Is someone trying to tell me something?

I received a mysterious package in the mail. I open it and this is the contents, Living proof's frizz nourishing styling cream....no idea where this came from but hint taken. I've been battling frizzy hair for years so I'll take any help I can get! So of course I tried it out and decided to blog about it. As recommended I applied after my shower to damp hair and then dried and flat ironed and my hair was noticeably softer and smoother. The smell was decent and I felt like it lived up to its no frizz claim. This was after just one use so I will have to update after I use it for awhile. After some research the con is that this 4 oz bottle is $17.98 on Amazon (another sign I for one didn't purchase it) which is pretty pricey for such a small bottle. I will let you know how long it lasts which will make a difference in whether it is worth its price. There is also a shampoo and conditioner which runs to the tune of $30 a bottle...yikes, if my mysterious sender would like to hook me up with those too I'll greatly appreciate it...

To B or not to BB

*Image taken from Garnier Facebook Page

I'm running out the door on this chilly Sunday morning. I haven't showered yet and to be honest we were headed to Walmart with two kids so caring what I looked like was not a top priority but I'm also not crazy enough to leave the house with no makeup on at all...soooo I grabbed my Garnier BB Cream, quickly applied like lotion, threw on a sweatshirt and was out the door. I use to use Garnier's BB Cream on a daily basis, it's not bad, I didn't notice any improvement to my complexion over the months I used it but if you read my last blog about my daily scrub, my complexion really isn't that bad. The texture is thick and a little greasy and what I noticed was by 3:00 p.m. I was looking like I never put makeup on at all, it was like it slid right off my face and then my mist makeup fell from heaven and solved that problem. I still like the Garnier BB Cream for days like today where I don't need to look good all day or even for a day at the beach, it has SPF 15 in it which is a plus. So if you want to B naturally pretty for a few hours go ahead and BB.

MAC Pigments, a dab will do ya!

MAC has been a favorite of mine for many years. My absolute FAVORITE MAC product are their pigments. You might be thinking, 'Hey Lady I thought you were on a budget!' but what you will discover with the MAC pigments is that your $22 investment will last FOREVER! MAC pigments are highly concentrated color so only a little will accomplish the goal. I wet my eyeshadow brush and just sweep the lid of my pigment jar for a high def color that shimmers and withstands the demands of the day. I have yet to finish a pigment jar and I use them a few times a week. I bought my first pigment jar 6 years ago! My two favorite colors Blue Brown and Brown Green have been discontinued for a few years so I will cry sad sad tears when I officially finish them- if they do reappear snatch them up because they are amazing! My suggestion to you is to find a color you love and try it out. I lean towards a base eyelid color with pigments because they are a little two shimmery as a highlighter. Let me know which colors you love! 

Bye Bye Blemishes

I've shared this beauty secret of mine with friends for years! St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub is a daily must have- I've tried other scrubs, even high dollar scrubs and nothing compares. I notice a difference too if I don't use it. There have been times we have gone out of town and I just wash my face with whatever and then sure enough I look like an 18 year old smack down in the middle of puberty with a face you could play connect the dots on! I wash my face with this once daily in the shower and then twice a day clean my face with regular rubbing alcohol and I get compliments on my skin all the time. If you have dry skin I would probably only do the rubbing alcohol wipe down once a day or every other day. These two put together make a blemish busting clear complexion team! 

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty

And the Beast

Today we are talking mascaras. Now I've been on the hunt for the perfect mascara for years! I've tried expensive, cheap, vibrating, plumping, you name it, I've tried it. My most recent find though is quite decent and you can't beat the price. My latest tries were CoverGirl's Lash Blast 24 Hour Mascara and NYC's Skyrise Mascara. Now let's talk about the 'beast' first. For around $6 you can buy CoverGirl's Lash Blast mascara but what I found is that the brush holds too much mascara, when you apply, it will likely end up all over your eye. Even after I would remove the extra smudges with a Q-tip by the end of the day I would look rather raccoonish. After a week I was over it! I knew my husband would not be thrilled I wanted a new mascara after just buying a mascara the week before when we were on a tight budget so I started hunting for a price even he couldn't refuse. What I found: NYC's Skyrise Mascara for $1! I was pretty skeptical and to be quite honest I was hoping this would just get me by until mascara was back up on the priority list but what I found was a mascara that I would definitely buy over and over again. It isn't phenomenal, you won't hear angels singing like with my awesome foundation find BUT I think you will be happy with the results and for the price you can't beat trying it!

