Tag Archives: skin care

Jul3

Monday Update: June 2017 Finishes Edition

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Monday Update: June 2017 Finishes Edition

Hello everyone and happy July!! The month of June brought about a massive amount of beauty finishes for yours truly. As I try to be as detail oriented with product reviews as possible, this post will definitely be a long one! Not only did I finish a bunch of products but I actually liked ALL of them this time around, which doesn’t happen often. Take a look at my June empties and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Suave Everlasting Sunshine body wash: YES
  • Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray: YES
  • Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: YES
  • Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea lotion: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin E moisturizer: YES
  • The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleep Mask: YES
  • The Body Shop Vineyard Peach body butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

Suave Body Wash: I think that Suave shower gels are incredibly underrated. They smell amazing, they hydrate, lather well, and leave your skin feeling supple and fresh. And they’re so reasonably priced that it seems like a no brainer to use their products. Everlasting Sunshine is one of my favorite scents by them. It’s floral and bright without being overpowering and it’s such an invigorating scent to hop into the shower with in the morning. It took me a little over one month to finish this product.

Paul Mitchell Spray: As a fake redhead, protecting my color at all costs is crucial. This Paul Mitchell spray kept my red looking bright and shiny throughout the month until I dyed it again. I would spray a generous amount into my hair after dyeing it and would use it before straightening my hair, as well. No matter what color you dye your hair, using a heat protecting and color locking product is essential in keeping your color looking freshly dyed until you hit the salon or boxed dye again. It took me over six months to finish this product.

Simple Cleansing Water: I’ve wanted to try Micellar water for a while but never felt a strong desire to buy a bottle. My mom snagged the Simple brand Cleansing Water on sale for me and I like it well enough. I’ve never seen a huge need to use a toner but I like that this product doubles as a super cheap makeup remover. Every day I dab this product on my face and neck after showering. I haven’t noticed a difference in my skin but it does feel good to use after I wash my face. It took me over a month of daily application and makeup touch ups to finish this bottle of Micellar water.

B&BW Lotion: Bath & Body Work’s Sweet Pea fragrance is fresh out of grade school but I don’t mind! My best friend got me this for some gift giving occasion or another and I just now used it up. I do love me some B&BW goodies so, of course, this lotion was no exception. I think that their lotions are the bomb. They are SO moisturizing while still feeling quite light and that’s really important to me. I’m a very tactile person, so when a lotion doesn’t absorb well or leaves behind a greasy residue, I have a really hard time with that. Bath & Body Works lotions have never given me a problem in regards to it not absorbing quickly or making my skin feel slimy after so it always has an A+ in my book! It took me about six or seven full body uses to finish this lotion.

TBS Skin Boost: Lol, I don’t even need to go into detail about my love for this product. You guys already know that. Anyways, it took me over two months of daily use to finish my Vitamin C Skin Boost.

TBS Moisturizer: Yeah, you guys know that I love this stuff, too. It took me a month of daily use to finish this moisturizer.

TBS Mask: I LOVE THIS FACE MASK SO MUCHHHH. The Body Shop’s Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleep Mask is the truth. The texture of this mask is unlike anything I’ve ever used before. It’s such a thick, gel-like product but it absorbs like a dream. You would think that because it feels almost “gooey” that it would leave your skin feeling heavy or greasy after but that’s just not the case in the slightest. This mask sinks into your skin so quickly and a little bit of it will easily cover your face, neck, and cleavage.

This mask smells amazingly clean and crisp and damn does it make my skin feel good after using it! Hydrated, supple, smooth, radiant. After letting this mask soak into your skin as you sleep you will notice a difference as soon as you see your reflection in the morning. Your skin just glows. I cannot recommend this product enough and everyone should go get it STAT! It took me about two months of using three or four times a week to finish this mask.

