August Favorites

If there's anyone that knows me, they know that Sephora is my one stop shop for all things beauty. I've tried other retailers here and there, and none of them compare to Sephora. I love the quality and variety of the products Sephora carries- but most of all, I love the perks that come with being a frequent shopper :) With that said, I recently purchased a few items that I absolutely love and need to rave about!!! I've only been using these products for about a week, but I am so pleased with the results! So without further adieu...

Goodbye Cellulite and Stretch Marks!!!

The fat girl slimulator by Bliss, is an amazing product. It is an in-shower stimulating tool that promotes circulation and helps eliminate cellulite, and in my case stretch marks, on the stomach and leg areas. It originally retailed for $22, but I got mine on clearance at the Sephora inside JC Penny for $4.37- which is an amazing savings value of $17. This thing is completely affordable and well worth it! It's made of plastic and rubber and is very easy to use. All you do is wash and rinse the area(s) you wish to use the slimulator on, once you've finished that step- you simply slip the tool over your hand and in a circular motion, sweep the rubber tips all around the troubled area(s). For best results I recommend using the tool daily. I use mine about every 2 days or so, but I still see results after each use. I was skeptical at first, but it really works. I didn't take any before photos, so it'd be pointless to show the results- but trust me, this is the real deal! The only downside to this product is that I believe it has been discontinued since it was put on clearance and I can no longer find it on Sephora.com. If there are any still available at your JC Penny Sephora locations, I recommend you get one, you won't be sorry!

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

Earlier I mentioned perks for the frequent Sephora shopper. These perks come through the Beauty Insider Program, which essentially is a points based program. You get points for every dollar amount you spend and after so many points, they are redeemable for different products. Also, if you are a member of the program, every year on your birthday you get a free gift. And since my birthday was this month, I picked up my gift which was Philosophy's Happy Birthday Beautiful! shower gel and bubble bath in Vanilla Birthday Cake. This stuff is so yummy!!!!! The full size  bottle (16 oz.) retails for $16, which I think is pricey for body wash, but mine was free, so I can't complain. It has a really nice formula to it, you need just a pea sized amount to get a good lather and it smells amazing. I love this product because it really moisturizes my skin and leaves it feeling smooth. Happy Birthday to me!!

Mane and Tell

My last blog was about my obsession with hair care. I wish I would have gotten this next product sooner. For the record, I never combed or brushed my hair for the longest time. I would wash my hair, let it air dry and the next morning I'd style it. This brush I recently bought has changed all of this! I now love brushing my hair with the Sculpting Brush by the Sephora Collection. Originally retailing for $20, I found mine in the sale section for $7- and I couldn't be happier. This brush is the be all, end all; better than any brush I've ever used before, I promise! According to Sephora it is the next generation brush. It contains tourmaline, which is a mineral used in lots of hair tools, that helps to fight frizz, adds shine and leaves hair silky smooth and tangle free. I wasn't sure a $7 brush could do all of this, but it does! I also find that my hair dries faster when I brush it through with this and it has reduced the frizz tremendously. My hair is naturally straight, but in order to get it completely flat I use a flat iron/straightener. Now that I have this brush, I no longer have to rely on that! Thank you Lord!!!! Another amazing product that you should get your hands on before it is no longer available, which I'm not sure it still is.

Defining Moments

Anastasia's Brow Powder Duos work wonders! By no means was I blessed with full eyebrows, instead I have the complete opposite. But thanks to products such as these, I now have beautiful brows! 

The brow powders come in 4 shades, I use Brunette/Dark Brown, which is the second to darkest shade. The trick to making your brows look as real as possible is to use a powder that is one shade lighter than your true hair color. 

The good thing about this brow powder is that is has two shades for you to mix in order to get the desired results. It retails for $22. What I love about this product is that you don't have to use a lot to get good coverage. My previous brow routine was penciling them in and darkening with a brown eye-shadow and angled brush, but sometimes I'd have those off days where my brows wouldn't do what I wanted them to do, or they would wear off easily and leave me feeling embarrassed. But what I find with the brow powder is that my brows turn out the same every time and they don't wear off, even when I fall asleep with makeup on. $22 may seem expensive for a tiny compact with little product, but you only need a small amount at a time. I've tried another brow product by Anastasia but I wasn't pleased at all with it. In fact, I ended up returning it. But this one is a keeper. I recommend it to anyone who draws on their eyebrows or just simply fills them in, you won't be disappointed. *Side note: Sephora has one of the best return policies out there. If you don't like it, no matter how old or how used the product is, they will accept it. Having the receipt is always best, but even if you don't, the store will give you some kind of credit. Another reason to love this store!