Birchbox- Christmas every month!

Birchbox- Like Christmas in July, August, September, October...

I wish I would have taken a picture of my actual box this month but like Christmas it takes a lot to restrain myself from ripping the package open and checking out my goodies. I promise next month to take a picture before tearing it to shreds. For $10 a month (which for me I have automatically deducted at the start of the month) you get a box of decent sized high-dollar product samples. I've received sample mascara, nail polish, lip gloses, eye-shadow etc. It is a beauty lovers dream! I look forward to it each month and with the stresses of motherhood and working, a girl needs a little pampering, luckily mine comes wrapped with a pretty bow in my mailbox each month. Check it out: https://www.birchbox.com?raf=ghnkk

Dollar Tree Eye-shadow

Colour me glow by Profusion-This is the eye-shadow that I rave about in my profile. I actually first found this in Walgreens by the check out counter for $1, since then I have found a variety of the same kind at Dollar Tree for- yes a dollar!!! I get compliments on this eye-shadow all the time, it provides long wear and sparkle and I wear the neutral shades almost daily. The black sparkle also doubles as an eye-liner. One of my favorite finds! 

Seriously you will hear angels singing...

Aero Minerale Makeup Mist
Start singing Hallelujah, see the heaven's open up and shine down on this foundation. Over the summer I was really into researching airbrush makeup, like the Temptu system that Emily Maynard the previous Bachelorette raves about all the time. These systems cost over $150 dollars and then my friend posted about this makeup on Facebook. The more I googled it the more it appealed to me, supposedly it is the official makeup of Twilight (fitting how the Part B of Breaking Dawn is being released in just a few weeks). I read how this makeup is how the actors get their 'flawless' look. I rushed over to my local Ulta and brainstormed colors with the consultants there (it did take me a couple of trys to get it right but they are awesome about letting you exchange even after you open it). I even got a high dollar coupon to use for joining their free rewards program (I get high dollar coupons now all the time in the mail and use them to refill when I'm out). What I found was that you can't spray it on, I can't anyway I'm not that talented, however when I spray it on my fingers and apply it like a regular foundation I achieve a flawless look that.....you may want to sit down for this....STAYS ON ALL DAY (yes I really did shout it). The first day I wore it was a weekend where I love to nap with my little ones, we were going to a movie after naptime and I woke up and barely had to touch up my eyes. AMAZING! You can pick it up at Ulta for around $15 but if you have a coupon or sign up for their rewards program you will get it for less. A great deal considering the can lasted over 2 months with daily use and I don't have to retouch throughout the day.

Loreal vs. Wen

 VS.

So I received a sample of Wen Sweet Almond Mint (very similar to the one pictured). I was super excited because after watching the informercials I was convinced this was going to save my frizzy semi straight semi curly hair. I have to say I really really liked it but after searching and searching online I just couldn't justify the price. The cheapest place I could find it was on Amazon and even still a small bottle is like 20 bucks. I read that the auto-shipment from the Wen distributors website charges you the $30 a month and you really don't need a new bottle each month so it ends up being a rip-off. So I started looking for Plan B and found Loreal's Cleansing Conditioner which on Amazon has raving reviews comparing it to Wen. I was thrilled because at $5 a bottle I could afford it! The Loreal product seemed to be very similar in results (although I hate to admit I liked the texture of my hair better with Wen) the only pitfall was the smell of the Loreal product. It was very much a strong perfumey White Diamonds sorta smell and after 1 bottle I decided I just couldn't handle it. I think it is worth a try if you want to experiment with a Cleansing Conditioner but aren't ready to commit to the price of Wen. I heard Wen just realized a Ginger Pumpkin fall scent, hmmmmm maybe I'll win Lotto...