TBS Body Butter: Vineyard Peach is my absolute favorite scent from The Body Shop. I really just love all peach everything. It’s such a sweet, crisp scent but it has this little bite of tartness to it and that’s what I like in a fragrance. This also explains why I adore apple scented products, too. ANYWAYS, I got this body butter at TJMaxx for a whole SIX BUCKS and I was so overcome with joy at that find. A general rule of thumb for me is that I would never pay the whopping twenty-one dollar price tag when it comes to The Body Shop’s body butters, so when TJ’s started carrying them it really was a godsend. The Vineyard Peach scent is to die for and it took me about seven full body uses to finish this product.

HOLY MOLY. Okay, so many finishes so little time amiright?! June definitely was a successful month when it came to using some amazing beauty products and I had a blast applying all of these goodies to my skin and body care routine. Hopefully July will be just as fabulous!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: June 2017 Finishes Edition! What beauty products did you use up this month? Who has used some of the products that I just finished up before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

You VS Aging: Be The Victor!

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You VS Aging: Be The Victor!

We seem to be getting more worried about the effects of aging all of the time. If you’re particularly worried about the aging of your skin, there is plenty that you can do to give yourself a (super smooth) hand:

Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle: One of the biggest contributors to the signs of aging? An unhealthy lifestyle! In fact, it’s undoubtedly the biggest contributor. What we usually associate with “unsightly” aging are usually just results of damaging diets and activities.

The fact is, that the things that help you live longer are also the things that help you stay looking younger. What we associate with “younger” are usually just signs of good health. So you need to put a lot of focus on what you’re doing in your life now. Are you a smoker? Smoking prematurely ages the skin in a dramatic way. Are you drinking enough water every day? Eating enough fruit and vegetables? You need all of that moisture and all of those minerals to keep your skin looking bright and healthy!

Consider Cosmetic Products & Enhancement: A lot of people want to go down a completely “natural” route when it comes to fighting the aging process. They seem to think that things like anti-aging creams are basically akin to injecting Botox. This, of course, isn’t really the case! Some of those products that you see advertised on television do actually work quite well. Something as simple as a daily facial moisturizer can help keep your skin cells feisty and fresh. After all, dry skin is damaged skin. If it contains aloe vera, that’s a good sign. You can also look into more advanced products, too.

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Smoooooth.

Of course, you should understand that everyone’s skin is different. What works for some people doesn’t always work for others. You may find yourself more interested in things like Belcara Health plastic surgery. Everyone has their own opinions about this sort of route, but it’s something that you should only consider if you feel truly comfortable with it. Many have been very happy with the results that they get!

Relax More – But Don’t Neglect Exercise: This is actually a continuation of the previous section. But it really deserves its own section because people underestimate its effects constantly. The effects of what, you ask? Relaxation. You’ve probably heard it before: stress is one of the most dangerous things that your body can be subjected to. And yet so many of us are putting ourselves under a lot of stress every day. So how does stress effect skin? You may think that it causes you to frown a lot, which exacerbates wrinkling around the forehead. And you’re actually right! But it also puts particular strain on a number of cells in your body. This all contributes to aging signs in other areas, too. Put aside some time in the evening and have some much needed R&R for your skin’s sake. 😀

Having said that, you should also spend more time exercising. Yes, I know that exercise isn’t exactly “relaxing”. And, in fact, it can often be a source of stress! That’s all short-term, though. In the long-term, exercise helps you sleep better and feel less stressed. It also promotes blood circulation. This helps to make sure that the nutrients your skin needs are appropriately delivered.

Healthier skin starts with simple changes to your lifestyle. Which one will you apply today?

