Love & Don't Love

A Product I Am Loving………..

Nutra Nail Bullet Proof Strength (Base Coat) + Nutra Nail High Gloss (Top Coat)

            I found this at Wal-Mart last week and decided to try it.  It came in a special combination pack where I got both polishes in the same pack for $4.98.  (I thought I still had the box it came in but I must have tossed it)  When I just apply top coat to my polish, within 1-2 days, it’s already chipping.  Annoying.  I decided to try this and see if it would work or not.  I used nail polish remover on my natural nail to get all of the oils off of it so the polish would stick better.  Then applied: 1 coat of the Nutra Nail Bullet Proof Strength (the box recommends 2 coats), 2 coats of my nail polish, then one coat of Nutra Nail High Gloss Top Coat.  This stuff is awesome!  My nails went one full week with very minimal chipping!  Just the tips of a couple nails chipped.  Several people asked me where I got my nails done at because they thought it was a manicure.  It made my nails very thick/strong and there was no scratching of any sort on the polish by the week’s end.  I could have went longer but wanted to change out the color. 

      You can see the minimal chipping on the top of my middle and ring finger, remember, this is after 1 full week of wear and tear!

       This hand had NO chipping.  Just some regrowth from my nails growing out.  And i didnt apply any more top coat through out the week and you can see just how shiny they still look. 

*My only complaint: takes a long time to dry.  I let it dry for 35 minutes before I did my makeup, and I noticed a little bit of scratching in the polish from it not being fully dry; but there was no additional scratching from anything else during the week.  So you need to have patience with this product.  But for the price, I can definitely have the patience.

*Would I buy this again? ABSOLUTELY!  My polish lasted for a week and looked great.  And for less than $5, you can’t beat that! 

*What I’m wearing on my nails: Ulta Mint Condition and Essie in Tour De Finance

And A Product I Am NOT Loving.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector in 1.7 ounces for $73

I have a few dark spots on my face from the sun.  I really don’t have any acne scars or anything like that but I do have a small red spot from where I got a sun spot removed. This product has been something I have had my eye on for months and months.  After reading many great reviews on it, I decided to go for it.  After about 6 weeks, I noticed some SLIGHT fading in the color but the spots were still very much visible.  The small red spot I had has completely faded out.  Now after almost 9 weeks, I have not seen much more fading.  The instructions are to apply this twice a day over your dark spots.  I have done this RELIGIOUSLY 2 times a day, for 9 weeks and have got minimal results.  For the effort I’ve had to put forth applying this twice a day and the money I spent, I was hoping for better results.  I will finish the bottle out since I did invest in it.  They say after 12 weeks you will see your full results and I know I am not quite there yet, but there has been minimal transformation.  This is just my personal opinion of the product as there were hundreds of reviews where people had great results in their opinions.  (I have not been in the sun AT all since using this as it is winter/spring here, and the FEW times I have tanned, I covered my face)  I will say that if you do invest in this and decide to try it, go with the smaller bottle as it is 1.0 ounce for $49.50 as the product does last and a little bit goes a LONG way.  It’s a very thin textured white serum that spreads easily on your face and does require some dry time to soak in to your skin.  If you have acne scarring, I would recommend this product to you but if you are just trying to fade or get rid of sun spots, I would NOT recommend this. 

*Would I buy this again? Nope.  I’m not impressed with the results. 

I am going to try the Proactiv Dark Spot Remover once this runs out as I think it has stronger ingredients in it and I will be SURE to review that for you. J

Hope this helps, and once again, thanks for reading! XOXO

5 Makeup Brushes.....

5 Makeup Brushes EVERYONE Should Have In Their Makeup Collection

There are so many different makeup brushes, brands, and types out there it’s hard to know where to start or what you need in your collection.  My personal favorite brand of brushes is by Mac.  They are top quality with minimal to no shedding and give awesome results but I am not saying that you need to run out and drop $200 on brushes for your collection.  There are several other brands to check out such as Sigma (sigma.com), Sonia Kashuk (Target), Sephora and Japonesque (Ulta).  I am going to show you the 5 basic brushes everyone should have and will be showing the Mac ones, but I am just trying to get across the TYPE of brush and what it is used for rather than promoting that specific brush from Mac.  Any brush line will have a dupe of it, just depends on your budget/wants/needs! 

