online for images for this, and look what popped up!

Um yeah, I think we know which one I'll be trying next! SAweeeeeet! 

Miracle Worker

So I used to use the roll-on eye concealer by Fructis and thought it was amazing.  Boy, was I wrong! I was shopping on Sephora online a little while ago, and decided to look for some new concealer.  I had read some great reviews about this "Erase Paste" by Benefit so I decided to give it a whirl.

This stuff is AMAZING!  It covers my darkest of dark under-eye circles and worst blemishes! SCORE!  It's literally the consistency of paste, hence the name and takes a second to rub in, but the concealing powers of this little pot are phenomenal. 

The little white wand that comes with it is useless and stupid...not really sure why they decided to add that.  I usually just use my fingers or my concealer brush. 

I literally don't think I'll ever go back to anything else for under-eye circles though, this stuff is just magical.

Dream On!

"Dream On" is the color of the nail polish I have on right now.  The brand is "Sinful Colors." It's hard to capture the awesomeness on camera, but it's a really bright magenta pink/purple.  One of my students got it for me for Xmas, since they know I love brightly colored nail polish. :)

It inspires me to be more creative and fun!

New Favs



Urban Decy All Nighter

Some of my new favorite products that I have been using all the time: 

















This spray is awesome!  I can spray it on after my makeup is on, and it helps make it last longer throughout the day!  I usually get the smaller bottle, which is $11 and it lasts for a while.



Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer



















I have been using this primer for a year or two now.  I tried the too faced primer but didn't like it as much.  This one honestly makes it so my eye shadow doesn't crease AT ALL all day long.  The only thing I can't figure out yet, is how to prevent my eye liner from creasing, but that's another story.



Bare Escentuals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush

 

















I used to just put concealer on with my fingers, but after switching to a brush, I'll never go back! It's SO much better, and there's just better coverage this way.  It's funny, when it comes to Bare Escentuals, I actually like their tools better than their actual makeup.

Skin-Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller

























I love this eye-roller! Concealer and brightener all in one!  I love that it feels a bit cold, because it wakes my eyes up.  And it's not greasy at all!  It actually feels really good when you put it on.  The roller ball is cool too because it helps smooth it over.

Do you have any new favs you want to share?

Lots of Colors

I got my hair done yesterday.  It turned out completely different from what I had pictured/wanted, but I'm pretty happy with it.  It's funky and fun, and definitely different from what I normally do.  Plus, it's just hair right?  I'll probably change it up again in another month.  So whatev!

What do you think?

Simple Pleasures

The Little Things that I just LOVE love love:

• Flip flops in the summer...well actually in any season :)
• Milk and Cereal
• Colorful binderclips and other cute office supplies
• Make-up...all kinds!
• Brightly colored nail polish, insta-dry style.  Who has time to wait for polish to dry?
• A cold coca cola...oooohhh yeaaaah
• Anything polka dotted
• the color purple
• comfort food such as mac and cheese or chili
• hugs
• laughing so hard it hurts
• kisses on the forehead by boyfriend
• getting my hair shampooed at a salon by a shampoo girl with fake nails
• back scratching
• calendars
• walking
• the smell of suntan lotion
• a good book that you just can't put down
• big purses that can hold everything
• making my students laugh
• writing and receiving "snail" mail

Well I'm sure I could think of a lot more, but that's a good amount.  Not sure what got me thinking of these things...I'm just in a good mood and wanted to write a happy post, so there you go!

What are your simple pleasures that you just LOVE?

Jewelry Splurge!

My roommate had a Stella & Dot Jewelry party the week before my cruise. I usually don't buy anything at these parties, because the jewlery is pretty expensive. BUT I splurged and bought myself a really nice necklace and matching bracelet. It's leather jewelry which I don't normally wear and I was actually surprised at how much I loved it. So I bought the bracelet shown above, the leather necklace (not with those charms that are hanging on it), and a silver "j" circular pendant to put on the leather necklace. I'm very excited about it :)

Are you...

...the type of person to tell someone if they have spinach in their teeth, mascara on their eye, or crumbs on their mouth?

...or the type to just let it go even though you totally noticed it?

I am most definitely the first type, because if I had any of that going on, I would want to know A.S.A.P.! I went all day yesterday with mascara at the top of my eyelid and no one told me! Ugh!

*teethpic*

My Lifelong Struggle with Acne

So it's not something I enjoy talking about, because it's always been such an embarrassment, but I feel like venting and that's what this blog is for, so here goes...

Since I was 14, I have always struggled with acne. In addition to that, I have very sensitive skin that dries out easily, which makes it even harder to treat my skin.