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun1

Summer Skin Care

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Summer Skin Care
Hi everyone and welcome to my darling friend, Carlie’s, post for my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series! Carlie is one of my favorite gals on the planet and I’m lucky enough to be able to FaceTime with her pretty frequently. Be sure to check out Carlie’s blog at Bombshell and give it some love! I am sure that you will enjoy her pinup princess antics just as much as I do. Now, on to Carlie’s post that will teach you how to keep your skin healthy and glowing this summer:

Summer Skin Care

It’s that time of the year again, SUMMER TIME! So when one of my truly wonderful girlfriends, Sarah (lifewithlilred), asked me to be a guest blogger for her summer series, I was all for it. For my Salute To Summer blog post, I am going to talk about how to prevent your skin from getting sun burned and damaged in the hot sun. Here are some tips to help you and your skin enjoy the summer all of the better:

1. SUNSCREEN: This should be a no brainer, but you can’t believe how many people, especially where I live in Southern California, don’t bother to wear sunscreen. Not only do a lot of them opt for lounging in the sun unprotected, but they also do tanning beds (which I refuse to ever try) and spray on tans. Sunscreen is a god send for not just my fair skin but for my girl, Sarah, who has such a gorgeous porcelain skin tone, herself!

As far as sunscreens go, I prefer a SPORTS Cream with an SPF around 50, (you can never be too careful!). They last longer and the Sports ones are waterproof. Spray sunscreens are great, too, especially when you don’t have anyone to apply sunscreen on your back! Despite how convenient spray sunscreens are, just be aware that you do have to reapply them more often than Sports waterproof sun screen.

2. MAKEUP FOR SUMMER: If you feel like you need to wear makeup while on the beach, vacation, or lounging by the pool, first of all, DON’T wear a lot of makeup. It’s not a good look. I recommend a waterproof mascara, a lip stain, and also the brand, BARE MINERALS! I have talked about Bare Minerals since it first hit the market about ten or eleven years ago when they only had the Bare Minerals store – unlike now, where you can get it at many department stores. Bare Minerals is a great makeup brand, which originally had a powdered foundation, a cheek color, and a mineral veil (which gives an air brushed finished to your foundation.). The best thing about Bare Minerals, is that they all have SPF sunscreen in them without looking greasy.
I, of course, love the MATTE coverage foundation and mineral veil. Bare Minerals now has many different products, like delicate colored shadows and formulas. But, for me, I’m old-school and like the original powdered products. Another Bare Minerals bonus, besides the sunscreen in it, is that if you find your skin really dry during the warm months, they actually make hydrating foundations and powders. Plus, the coverage is fantastic. I recommend this brand for sunscreen on the face. You can even layer the foundations over a delicate swipe of regular sunscreen, let it sit for a minute, and then apply the sunscreen powdered foundation.
3. SUMMER ACCESSORIES: Whether you are at the beach or the pool, summer accessories are a must. Bring a big umbrella to cover your beautiful skin if you’re lounging on a bench with music or a good book. A big floppy hat and oversized sunglasses can also never hurt when it comes to covering up your precious skin. Oh, and of course, don’t walk out of the house without a cover up over your bathing suit!
XOXO Carlie

Thank you so much again to the gorgeous Carlie for walking us through some Summer Skin Care tips! How do you step up your skin care game in the summer? What is your preferred sunscreen brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May27

May 2017 Finishes

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May 2017 Finishes

Hi everyone and happy weekend! If you can believe it, we’re already at the end of May, which means that it’s time for my monthly beauty finishes post! This month has been somewhat of a drag and a waiting game. My boyfriend is coming up to Ohio from North Carolina at the end of this month for my birthday so the entire month of May has literally been spent wishing for the days to go by faster! This month didn’t even bring me a lot of beauty empties to look forward to getting through so, needless to say, it’s been a pretty blah May (despite thoroughly enjoying all of my used products!). Take a look at this month’s finishes and let’s discuss:

may.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body spray: YES
  • The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow mask: YES
  • Angie’s Bath & Body Goat’s Milk moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: As I’m sure that all of you know by now, the Country Apple body spray from Bath & Body Works is one of my favorites. I love anything apple scented – lotions, shower gels, you name it. To me, apple is the perfect fruit fragrance. It’s crisp and refreshing and has the perfect balance of a sweet and tart bite, which results in a clean, freshly picked from the orchard scent. This B&BW spray is no exception. I always purchase a half a dozen or so of these sprays when they’re marked down to THREE DOLLARS during B&BW’s summer sale. It takes me about five or so months to finish one bottle, which is a cost of a whole sixty cents per month. Such a steal!!