**No particular order

·         Foundation Brush- Use this to blend foundation in circular motions going upwards to create a flawless airbrush effect on your face.  Using your fingers or a sponge just smears it and will not give you the same results that a brush would.  Also, using a foundation brush will allow you to use less product than using your fingers or a sponge would (the foundation soaks into the sponge almost immediately!).  The two levels of bristles let you layer the product however sheer or heavy you want the coverage.  For a fuller and heavier coverage application, look for a brush with dense, flat, firmer bristles (See Makeup Geek brush below)

                                  *Mac 187 Duo Fibre Brush

                               *Makeup Geek Foundation Stippling Brush (Makeupgeek.com)

·         Powder Brush-I personally love using a kabuki to apply my powder/bronzer.  The rounded dome tip fits the curves and shape of your face perfectly to apply the product.  The fact that it’s small is a convenient bonus because I can just throw it in my makeup bag and go while the small base gives me more control.  It also helps with buffing out your makeup to give an even appearance across your face. 

                                         *Mac 182 Buffer Brush

·         Blush Brush-This can work as a multi-tasking brush: perfect for applying blush or contouring your face.  If you prefer a more precise application, then go with an angled blush brush but if you prefer a softer and more natural look, then look for a more fluffed dome. 

                                  *Mac 129 Powder/Blush Brush  (this could be used for both your blush and/or powder)

·         Shadow Brush-Perfect for applying/packing shadow to the eye lids.  The shadow will go on so much nicer when applied with a brush instead of the shadow applicators or your finger.  And it also gives you more control of where you want the shadow to be. 

                                    *Mac 213 Fluff Brush

·         Blending Brush-This is my favorite brush to use!   Look for one with a fluffed rounded tip to help with blending out eye shadows.  This brush will help you create the perfect smoky eye!  I literally use this brush EVERY time I do my makeup.  It is definitely my go to brush.  If there is one brush I would recommend you to splurge on, it would be the Mac 217 Blending Brush as there is no dupe as good as this actual brush.  It is worth the investment and if you take care of it, it’ll last forever.  I use this almost every day, and have definitely gotten my money’s worth. 

                                           *Mac 217 Blending Brush

...AND…don’t forget your brush cleaner!  If you are going to spend the money on your brushes: TAKE CARE OF THEM!  Brushes can also harbor lots of dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells which can lead to breakouts so it is important to clean them for sanitary reasons as well have your product be true to color when you apply.  EX: if you use 3 different blushes, and aren’t cleaning the brush, you will eventually end up with all 3 colors in your brush and on your face.  I clean my brushes every 7 uses.   Eye shadow brushes I clean every 2-3 uses so my colors aren’t mixing in the brushes.  Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser is what I use to clean my brushes and it works very well.  I have heard of other makeup artists using baby shampoo and that it works just as well; I personally have never tried it. 

Here is a promo code for free shipping on any Mac purchase that is good through Sunday April 15th and 11:59 EST: Cheek

 

Hope that helps….thanks for reading…XOXO!

Ulta + Supply House Haul

Ulta + Supply House Haul

On Saturday, I went to the beauty supply house, Peel's, and then went to Ulta because I had my 20% off everything in the store coupon!  You do have to have your cosmetology license to get into the supply houses, which I do have mine.  Everything I bought at Peel's, can be found at Ulta. 
**I purchased everything on my own