So in highschool I tried every single wash, cream, lotion, mask, etc. that was out there. Nothing worked. Some even dried my skin out so bad that my face turned bright red, throbbed, and itched for hours until taking benadryl to stop the reaction. My acne got worse and worse, and especially around my time of the month. It was awful! I have always had a love for makeup, but not when I have to wear for cover up. I would rather just wear it for fun. But I just didn't have a choice. I would carry around concealer with me everywhere and constantly go to the bathroom to check how my face looked. I hated it!

Well fast forward to now, and it still sucks!

Two years ago I started on a strong antibiotic called Solodyn. Well it did nothing other than give me chronic yeast infections. So my dermatologist recommend that I go on Accutane. Well to go on this medicine, you have to join the "I Pledge" Program where I basically sign and agree that I will do everything I can to not get pregnant while taking this medicine, because apparently it causes some serious birth defects in babies and I guess they got sued for it at one point.

Well in addition to signing all these contracts, I also had to get pregnancy tests and blood work done a month before starting the medicine and then also once a month every month while on it. It was awful!! I HATE needles and seeing blood being taken out of me makes me want to throw up. So doing it once a month was miserable! That wasn't even the worst part...the side effects. OH MY GOD the side effects!!

*Dry Skin...so dry that if I just slightly scratched at my cheek, my skin would literally flake off into my hand

*Acne got worse, before it gets better. The first month of the medicine was awful! I had acne ALL over my face, and it was more severe than ever before. It was sooo embarrassing and miserable. I wanted to hide away from everyone until it healed.

*Nose bleed....my nose would bleed constantly and then dry up all at the same time, because I was just soo dry everywhere, inside and out. It was so disgusting and uncomfortable.

*My fingernails constantly peeled and broke because they were so weak.

*Fatigue and Moodiness....I can't prove it was the medicine, but I have a feeling it had something to do with it. Many say that depression is a side effect as well, but I didn't have much of that.

*My lips were the worst I have ever seen them...drying, burning, cracking, bleeding constantly. The only thing that made them slightly less uncomfortable was "Dr. Dan's Cortizone Lip Balm."

*Dry Eyes

*Body and Muscle Aches all over

*Going to the bathroom (#2) -- Painful, bloody, miserable!

(Warning: Possible T.M.I.)

The last symptom I just listed was by far, the worst. I went to several doctors about it and tried several different medicines, as well as some embarrassing medical treatments that I won't mention here. Nothing worked. Well, it got worse and worse. It got to the point where when I was digesting even before going to the bathroom, it felt like glass was moving through my body. It was soooo excruciatingly painful. It made me literally want to stop eating and consuming anything at all. I finally went to my regular doctor again and she gave me some medicines and ideas to help me out and sent me home.

The next morning at 7am she called me personally to tell me to stop taking Accutane immediately because she did some research and apparently it's linked to causing Crohn's Disease and Colitis, among other serious colon diseases and complications. I was SO upset about this, because I was on month 3 of the medicine and only had 2 months to go! And now, I had to stop.

She also told me to go see a gastroendocronologist and get everything checked out. No surprise to me, I had to get a colonoscopy. I had to take 24 pills within an hour the night before the procedure and then 12 more pills an hour before the procedure the next morning at 5am. I spent literally 6 hours going back and forth from the bathroom. It was awful! I went in for the procedure, had a mini-anxiety attack because I hate needles and they stuck one in me and left it there with an IV bag...which grossed me out. I woke up after and it was fine. They didn't find anything, thank god, but needless to say I was told that it wouldn't be a good idea to continue Accutane. I was PISSED! Accutane had finally just started to work for me, and then I had all these complications and had to stop. SON OF A *****!

OH yeah, and because I had been for this visit along with the fact that my mother's side of the family has some history with colon cancer, I have to get a colonoscopy every five years!! I'm only 25! Had I not come in then, I wouldn't have to had started until I was 40! To say the least, I was not happy about this!

Well the first month after stopping Accutane, I was fine. With the exception of maybe a spot here or there, my skin was clear for the first time ever!

Well nowadays, my acne is not like it was before accutane, but still occurring all the time! It's soooo irritating that I went through all of that trouble for nothing! I went to my dermatologist a couple weeks ago and he gave me 2 different topical medicines to use, and big surprise....it's not working.

I am soooo close to just paying an arm and a leg and getting those laser and light treatments for acne. I am SO done with this and it literally makes me want to never look in a mirror ever again whenever I see ANOTHER freakin pimple or blackhead pop up EVERY morning.

UGH!

Ok, so that's my venting.

And P.S., in case any of you are considering Accutane, DON'T!

(Have you SEEN all those crazy commercials?? (http://www.accutanelawyers.com/, http://www.the-accutane-lawyer.com/, http://accutaneattorneys.net/, http://www.accutane-lawsuit-lawyer.com/)

Newer Hair

So the pictures I had posted of my hair with the red highlights looked WAAAYY better than in real life...in reality up close they looked red-red! AND after one wash, it was pink!