TBS Mask: I absolutely LOVED the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow mask from The Body Shop!! I purchased this for fourteen dollars when The Body Shop that I live by closed down and it was worth every penny. Seriously, I wish I bought ten of these bad boys so that I could have a year’s supply! I am obsessed with all things charcoal so I just had to give this mask a try and I am so glad that I did!

The first time that I used this cool, invigoratingly scented mask, I noticed a difference on my skin. As you all know, I am constantly battling blackheads on my nose next to my five piercings, and this mask annihilated them in ONE USE. Not only that, but it left my skin feeling tingling, soft, and totally radiant. I cannot recommend this product enough and I would definitely use it again! It took me about one month to finish this mask.

Angie’s B&B Moisturizer: My dear friend, Angela, the owner of the Etsy shop, Angie’s Bath & Body, gave me a sample of this moisturizer in my last order and I thought that it was fabulous. First of all, it smelled AMAZING. It had such a rich and creamy scent and it was such a delight to put on every morning. Second of all, it was effective. This moisturizer left my skin feeling smooth and hydrated and it looked peaches n’ cream perfection. And finally, a little bit of this moisturizer goes a long way. It took about two weeks to finish the sample pod and I used it every morning on my neck and face, so I can only imagine how long a full sized jar of this would last!

Although I didn’t finish too much this month, I really liked all of the products that I used up. I was happy to use old and new favorites, alike, and all three empties left me feeling nice and pampered. I am confident in recommending all three of my finishes this month and am looking forward to using more from my beauty hoard in June!

So there you have it, this month’s May 2017 Finishes! What beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone ever used any of my empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May18

Summer Fun Checklist

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Summer Fun Checklist

It may not always seem like it, but the time of year that it is can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Winter and autumn can be difficult sometimes because of things like seasonal effective disorder. How early the sun rises and sets is enough to have an effect on people’s moods (I know it does for me!). As another example, people look at the New Year as something of a new start, and it is a time when they try to grasp that opportunity.

Summer is no different. If you are in college, especially, the break from the academic year represents an opportunity to improve yourself (or simply to bask in laziness for a few weeks). That may mean that you go traveling and experience the wonders of another culture or you may decide, instead, to stay closer to home and participate in some volunteering or work experience to better prepare you for your post-graduation job search. For people who work, it is a chance to go on holiday. However, you may just want to stay at home and relax. For some people, the perfect summer day is taking a book to a local park and sitting under a tree until it gets too dark to read.

If you are thinking of making the most of the summer this year, you will need to start preparing now since it is so nearly upon us. Here are five things that you need to make sure of before you set off on whatever plans that you’ve made:

  1. If you are hoping to leave the country, you should book your flights exactly eighteen weeks before you intend to travel. Research has shown that airline websites offer the cheapest prices at those times. Otherwise, you need to check that your passport is still valid. And do not forget your visa! There is nothing worse than getting somewhere only to be sent back again right away.
  2. Depending on where you’re going, you will need to make sure that your wardrobe matches. If you are heading to some tropical paradise, you’ll need a bikini or swimming trunks. Do not forget your sunglasses and the most important thing of all: sun tan lotion. Nothing ruins a vacation quite like a nasty sunburn.
  3. Personal grooming is crucial, too. If you are looking for the best razor for the bikini area, you need to make sure that you get one with which you are comfortable. Otherwise, you should remember that in different climates you will need to have products for your hair and skin. If you are not used to hot weather all year round, you may quickly find that your lips crack or your skin becomes a little dry. Thinking ahead and packing precautionary lotions or ointments is the smartest thing to do when you’re jetsetting to a new place.
  4. You should always take a book with you just in case for surprise waits before appointments or lunch dates, but it is never more important than when you are on holiday. They are not called ‘beach reads’ for nothing!
  5. No one forgets a camera anymore since they do not forget their phone but to get the best pictures, you should think about a camera with film. It costs more but the photos are better. Also, why not take a notebook along so that you can better remember the holiday when you get back?