Supply House Purchases:
L to R
It's a 10-this product literally does 10 things for your hair
*Repairs dry damanged hair
*Adds shine
*Detangles
*Control Frizz
*Seals and protects hair color
*Prevents split ends
*Stops hair breakage
*Creates silkiness
*Enhances natural body
*Flat iron spray & thermal protector
This stuff works wonders!!!!
Fake Bake Flawless-I have heard from many beauty bloggers that this is the best at home self tanner you can get.  It comes with a mitt to help prevent streaking and I am so anxious to try it.  Mine came with a bonus item of a moisturizer spray to put over the self tanner when I'm done to keep my skin hydrated.  Ulta does carry this but when I was there on Saturday, it did NOT come with the moisturizer spray.
Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Shampoo-This stuff rocks and smells amazing.  Big Sexy is one of my favorite hair care lines ever.  I actually bought this for my mama tho! 
Kenra Volume Spray 25-This is an industry's favorite and has won so many awards.  I rotate between this and Big Sexy Spray and Play Harder.  This isn't as firm of  a hold as Big Sexy but it still gives great hold and leaves the hair workable.
Nicki Minaj Minis-This set comes with all her OPI Collection Polishes, Did It On Em', Fly, Pink Friday and Metallic 4 Life.  What's nice about the mini collection is you get all the polishes and since they are small, you don't feel like you are wasting your money.  We all know, you get a new polish, wear it several times then it ends up in the back of your collection and is replaced with the new latest and greatest collection. And this actually isn't for me either, it's for a friend's step daugher's birthday who LOVES Nicki. 

Ulta Purchases:
L to R:
EOS Lip Balm in Honeysuckle-I hear so much about this line of lip balm and hand lotion, I had to jump on the band wagon and try it! It's very convienent to just keep in your purse and have it at all times
EOS Hand Lotion in Berry Blossom-Same story as the lip balm.  I found these by the check out at Ulta and they got me with their marketing tactics because I didn't have any intention on going out of my way to try these items!
Revlon Lip Butter in Gumdrop-When they lined first launched, there were SO many colors I wanted to try, but I only got 2 in case I didn't like them.  I had gotten Strawberry Shortcake which was a beautiful barbie pink and Creme Bruele which was a pretty nude color.  They don't last super long on your lips and I find myself re-applying often, but for the price, they are great colors! So I got Gumdrop, which is a soft lavendar so I could pair it with a gloss I had gotten (Swatches below)
Benefit They're Real! Mascara-Once again, I have heard SO much about this mascara but have been hesitant to drop $22 to try a product I may or may not like esp since I have thin eye lashes as is and only certain mascaras work for me.  They had a travel sized one for $10, and I decided to try it and I LOVE it!!! I will definitley be purchasing this again.  I love the wand on it and it really thickened my lashes. (I will be doing a blog later on mascaras I personally like)
Macadamia Hair Mask-Can't get enough of this! Just needed to stock up since it was on sale
Essie in Orange, It's Obvious!-this is a beautiful orange color that is going to look so pretty this summer on tan skin
Essie in Tour De Finance-I already tried this color on my nails and it's a new favorite! LOVE it! it's a fuschia pink with blue-ish undertones.  Anyone who likes pink polish: GET THIS!

I had gotten the lipgloss on the right, Revlon Ultimate Orchid, randomly one day at the drug store.  But when I used it, it was a very sticky texture on my lips and I didn't care for it BUT I liked the color.  So the Revlon Lip Butter in Gumdrop, is a very translucent lavendar that doesn't show up that well on your lips (I prefer brighter lips! If you like a softer lip, use it by itself) Well when they are combined, it gives the perfect color and texture and costs about $13 for both depending on any sales you may catch. 
Left: Gumdrop
Middle: Ultimate Orchid (You can see the dry sticky texture it gives off, and that was after only about a minute swatched)
Right: Combined!  You can see the beautiful color and texture the two combined gives!!

Thanks for reading XOXO!

Perfect Peachy Coral Lips

Perfect Peachy Coral Lips For Summer

A recent color combination that I am obsessed with is NYX Antwerp plus NYX Mega Shine in Nude Peach.  It looks great on tan skin with some bronzer and is perfect for summer!  They can be found at Ulta or nyx.com.  And they are inexpensive as both can be purchased together for under $10! 

WIPE THAT GREASE OFF YOUR FACE!!!!!!!

FACT: no one like a greasy shiny face.  Oily skin is something I have always had to deal with, then factor in a hot, humid, muggy Iowa summer and it’s not a good outcome for my makeup.  So here are some tips and tricks that have worked for me. 