I called the salon and they graciously fixed it free of charge! :) They gave me a color all over that's a slight bit darker than what I had, and left my blonde highlights alone so that they could pop out a bit. As for the former red? Now it's brown with a red tint! Woo! Just what I wanted in the first place! Hallelujah!

Take a look:

:)

Too Red??

Got my hair done today...my aim was for red-brown highlights more towards the dark brown kind with a hint of red. Well, it turned out more as red-red, which I've had before, so it's not a huge deal...but still not really what I wanted. Ah well, I guess the good/bad thing about red... it fades fast, so it doens't matter too much that I'm not in love with it.

Before:

After:

What do you think? Too red? Or ok?

My Current Faves

After being inspired of an older post from Amy I thought I would make my own list of 10 great things that keep me feeling girly and pretty. :)

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Dream Angels Wish Body Softening Lotion -- This lotion rocks! Smells great and keeps my skin super soft. I usually put it on right after a shower and my skin feels great for the rest of the day!

2. Bare Minerals Warmth -- This bronzer is fantastic! I love the brush that came with the kit to use with this. It's nice and warm (obviously!) and it doesn't look too dark for my skin.

3. BioSilk Silk Therapy -- I've had the smaller version (2 or 3 oz. size) for at least 6 months now and it's still pretty full! You only need a tiny drop to put on the ends of your hair before (or sometimes after) blowdrying or styling hair. It makes my hair silky, shiny, and helps de-frizz a bit.

4. Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Polish -- I've talked about these kinds of polishes before...they're abosolutely my favorite! Especially the fact that it actually dries super fast! Who has time to wait for nail polish to dry anyways? Not me! The color below is my current color: Instant Iris :)

5. Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Mascara --- I finally found a mascara I love!! Woo!! Low clumpage and doesn't look spider like! Yess!!!

6. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser -- This gentle and basic face wash saved me during my Accutane days. It's never harsh and always makes you feel nice and fresh after using it!

7. Maybelline Define A line Eyeliner in Rich Raisin -- So apparently liners with a hint of red or ruby coloring to it really make my green eyes stand out. This one does a great job of making my eyes pop, but not in a crazy dramatic way. I love how smooth it is, and I also love that on the bottom side of the smudger, there's a sharpener! Gotta love that!

8. This is a joint favorite....two of my favorite concealers.. Physician's Formula Correcting Concealer (It comes with a green to diminish any red coloring which is great for acne, a yellowish concealer for under eye bags, and a pink highlighter to put in the corners of your eyes to make your eyes stand out).

The second fave concealer: American Beauty Perfecting Concealer -- This is a super creamy and blendable concealer I found out at kohl's. I absolutely love it, and coming from someone who has tried 5395289211 different kinds of concealers, trust me! This one is a keeper!


9. Aussie Mega Hair Spray -- Flexible Hold -- My new favorite hair do?? Curling my hair with S waves, spraying my hair brush with hair spray, and then brushing my hair!! My hairstylist gave me the idea, and I love how my hair looks!! *I added a picture to show you!!


10. Two inch Turbo Chi Hair Straightener -- Ok, so this is not mine...Yet! This is actually my roommate's flat iron, but she lets me use it all the time. It literally straightens my hair in less than 5 minutes!! It's SUPER freaking hot, so I have to be really careful. It's fabulous and one day I hope to have one of my own!

What are your favorite make-me-feel-pretty products?

To Tat....or Not to Tat

So I've been playing around with the idea of getting a tattoo...

What?!! Jessie Strunk getting a tattoo?! Crazy, I know.

But I'm just fascinated and really interested in it. I don't ever see myself as being someone to keep going and going, getting more and more tattoos.

If I get one, it would be just ONE.

It would also be very simple, something that I absolutely love, and most likely in the foot area (which I love the femininity of the foot area, plus it wouldn't be as obvious and out there/easy to cover up if need be)

Now, I have been one to always nay-say those who get tattoos simply for the art, and without meaning...however, I think I've had a change of heart! Now that I think about it, if it's something that I really love, then it does have meaning! It doesn't have to be something related to a person who has passed, a symbol for something, or someone's name for it to be special, right? It could just be something that you love and is special to you...I personally think that's meaning enough.

I'm still playing around with different options and haven't decided yet.

I do know that if I do end up doing this, when I walk into the parlor, I will be 110% positive of what I want and of the fact that I want it...there's no going back on these things! I guess that's the scary/exciting part of it...being permanent!

It's a double post kinda day

I got my hair did tonight! Check it out...

<--Hair before. Close to my natural dark...some red tones in it, and some blonde in there as well especially close to my face.

<--Hair After! I asked for warm tones...golden blonde and warm brown highlights throughout! She blended perfectly and I love it!

<--This looks silly, but it's a great shot of the new colors! :)

What do you think?