Nothing makes pre-vacation planning easier than a good old fashioned checklist. Make yours, check it twice, and you’re off!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr30

TJMaxx Mini Haul

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TJMaxx Mini Haul

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a super fab weekend. So Friday was a wonderful, but boozy time, and your girl spent yesterday nursing a hangover from HELL. Seriously, I was completely miserable and spent a majority of the day in bed watching a Catfish marathon. But, despite feeling like total ass, I ponied up and went with my mom to Home Goods and TJMaxx in the evening so she could pick up a few things and make some returns. And, honestly, when have I ever said no to going to TJMaxx?!

My beloved mom and I haven’t been out shopping together in a while and even though I felt like I got ran over by stampeding elephants, we still had a lot of fun! We browsed around Home Goods, which I’ve grown increasingly more fond of with every trip and ended up with some delightful new home goods. 😉 The TJMaxx trip was awesome, though, because we were in a fancier area than our normal location so it was a nice little change of pace. Take a look at my mini haul and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • The Body Shop Oat & Honey mask
  • Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer
  • Olive green baseball cap (brand unknown!)

The Price: About twenty bucks total

I am always so, so happy when I can find really good skin care products at TJs on the cheap. I have been absolutely loving face masks as of late so finding a TBS one for FIVE DOLLARS was such a treat! I have used the Oat & Honey mask before and it was nice but nothing that I would ever pay full price for so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to be able to snag it for a price that you couldn’t get at TBS even if it was on sale.

Not only did I get a new mask to add to my collection but I also got a moisturizer that I freaking LOVE! My mom got me the Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer for my birthday or Christmas, I forget which, and it was so fabulous. Normally, I’m not a huge coconut fan but this moisturizer smells so good to me. It’s definitely coconutty but it also has that rich, creamy scent and texture that I love so very much. And did I mention that it works wonderfully, to boot?! This moisturizer absorbs so quickly, sits well under makeup, and leaves your complexion looking like peaches and cream perfection. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to get my Yes To Coconut moisturizer for a TJMaxx price!

And, finally, my new baseball cap!! I am such a fan of hats. I wouldn’t say that they’re my favorite accessory but they are definitely high on the list. Floppy hats, beanies, baseball caps, Panama hats, sun hats, cold weather wool hats – I love them all. I have two boxes full of hats in my closet thanks to an appreciation that stemmed from my darling grandma who had over one hundred and fifty hats!

But, one style of hat that I have been meaning to give more love to as of late is the baseball cap. I loves me a good ball cap but I always have difficulty finding ones that work in terms of color with my hair. With my bright red locks I want anything that I put on my head to compliment, rather than clash. That’s why I was so attracted to this shiny, olive green cap for ten dolla holla at TJs.

Green, no matter what shade, is a color that always looks good on me. Thanks to red hair and pasty pale skin, fifty shades of green is a color that I know that I can turn to and I will look my best. My new hat just made everything pop. My eyes looked bright, my skin glowed, and my hair (even though I really need to dye it) looked fantastic. And you KNOW that this hat was a winner if I felt that I looked good even with a hangover!! Everything about this hat worked AND it didn’t make me look like Ashton Kutcher so, obviously, this little baby was going home with me!

Even though this was a small haul, I ended up with two skin care products and a hat that I totally love and only paid a whopping twenty bucks for. Sounds like a steal to me!

So there you have it, my TJMaxx Mini Haul! Who else has a deep love for TJMaxx? What is your favorite accessory to rock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr27

April 2017 Finishes Pt. 2

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April 2017 Finishes Pt. 2

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! You might be scratching your head and wondering why there’s a Part 2 to my April 2017 Finishes post from yesterday. Well, here’s why! Back in October of 2016, I began using the Destiny Boutique Charcoal Face Bar and am literally just now finishing it. This beauty bar has lasted me well over HALF A YEAR and I paid a whopping SIX DOLLARS for it. And, the best thing is, is that my skin is simply obsessed with it. Take a looksee and let’s discuss:

soap

^^^ As you can see from the picture above, this charcoal bar is freaking HUGE, so it’s no wonder why it has lasted me as long as it did. And we’re talking daily (sometimes twice a day) use of this product here!