*I will have a later blog about makeup products that have also helped control the shine

*Wash your face with an oil free face wash 

Always start out your day with a fresh, clean face and end your day with a clean face.  NEVER GO TO SLEEP WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON!!  Here are some of the face washes I recommend (and I have tried A LOT!)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

            This face wash is a #1 dermatologist recommended acne fighting cleanser as it has salicylic acid in it to prevent breakouts and black heads.  An added bonus is that it leaves your face feeling refreshed because of the grapefruit while eliminating oil and dirt.  I don’t use this everyday because it is meant to clear and prevent acne; it can be harsh on skin.  (I don’t usually have acne or breakouts)  There's a whole line of this and now, they also have the makeup wipes that come in handy when you’re traveling or out and about.  AND this can be found at Wal-Mart for around $6!

           

Mary Kay TimeWise 3-in-1 Cleanser (combination to oily)

            This face wash also has micro beads in it so it gently exfoliates your face while cleansing and leaving it freshened.  I keep this face wash in my shower, as I think it works best with the steam from the hot water.    

Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser

            The clays in this face wash extract and remove excess oils and refine the skin’s texture.  It really has no scent to it.  This is my favorite face wash of all time; I have been using it for years.  However, it is fairly pricey as it is around $30.  It’s definitely worth the money along with any product in this line. 

*Face Primers

          Before I do my makeup, I always apply a face primer to my clean face.  This will create a barrier between your skin and makeup and will help absorb the oil before it shines through. 

My favorite one is…….Monistat Chafing Gel!

            Yes, the Monistat you use for your vah jay jay!!!!  It leaves my face so soft and my makeup lasts hours longer than without it.  I would highly recommend this to anyone who gets shiny throughout the day or night.  And the best part, it is around $5 at your local Wal-Mart or drug store. 

Mary Kay Oil Mattifier

Smashbox Primer 
        Smashbox has several different primers that in addition to help with oil control but can correct other issues with your skin.  The one shown below, is their basic primer to help with oil control.  EX: if you have a lot of redness, there is a green toned one that will balance out the redness.  Your local Ulta will carry all of these and a beauty consultant would be more than happy to help you find the right one for your skin. 

Makeup Forever HD Primer
        Makeup forever also has several different options depending on your skin.  This can be found at your local Sephora. 

*Set makeup/skin with a translucent powder

Whether I am going to rock makeup or no makeup, I set my makeup or skin with a translucent powder.  I prefer translucent (no color) because the ones with color can make your face look cakey. 

Makeup Forever HD Translucent Powder

            This is by far my favorite powder.  It works amazing!  It sets my makeup and mattifies the skin which helps hide imperfections and it helps prevent shine.  This product is pricey as it is around $30 for 3.5 ounces.  In addition, it can be messy as it is a loose powder and it does not travel well either.  When I got to Arizona and opened the lid, there was powder everywhere and in turn, I wasted a lot of expensive product.  I would definitely recommend not traveling with this. 

Mac Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder (Pressed and Loose)

            This also helps reduce shine and minimizes imperfections on the face.  It comes in both pressed and loose.  I have this in pressed because it travels better and I can throw it in my purse without a mess.  This product is slightly cheaper too at around $23.

*Oil Absorbing Sheets

I always carry these in my purse and have them on hand at ALL TIMES.  Whether I’m wearing makeup for not, these work great during the end of the day or night when I’m starting to feel greasy.  You want to blot your face, NOT WIPE or you will smear your makeup.  If you are wearing makeup, you don’t want to just put on more makeup, or you will end up even more greasy.  You want to get rid of the excess oil first. 

Mary Kay Beauty Blotters

            These are my favorite.  You get 75 tissues and they are decent sized to blot a whole face.  They are translucent with no powder on them which works for me because after I blot, I will touch up my face with powder or bronzer.  (If you prefer ones with a powder on it, I would recommend Palladio Rice Paper Powdered Blotting Tissues-they come in translucent as well as ones with color.  They can be found at Sally's or Ulta) 

I know the Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets have been popular for years, however I personally do NOT care for them.  They are so small that I need 2 or 3 just to blot my face and I go through them really fast. 

*Additional Tips  

Always wash your face before bed.  NEVER sleep with your makeup on.