I'm always pleased when I purchase something from this store, but these last couple of trips have left me feeling so happy with what I bought. It's what keeps me a beauty insider and makes me want to continue shopping there. I haven't redeemed my 500 points yet, but when I do, I'm sure it's something I'm going to love!! Check out a store if you haven't already, and if there isn't a store near you- there is always the store online. So go ahead and get beautiful. Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO

Hair Care Currents

Call me vain, but one of my biggest obsessions is my hair. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always had lots of hair and I've always kept it long. It starts in kindergarten when the little boy who sits behind you pulls your braid. And then it follows you to grade school when your friends want to play with your hair during recess. It continues through junior high and high school when you cut your hair for the first time or try out a different style. Hair is such a part of our identity. It's a reflection of our personality; of who we are. And because of that- it's the reason why I care about my hair so much. 

Now, I'm very fickle when it comes to this subject. I always like to try new products, new tools, different styles, different colors. Needless to say, I get bored after a while. The funny thing about this is, as much as I like change- I don't visit the salon very much. Number 1, I haven't found a hairdresser here in California yet. Number 2, I have to completely trust a person before I let them cut my hair. I'm a bit spoiled. I used to have an aunt that cut my hair while I was living in Hawaii, and before that I had a hairdresser in Vegas I always saw. (Both of whom work for the same salon :) ) Sooo....I cut my own hair for now. Trim might be the better word, I like to keep it maintained. And why not? If you know what you like, know what you're doing and can save big bucks- I say go for it!!!  Which brings me to the point of today's blog, my hair care currents. The products and tools I use on a daily basis or almost daily basis, excluding the sheers- wait about every 6 weeks to use those!

Cleanser

Currently I'm using Suave KIDS 2-in-1 Shampoo Smoothers in Fairy Berry Strawberry, a shampoo and conditioner. I'm really only using it because it smells good and because it's cute. Plus, I got it on sale in a variety pack of 4. On the other hand, it does its job as a cleanser, but because of the thickness of my hair I also use conditioning treatment. I believe these shampoos are fairly inexpensive, so if you just wanted to try something fun or use it for travel this could be an option. 

Products

The next product, I use directly after I towel dry my hair. It's Suave Professionals Weather Protection 360. An anti-frizz and flyaway cream gel, that shields against humidity, static and wind. I've used this product for about 2 years and it works well for me. It's the one product I need to use to ensure my hair will style the way I like it. Again, another inexpensive product that will run you maybe $2 at drugstores. I purchase this on base, so it ends up being cheaper. It smells nice and also works as conditioner. 

I'm sure everyone's heard of this next one. BIOSILK Silk Therapy drops. Retails around $13 (on base) for the smallest size 2.56 fl. oz. Silk drops serve as a smoothing serum and I use this product mostly when and if I wear my hair straight, just to keep it perfectly smooth and moisturized. A pea sized amount is all you really need, a little goes a long way with this product. And I don't mind spending $13 on something that's not full-sized if it will last me. I purchased this bottle in November, it's now August and I still have about 1/4 left. So it's a really good deal. It can be used on hair and skin while wet or dry, it smells amazing and it works. I highly recommend it.

Lastly is L'OREAL Paris' Elnett Satin Hairspray in Extra Strong Hold. This hairspray is designed to protect the style from humidity. It's salon quality and was only recently released in the US. It's only sold at Target stores and  comes in full size and mini. I purchased the mini size, 2.2 oz. for about $6, the larger size is around $13. I don't use this product every day, just when I need extra control to smooth something down or hold it in place. What's so nice about this hairspray is that it doesn't get hard or crunchy like other hairsprays. It leaves a firm hold without turning rock hard, and also it smells fairly decent. It doesn't choke you like most aerosol hairsprays can. If you don't use hairspray that often, I recommend this brand and this size. Very good buy!

Tools

Hot Tools Ceramic and Tourmaline Curling Iron in 1 1/2 in. barrel. This curling iron retails for about $40 give or take and can be purchased at places such as Hottools.com, Amazon.com, Sally Beauty Supply, etc. I had a 20% off coupon at the time I purchased mine so I was pretty excited about that. I've heard lots of things about this curling iron and I wanted to try it out myself. I really like it. I wouldn't say love because I think if I were to have gotten just a ceramic wand instead of the ceramic and tourmaline, it would curl my hair better. However, it does curl nicely, it comes in 1/2 in. to 2 in., heats up to 420 degrees and has a ridiculously long cord- which is one of its best features I think, because it gives you that range when need it. Ceramic is definitely one of the best heating sources for your hair, so I completely support this product, and not just because it's my favorite color ;)

Remington Pearl AC Professional Hair Dryer. Another great styling tool. This is another product purchased on base for $34.99. I don't blow dry my hair unless I absolutely need to. Since I curl my hair everyday, I don't like to add extra heat styling, so I let my hair air dry before I need to curl it. I find that my curls hold better if my hair has been air dried as opposed to blow dried. What I love about this dryer is that the grill is made out of ceramic and crushed pearl, which leaves your hair smooth due to its preferred heat source. The dryer has 3 speeds: Low, Medium and High as well as 3 heat settings: Low, Warm and Hot. It also has a 40% faster drying time than other dryers, which I need desperately since I have lots of hair. That thing gets heavy mannnn!