I am lucky to say that I have been blessed with skin that has never really suffered from any skin care woes. But, one thing that I do struggle with are some really tough blackheads. I have five nose piercings (two on each nostril and my septum is pierced), and blackheads are drawn to this area like moths to a flame. It doesn’t surprise me, considering that I am constantly touching and adjusting my piercings with my super long talons.

“So you have some blackheads. Big deal.” And, you’re right. It really isn’t a big deal because they’re barely noticeable. But am I thrilled about having them? Absolutely not. The blackheads around my piercings are something that I want to keep on lock because when people look at them, I want them to see the artistry and jewelry – not tiny little black needle points every which way.

Around the time that I purchased this Destiny Boutique bar from TJMaxx, I had been itching to try some type of charcoal based product. I had read about how well it deep cleans the pores and I really wanted to give it a go. So when I found this six dollar bar at TJs, I simply had to buy it. And, I have to say, this is one product that I can’t picture myself ever not using because I am now a dedicated Destiny Boutique super fan.

The Charcoal Face Bar draws my pesky pierced nose blackheads out like a magnet. Even after a couple of days of use, I noticed a significant difference in the amount of blackheads on my nose. And, let me tell you, that’s a really good feeling. This beauty bar has not only decreased my blackheads, but it seems to keep as many from popping up on my poor problemed nose.

I paid SIX DOLLARS for a product that has lasted me OVER HALF A YEAR and it has infinitely helped my blackhead battle. Not only that, but it provides my skin with an overall healthy glow and I can’t get enough. So much so that I have another bar on back stock, am currently using Destiny Boutique’s Charcoal Cleanser, and have another one of those on back stock, as well. Like I said, I’m a super fan.

I legitimately cannot recommend Destiny Boutique’s Charcoal Face Bar enough and urge all of you to give their products a try. I am so glad that I did, and I have a hunch that you will be, too.

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes Pt. 2! Have any of you ever used Destiny Boutique products before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

April 2017 Finishes

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April 2017 Finishes

Helloooooo everyone and happy Hump Day!! This month has brought me many wonderful finishes, which has been fun because April has been a pretty blah month for yours truly. As most of you know by now, I refuse to not finish things that I start when it comes to beauty products, so it’s always nice when the “must finish” items are pleasant to use! Take a look at this month’s empties and let’s discuss:

april

Would I Use Again?

  • Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash: MAYBE
  • Fashion Fair Santorini Getaway body butter: YES
  • Design Line Fiji Therapy styling oil: YES
  • The Body Shop Nutriganics eye cream: YES
  • Arad moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not:

Philosophy Body Wash: Okay, you guys know how I feel about Philosophy bath and body products because I’ve said it time and time again: Had I not been gifted with the products, I would never buy them for myself. My ex boyfriend got me the Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash for Christmas and it was nice and it smelled good but SO many other shower gels are nice and smell good for a fraction of the cost. Granted, I’m sure he got the gel at TJs or Marshall’s, but still. All things considered, this sixteen ounce bottle of body wash lasted me for three months, which is impressive. It lathered well and left my skin feeling hydrated, but it is not something that I plan on using again in the future unless it shows up underneath my Christmas tree!

Fashion Fair Body Butter: This body butter is actually another Christmas gift from my ex and I freaking LOVED it. For starters, the Santorini Getaway scent was so freaking delightful. It was citrus-y without being overpowering. Imagine the richest, creamiest lotion ever that smells like freshly whipped cream and add the lightest splash of citrus and you would have this Fashion Fair body butter. YUM.