Change your pillow case AT LEAST once a week

Use toners to clean your face (I prefer Clinique)

            I do the toner before bed because the less stuff on my face before my makeup, the better

Always moisturize

            I am guilty of not putting moisturizer on before I do my makeup, but I do wear an oil free moisturizer to bed

Medicated pads with salicylic acid

Oil free sunscreen (I prefer Clinique)

Masks

            Right now I am using the Mint Julep Mask from CVS.  It leaves my face feeling so clean and refreshed while shrinking down my pores.  And it was under $5.  I do this once a week, usually on Sunday nights. 

Don’t touch your face!  The dirt and oil from your hands will get on your face, EW. 

Adjust your skin care routine based on the seasons and how your skin changes

Finally, drink lots of water! 

Hope this helps you look less greasy and shiny!!! Thanks for reading, XOXO!!!!!

*Hair Care Tips*

Tips For Healthy Hair:

1.     THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF ALL- DO NOT WASH YOUR HAIR EVERYDAY! 

a.     At MINIMUM, every other day.

b.     Use a dry shampoo.  Suave is good for drug store or Big Sexy or Rockoholic.  My personal favorite is Oscar Blandi, as you can pour it out rather than spraying it.  (I have horrible luck with the spray kind) 

c.      Wash it properly (shampoo it twice so the shampoo lathers up and gets bubbly and only use the conditioner on the ends of your hair, think pony tail area only otherwise it will make hair appear greasy)

d.     Use good products!  Get a stylist recommendation.  Redken is the best price point and delivers great quality

2.     Only brush your hair with the wet brush.  It will prevent snagging and breaking/tearing of hair.  It’s worth the investment!

3.     Hair masks and oil treatments once a week!  The best one I have found is Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque.  It is worth every penny.  If you don’t feel like spending the money, go to Sally’s and get treatments as they have the individual usage ones.  (you can get more than one use out of them)

a.     Shampoo hair twice so it lathers, rinse, towel dry your hair, apply the masque or treatment, make sure you let sit for atleast 10 minutes in a hot shower, have your hair pinned in a bun and rinse with cool water!!

b.     Another treatment option, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (yes, the same olive oil found in your kitchen!) heat it up for 15 seconds, put your hair in a pony tail and drench your DRY pony tail with it, put it in a bun or shower cap, and let it sit as long as you want.  (I usually do ATLEAST an hour) then shower as normal, using cool water.  *I've also heard of people using coconut oil and have had great success with it, I personally have not tried it....YET!

4.     Take a Hair, Skin, Nail vitamin or Fish Oil vitamin.  (don’t take maternity/prenatal pills as it can cause you to retain water weight!)

5.     If you are going to be in the sun or in a tanning bed, cover your hair with a towel  or cute hat

a.     Keep your hair out of chlorine

b.     That’ll also make your color last longer and prevent fading or turning blonde hair funky colors J

6.     Don’t flat iron your hair everyday or blow dry it everyday.  Also use a heat protect ant when flat ironing your hair (I like the chi iron guard) or before blow drying apply a protectant (I like It’s a 10-seriously works wonders, if you are unfamiliar with it: Google it!)

7.     Also-a healthy lifestyle in general will improve the quality of your hair.  Drink LOTS of water, you can never drink too much water.  Eat fish and any other protein you can.  That will build the strength in your hair as well. 

An extra tip for growing your hair long J

·        If you are trying to grow your hair long, get a TRIM every 6 months.  If you go every 4-6 weeks, you will just cut off any length you grew out, depending on how fast your hair grows.  If you take care of your hair, you shouldn’t need so many trims. 

About this page....

My name is Lauren and I LOVE everything about Hair, Makeup and Fashion!!  Living a healthy lifestyle is also important to me as it goes hand in hand with looking good and feeling good.  So I decided to start a blog so I can share with others what works for me and doesn't work for me.  I am by no means an expert nor am I getting sponsored or paid for what I post, they are my personal opinions.  If anyone has negative opinions regarding this blog, feel free to move on because I don't care what you think!  

  Thanks to everyone who follows and I hope my blogs can help you! XOXO <3L