Split End Treatment

I'm not going to say much about this, since I don't use anything fancy. As you can see, I use a basic black comb that has both fine and wide teeth. I also like to clip my hair in sections when I trim, so I can keep track of what I've already done. And I use a pair of basic hair cutting sheers. I definitely recommend these over your basic household scissors. All items can be purchased at just about any store. Try Target or Wal-Mart for starters. 

Fresh Ends :)

And please make sure to cut/trim your hair while its dry. Remember, hair appears longer when it's wet, so to ensure you are cutting to the desired length PLEASE cut while dry!

So there you go, just a few of the items I use on almost a daily basis to keep these tresses in check. Let me know what you use...I'm always looking for new things! Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO

Summer Favorites

Creature of habit. Do you ever notice how you use certain products during the different seasons? Some might use a specific lip product during the winter to prevent dry, cracked lips. Others paint their nails with the cutest pastel shades during the spring. And some might lather on yummy pumpkin or cranberry lotions during the fall. I think we all do it. At least, I know I do. Which brings me to the point of today's blog: 2 of my favorite/most frequently used makeup products of the summer. Both of which are face products, time savers, and completely interchangeable. "What is she talking about", you might be asking yourself. Well, let me explain...

The first product is Sephora's Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 and Vitamin E, in the shade Bronze. *Disclaimer: this item was discontinued sometime last year. I actually got it in the clearance section, for I believe $8- originally $16. Sephora has since released another tinted moisturizer- Perfectly Tinted Mositurizer with SPF 20 ($21). Both moisturizers are also oil free. 

Why I lovvveee this product for the summer is because not only is it a moisturizer with built in SPF, but it's also tinted so I use it in place of my liquid foundation. It's lightweight, so it doesn't feel cakey or heavy like a foundation could, especially during the summer months when you might sweat more easily and have to re-apply. It protects you from the sun's rays and saves time during your daily routine of getting ready. Or as I like to call it, "hair and makeup" ;)  Because it's a moisturizer and not a foundation, it soaks into your skin, so I find that I don't even have to use a loose powder to set it. I'm sure the new product Sephora has is very similar to this one, so I suggest picking one up- I think you'll love it just as much as I do. 

The second product is the Beauty Blender sponge available only at Sephora.com ($19 each, or 2 for $25). I had heard lots of things about this technique of using the beauty blender to apply foundation, and I wanted to try it myself. I love this little sponge. It does wonders and makes your foundation, or tinted moisturizer :) look flawless. I got the 2 blender deal, and it came with a sample cleanser for the sponges. Obviously you can see that the sponge is quite compressed when dry but expands when wet- as is the way you use it to apply your face makeup. The rounded end is intended for coverage of larger areas of the face; cheeks and jaw bone. The pointed end is for coverage of the smaller areas of your face that require more precision; inner corners of the eyes and in between the eyebrows. Simply dab foundation all over your face, dampen the sponge, squeeze out the excess water and dab on top of the foundation for even coverage. Previously I used a pointed kabuki brush to apply foundation, but after using the beauty blender, there is no going back. The beauty blenders are easy to work with, are time savers and I also think they're better to use on your face because they're much softer than brushes. Just be sure to wash your beauty blender every 3-4 uses. Aside from the cleanser that comes with the sponges, you can also use a mild anti-bacterial soap and water to clean.

The third product is HOT MAMA! by the Balm ($19) also from Sephora. It's an eye shadow and blush all in one-hence the interchangeable part. I use it strictly as a blush. I got this product last summer because I saw it on one of their displays and the color was just gorgeous to me. 

It's described as a peachy pink shimmer, but don't let the shimmer part scare you! I don't see it as being an overbearing shade at all. In fact, when applied it gives your cheeks a healthy sun-kissed glow. Just be careful not to build the color up too much, you don't want your sun-kissed glow to look completely fake, especially in the summer ;) To prevent from cake-i-ness or build up try applying the color with a stippling brush; it will give the product a more air brushed, flawless finish. 

So there you go my little sun bunnies- just a few of my favorite summertime products. I hope some of these tips were helpful and I hope you bust out some of your favorites and get glammed up too. Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO