There are some things in life that we all purchase and purchase and purchase, no matter what anyone says they cannot dissuade us from these things. Mine is a short list but.... it exists nonetheless:
ACT Active Fluoride Rinse in "Mint" - I have loved this stuff since I was a kid (only then I used the Bubblegum flavor) - I love that there is a cup on the top that measures the amount needed for a nice rinse. It tastes great and it is REALLY alcohol free - meaning ZERO burn! LOVE this stuff I am never without it!
Slatkin & Co. "Cinnamon Sugared Donut" Candle - this is my favorite candle OF ALL time. I am a sucker for "food and bakery" candles, and this is the best one EVER. I literally bought four of them during the Fall season so I wouldn't be without it for awhile. Can't wait until it comes out again this year!
Biotrue - The only contact lens solution I have ever used. People tell me that you can definitely tell the difference if you use a cheaper one, so I say it's worth it - and it lasts me AWHILE so, totally worth the price. It really is like using water to clean them, only better!
Baby Shampoo - used to deep clean my makeup brushes every two weeks and used in my homemade brush cleaner that I use daily on them. If it's safe enough for a baby's head, it's safe enough for your makeup brushes - and SO economical!
ELF Eyelash Curler - it's $1.00, folks! And it works just as well as any expensive one, maybe even better! It even has nice black grippers on the handles. Best value for a dollar I can think of that isn't edible!
Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - I just love the way this stuff smells, the way it goes through my wet hair without weighing it down and that it isn't sticky. I have used tons and tons of mousse in my day, and this one is still the best there is!
When YouTube started a few years ago it was really a great thing. I can't remember what I did to kill time on the internet before YouTube came along.
Anyway - there are lots of "beauty gurus" on YouTube, ones that give tutorials and reviews on new products, and also list their favorite products and worst products they have ever tried. Let me tell you, I have learned SO MUCH from these people, so I thought I'd post my favorite channels here to share with all of you!
Beauty Broadcast with emilynoel83 - Emily is amazing! She is the most honest of all the YT beauty gurus, gorgeous, speaks well (she's a former news anchor so that would explain it) and just gives great tutorials, tips and honest opinions on beauty products, the majority of which tend to be DRUGSTORE products! She's the first beauty guru I started watching on YouTube, and remains my favorite.
Wayne Goss - gossmakeupartist - Wayne is a professional makeup artist and has the most amazing tips and tricks for applying makeup. He is also EXTREMELY honest, but focuses more on the "high end" makeup, which is understandable as he is english and the drugstore options in the UK are different than those in the US. I have taken so much great advice from him, and never miss a video!
FleurDeForce - I could listen to Fleur all day long, I love her english accent! Anyway, I have to admit this gal has persuaded me to buy a few very pricey products, but she has always been totally right about all of them, this is why I trust her. She's gorgeous, and I love her lip product choices!
missglamorazzi with Ingrid - This girl is so freakin' bubbly, you can't help but love her. She gets so excited over all of her beauty products, and she's just all around enjoyable to watch. Love her "monthly favorites" videos the most!
Last year, I went to school for manicuring, and I do have a license as well, and do some manicuring on the side. I do a mean pedicure, too! Anyway, I thought I'd take the opportunity to post some nail care tips here, as far as going to a salon and nail care at home!
Use cuticle oil daily to soften and soothe cuticles, also making the ugly dry look disappear.
DO NOT "nip" your cuticles with a cuticle nipper unless you know what you are doing. Cuticles are dead skin cells stuck on the nail bed, but just below that is live tissue and if you nip too far, you will cut yourself up and it will lead to infection. Just use cuticle remover from the drug store and a wooden pusher to gently push them back.
When giving yourself a manicure, DO NOT use lotion before painting your nails, or any other type of product that may leave a residue (like cuticle oil). Wait until after your nails are completely dry before applying oil & lotion.
Be sure to dehydrate your nails before applying a base coat (I recommend Orly Bonder) with Acetone. This will ensure the nails are totally dry for nail application, so the polish won't wrinkle as it dries. Always use a paper towel or fiberless wipes when applying the acetone so you won't have any cotton fibers stuck in your polish (a nail tech's greatest enemy!)
Use a REALLY good top coat if you are doing your nails at home. I recommend Seche Vite or CND Super Shiny). Even if you use cheap polish, use a GOOD top coat, it protects the nail color and will aid in dry time.
When getting your nails done, just make sure that the implements are sanitized with pure alcohol or disinfectant before they work on you. This is a no-brainer, people!
DO NOT let any nail tech use a "callus razor" on your feet. This does not work, and will do nothing but cut you up. Calluses are SUPPOSED to be on your feet, they PROTECT the feet. However, they should be smoothed down, not totally removed, unless you have to get them removed by a doctor for whatever reason.
Well, I got a new "day" job and it starts on February 19th. I am THRILLED and excited, and mostly relieved. The road has been long, I've been without health insurance for over a year and I am going to be so happy to be getting it back.
Along with this comes a new schedule. I'll be working there 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday, and hopefully will be at the salon on Wednesdays & Thursdays 5:30-8:30 and Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM.
Along with a new schedule will HAVE to come a new lifestyle change. Basically, I plan on doing some exercising for 15 minutes after work on Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays, then work my way up to 30 minutes in a few months. I used to do all my cleaning on Sundays but since that is going to be my ONLY day off, I plan on moving it all to Friday nights, leaving my Saturday evenings and Sundays completely free to relax or do whatever I want to do.
Next week, I plan on going to the grocery store to get some stuff for my lunches and snacks at work. All healthy but filling stuff!
Here's the list I've compiled for two weeks worth of snacks and lunches:
Apples
Tangerines
Green Grapes
Pomegranate Seeds
Bunch of Bananas
Celery Sticks
Baby Carrots
Cucumbers
Sliced Almonds
Low-Fat Granola
Whole-Grain Tortilla Chips
Reduced Fat Triscuits
Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
Pretzels
Low-Fat Yogurt
Fat-Free Ranch Dressing
Hummus
Peanut Butter
Luna Bars
Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine or SmartOnes micro. dinners
As you can see, I am not really a cook at all. I don't really see myself cooking lunches for the next day or putting a salad or sandwiches together as busy as I am gonna be so, the TV dinners are the best I'm gonna do haha.
Wish me luck with this, and I wish you all luck with any lifestyle changes YOU all might be making within your own lives!
Me in a NUTSHELL: Lover of make-up and nails. Licensed Nail Technician. Student of Makeup Artistry. A well of random (but not useless) information. Very liberal. Lover of sushi, wine, & corn nuts. Fan of: Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Mary McDonnell, Kelly Bishop, Julie Andrews, Stevie Nicks, Judy Garland, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, LeAnn Rimes. I've been dyeing my hair red since I was 17 years old. Fan of MAC products, not a PC fan. Friends & family are everything. Coexist.
Please be aware that any product (whether beauty, electronic app, etc) mentioned in this blog have been purchased by me. All opinions on these products are my own. I receive no monetary gain from companies that endorse and/or produce these products.