Not only did it smell divine but it absorbed and moisturized SO WELL. The texture was nowhere near as thick as a body butter from, say, The Body Shop but it was definitely thicker than your average cream. Even so, this lotion absorbed into my skin instantly and without leaving any type of residue behind. All that was left after applying this lotion was the gentlest touch of summer citrus and I would one hundred and fifty percent use this product again. I completed this body butter after about six uses.

Design Line Styling Oil: I have been using the Design Line Fiji styling oil in my hair for ages. The only reason why it never appears on my Finishes posts is because my mom will always swap out my almost finished bottles with a new one without telling me! Then, by the time I think of it, she has already used and thrown away the remnants of my half used bottle.

Anyways, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. As you guys know, I don’t wash my hair. End of story. Point blank. Period. And you would think that if I’m putting styling oil in my hair almost every day, my hair would get super greasy. Right? WRONG. Not only does this oil have the perfect touch of a tropical scent but it is such a light to the touch product and it leaves my hair feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated with every use. I use it almost daily before I flat iron my hair and my locks are all the better for it. It takes me about four to five months to finish a bottle of Design Line Fiji styling oil and at thirteen bucks a pop, it is worth every penny.

TBS Eye Cream: Oh, my Nutriganics eye cream. A product that I truly could not live without. I have been using the Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop for literal years now and the thin and sensitive skin around my eyes thanks me for it daily. Not once since using this product have I been concerned about fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes because a strict and set in stone for ages regimen of applying this product ceases all worries for me. The areas around my eyes looks bright and youthful and I can’t ever see myself not using my Nutriganics eye cream on a daily basis. It takes me about five months to finish a bottle of this cream, which is also a fantastic value!

Arad Moisturizer: I bought this product from TJMaxx compliments of a gift card from one of my beloved Special Olympics students. I have to say that it was nothing special but I would use it again if the opportunity arises. This moisturizer smelled great because it is made with coconut extract, which made putting it on in the morning really nice. It also absorbed well and my makeup laid nicely over top of it. However, I will always be partial to my much loved and used Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop, so anything else kind of pales in comparison! It took me about one month to finish this moisturizer.

Overall, April was a very successful month in terms of my product finishes. I enjoyed using all of my empties and I can definitely see myself (almost) using all of them in the future!

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes! Which beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone used any of the products on my empties list before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

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4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

It can often be quite surprising how many of us take our skin for granted. If you have never dealt with a skin ailment during your life, you may not have any idea of the kind of issues it can bring up for a sufferer. We all have our health issues, but usually, we can keep them private. Skin conditions, however, are much more difficult to hide – simply because quite a lot of our skin is out for show much of the time. Our skin is delicate, and it varies in many different parts of the body. For example, the skin on your hands has adapted to wrinkle when immersed in water, to give you more grip in poor weather conditions. You will also find that the skin on your body is much less oily than the skin on your face because the body has far less sebaceous glands. That is partially why we have different products for use on our face than we have for use on our bodies – it’s all about caring for and preserving your skin.

Having a condition, however, can make this whole process much more complicated. Some skin issues can be little more than an annoyance, whereas others can be serious and even life-altering. Here are a few that you may have heard of and some others that you may not be so familiar with, and what to do if you think you may be living with any of them:

Excessively Dry Skin: If you have very dry skin, you may just regard it as ‘one of those things’, much in the same way that you may have curly hair or have brittle fingernails. But if you are experiencing any discomfort from your dry skin, you could have a problem on your hands (quite literally!). Dry skin is one of the leading causes of itchy palms, a condition that can be incredibly frustrating for sufferers and something that can possibly interfere with your sleep.

Be mindful of how you react to your itchy, dry skin. If you are absentmindedly scratching it, you might be breaking the skin without realizing it. This can be incredibly painful, and can put you at risk of developing infections. The best way to avoid the incessant itching caused by dry skin is to keep your skin full of moisture, so invest in a good hand cream and a body butter to keep your skin supple and itch-free.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a condition that relates to dry skin but in a much more serious way. Its main symptoms are red, flaky patches of skin across the body that are often covered with silver scales. These patches can be itchy or sore, and some people have more severe symptoms than others. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but there are things that you can do to ease the effects of it. If you think you may have psoriasis, visit your doctor, as they may be able to prescribe you medication or cream to ease some of the symptoms.

