Best of 2014: Beauty

Hi everyone,

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  Well... if you haven't noticed the year is almost over!  I hope everyone had a great year filled with great experiences and great people.  Although this year has been stressful for me in many ways, I did have a great time.

So let's talk about something fun...beauty products!  I thought up some of my favorite beauty products I have used this year.  (Hopefully I have all of them).  I tend to be the type of person who finds a routine or product that I like and sticks to it; meaning, I will most-likely continue using these products into next year.

• Creamy gold eyeshadows.  I have been very much into creamy gold eyeshadows this year.  The consistency is perfect for those rushed mornings, when you just want to slap something onto your eyelids and be out the door (looking good of course).
• Nude nail polish.  This has been a personal staple of mine, and it probably will be for a very long time.  Nude nails are nice, understated, classy and versatile.
• L'Oreal BB cream.  Ok I know I am probably one of the last people to try out BB cream; but I picked this one up and I love it.
• Hope in a Jar cream.  This is one of my favorite face creams of all time.  The consistency is very light and whipped.  The smell is very light and clean.  The formula works like a charm and is not greasy.  Need I say more?
• Lip-liners.  This year I have discovered the importance of lipliners. Haha
• Dusty rose lipsticks.  I finally found my go-to lipstick shades for my olive skin!  I also learned that I can never wear straight up pink lipstick.
• Clay masks.  I have always been a mint julep mask person but I have been changing it up.

What have been your go-to products this year?

2 Great Body Lotions for Winter

Hi guys,

It's freezing cold again and you know what that means... dry skin.  During the winter it is super important to moisturize your body, face, hands and feet.  In this post I'll informally review two body lotions.

When I need a body lotion to get the job done, I summon these two...

Both of these lotions have no scent.  They are very heavy, probably too heavy for Summer months.  I find the Eucerin lotion a bit heavier than the Lubiderm. I love these lotions because they absorb quickly and leave the skin smooth and leave your skin with a silky-satiny finish.

I use these lotions when I am fresh out of the shower to lock in moisture (this makes the product more effective).  Also I apply lotion to my feet then slip on socks, doing this allows the lotion to sink in.

Here's a quick tip:

If your feet are extra-dry use vaseline then put socks on although your feet will be slippery they will soften.  Try this on cracked heels.

Got a favorite lotion? I'd love to hear about it!

Coconut Oil

Hi guys,

I have been hearing buzz about coconut oil for a while now.  I have used products that contained coconut milk and oil, but about two months ago I purchased my first jar of virgin unrefined coconut oil.  I absolutely love this stuff.  Unlike other oils, coconut oil has a low melting point which means it also has a low freezing point.  This is great because when coconut oil is at room temperature it is a solid, making it easy to apply (just by scooping it out), unlike other oils.  The low melting point allows it to be melted in without leaving clumps!  It is perfect, and it smells great!

• If your skin is dry you may want to apply coconut oil to your skin and lips.  This is especially important with the colder weather months coming.  

• If you wish to use this on your face use it sparingly because you don't want your face to appear too oily.  

• You may want to apply this around your eyes if the skin is dry.  This can be also used to condition your eyelashes (that's right I said condition and eyelashes in the same sentence).  If your eyelashes fall out it may be because they are dry. 

• This can be used as an oil-based makeup remover.

• To apply to hair you do not need much.  Coconut oil will add softness and shine to your hair.  Remember it will melt in quickly so don't worry about the clumps.  

• You can also use coconut oil to shine leather.

• You can use this to clean paint brushes (instead of using mineral spirits).

The great thing about coconut oil is that considering all of the uses it is relatively cheap!

Do you know any other uses or recipes with coconut oil?

Review: Sephora Collection: Ultimate Dual Exfoliating Face Brush

Hi guys,

For a while now I have been using toothbrush to exfoliate.  Although this technique is great it takes a while to cover your entire face.  The toothbrush is perfect for small areas such as around your nose.
I decided that I needed to treat myself and step it up a notch.  I was not going to shell out all of that dough for a Clarisonic (I'm a student afterall).  When I am going to buy something I make sure I shop around for the best deal that suits my needs.  In other words, I am not an impulse buyer.  So after some hunting around on the internet I found and decided on this...

I bought this handy-dandy tool at Sephora $18.  The tool has 2 sides, one side is a brush while the other is a silicone pad.

The brush side: The brush is what I call medium firmness.  You may want to use it less often especially if you have sensitive skin. Maybe if you have normal skin every two days and every week if you have sensitive skin.  Do what you feel your skin can handle. (That is always the key).  Also a little product goes a long way; you only need a pea size amount to get crazy suds!

The silicone side: This is interesting.  I can honestly say I haven't seen a silicone scrubber before.  The claim of the pink side, is to "deeply invigorate" the skin.  When you use this side it kind of feels like someone is rubbing your face with a latex glove.  It does not really feel like there is any invigorating going on, but it may still be working.  I feel that it is a bit cumbersome to put such a delicate scrubber on such a big tool.  Unlike the bristles it can not contour around your face because it is basically flat.  I think the pink side would work much better if it was detachable or separate. 

Pros:

The brush side is great for exfoliation.

The pink side may be great for those with super sensitive skin.

Comes with a cover for the brush bristles (to keep things sanitary).

Maximizes product usage (you don't need to use much product).

Cheaper than other alternatives.

Cons:

Brush may be to harsh for some.

Pink side may be too delicate for some.

Cumbersome at times.

Overall: I think this is a great product for those of us on a budget.  Although using the pink silicone side in small areas is difficult to impossible, the brush is great.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ (4 out of 5)

Review: Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub-oil free

Hey guys,

About a week  ago I purchased the Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub.  I was in need of a new facial exfoliating scrub and I snatched up this one.  I read the package and threw it into my shopping cart.  I didn't even open the cap and smell it.  I almost always smell products before I buy them; lets face it smell is a very important when it comes to something you are going to use on your face.  (Can you imagine buying a face soap that smells like sardines?)  

First use: I decided to try out the product when I got home first I cleansed my face and tried out the scrub. Upon opening the cap I was pleasantly surprised by the smell of oranges! The consistency was creamy, however, it did a great job in removing all oil off of my face without leaving it dry.  

Best uses: The light and creamy consistency helps the product live up to its name (gentle).  So this product is great for everyday use with normal skin or every couple of days for those with sensitive skin.

Recommendation: I would recommend this product to anyone with dry, normal to slightly oily skin.

~Vee