Vitiligo: Vitiligo is not a condition that tends to cause the sufferer physical pain, but it can have a big impact on a person’s self-esteem. This particular condition causes white patches to appear on the skin, which vary in size and shape. This can give the skin a ‘mottled’ effect, and it shows up more clearly on people who are naturally dark-skinned. It is a long-term condition, although it can start to develop at any time in life. As of yet, there is no cure, but you can minimize the appearance of the condition with makeup, steroid cream, or even phototherapy. (Notice that Converse and Gap are both using models with Vitiligo in their campaigns!)

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A good makeup brush is a must.

Scabies: Scabies is often considered to be an illness of the past, normally associated with pirates living on unhygienic old ships! In reality, however, scabies is caused purely by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrow into the skin, causing the itchy feeling. Scabies can develop and spread easily in environments where people are living in very close quarters with each other, which is partially why it is more common during the winter than the summer in most Western countries. It is not serious but can be uncomfortable, and can be worsened if you repeatedly scratch at the affected areas. So if you think you might have scabies, visit your doctor. He or she will most likely prescribe you a cream of sorts that contains insecticides, which will kill the scabies mites. Permethrin cream and malathion lotion are the two most commonly prescribed types.

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Apr10

How To Look Your Best For Less

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How To Look Your Best For Less

If you’re on a budget, then a lot of the time the first thing that you cut out tends to be your fashion. However, that doesn’t have to be the case! Here are a few tips that will help you look good even as you’re trying to save some money for your upcoming summer vaca:

Look Through Your Closet: Let’s face it: your closet is probably a dark and murky place, full of clothes that you wore and discarded and – shock horror! – ones that you never even wore at all after purchasing them. It’s time to go through it and throw away clothes that you don’t feel good in. Make sure that you try on everything first – if you bought something a couple of years ago and it didn’t fit right, your figure might have changed since then and it could look a lot better now. Start pairing prints with prints for a more experimental look and make sure that your outfits are exciting. A closet clean out could introduce long lost pieces back into your outfits to help create looks that feel like new.

Go For Thrift Stores: If you’re looking for some great new pieces, then look no further than a thrift store. Vintage fashion is always in and you can take a chance on something a little more out there from a thrift store, as it won’t be as expensive as shops like Urban Outfitters or American Eagle.

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Find Some Deals: You don’t always have to stick to thrift stores to get some good looks for less money. It’s also important to remember that a lot of your favorite stores will have deals on and plenty of coupons if you look online – Target Coupons & Promo Codes April 2017 is a great way to get a little money knocked off your summer clothes from Target, for example. You can get some great basics from stores like that, from Breton striped shirts to perfect new jeans – you don’t have to spend a fortune for good quality and a cute design.

Focus On Simple Skincare: Remember that you don’t have to use hugely expensive potions, creams, and serums to sort your skin out. The most important way to keep your skin looking young is to remember to wear sunscreen – this will protect your skin from premature ageing courtesy of the sun’s rays. Secondly, there’s nothing that will decrease the bags under your eyes like a good night’s sleep. And, finally, the importance of drinking water can never be understated for soft and supple skin.

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Love that red lip! :’)

Pick A Look And Stick To It: The most important thing with fashion is that you wear your clothes with conviction. If you’re going for a simple, chic, pared down look, then don’t lose your nerve at the last minute and add a belt or necklace that could make your outfit look tacky. Likewise, if you’re going for a bright, over the top look with plenty of costume jewelry then totally go for it and put on a splash of crimson lipstick, as well. The most important thing about fashion is to completely commit to your look and wear it with confidence and a smile every time – which is totally free!

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WERK!

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