Hair and Makeup!

I always find it interesting on fashion blogs when writer's post their makeup routine, and the products they use. I don't have much of a routine, but I can share with you the products I have found to actually work for me. I have been using the same shampoo, face wash, and makeup for about two years; after about five years of testing these and other products. I will indicate my favorite products as the "Product Pick".  Hope this post is helpful and/or interesting to you! Please leave comments if you like or dislike! :)

FACE:
In highschool I had pretty oily skin (like most other teenagers!) I used Proactiv products from about age 12-17. I did not use Proactiv as instructed, just every once in awhile. I had breakouts, like everyone else, but never too severe. I recommend Proactiv to anyone in desperate need of help with acne problems. It works if you use it as instructed (3 simple steps!) Just make sure to educate yourself on the ingredients. Proactiv contains Retinoids and Beta Hydroxy Acid that can be harmful to pregnant women. Remember, anything topical you put on your skin is absorbed!

Since Highschool, I would say that I now have normal skin. I occasionally get a couple blackheads, and I do go through dry spells in winter. Since Proactiv was recommended for severe acne only, I stopped using it. No need to continue putting harsh chemicals onto my face!

Once acne was no longer a real issue for me, I went through a phase where I wanted only "high end" products and began to use Clinique Bar Soap. Love this stuff. It's just a mild, fragrance free, all around good soap for people with normal skin. If your budget allows, I highly recommend trying it out. Around here, you can get it at Macy's for about $14.00.

For me, I would rather spend a little more on my hair products (I'll get to that in a bit) than my face products, so I switched to Neutrogena. You can get it at any drug store, and it works for me just the same as the Clinique. I even like it better because it comes in a pump, rather than as a bar.

The Fresh Foaming Cleanser is mild and fragrance free. It retails for about $4.00. This is my Product Pick out of all other face washes!

Now that I've gotten a little older, I know the importance of protecting my skin from the sun. I use a sunscreen/lotion every morning to keep my skin wrinkle free! (Haha Hopefully!) I got this lotion for Christmas as a gift, so that's really the only reason I'm using it right now. I normally wouldn't spend so much for a lotion:

I think it's around $20.00. It works really well though and I don't feel greasy after using it. Hopefully it will last until my birthday and maybe someone else will get it for me haha!

This is really my Product Pick as far as lotion's go. It's affordable, oil free, and does what it's supposed to; moisturizes.

It's also got SPF 15! This moisturizer usually costs around $10.00 at Wally World, but it lasts me several months because I only use a tiny amount in the morning. $10.00 well spent!




MAKEUP:
If you know me, you know I have never worn much makeup. In fact, it's about 3pm right now and I've been to the grocery store and coffee with a friend and haven't put any makeup on all day. If I do wear makeup, it's these four items: Brown Mascara, Grey Eyeliner, Powder, and Chapstick. I save eye shadow and blush for times when I go out, and more often than not I just use mascara and none of the other three.
Here are my Product Picks:

Mascara:
I have really sensitive eyes. Some mascara that has "lengthening" or "plumping" elements can irritate me. I have found that this mascara perfect for me. It's hypoallergenic, and at the same time makes my lashes look longer and plumper!

It's by Almay, and it retails for about $5.00. I always buy black/brown or brown because I think black can look too harsh with my eye color.

Eyeliner:
I only apply a thin strand of eyeliner to the top lid. I sometimes put it on the bottom, but just in the evening. I uses any kind of eyeliner that has a built in sharpener. I also try to stick to a grey or brown color.

Revlon seems to work pretty good for me. It doesn't irritate my eyes so that's a plus! Since this liner has the built in sharpener I think I paid $6.50 at Wal-Mart.

Powder:
Ok, so I'm about to tell you a little secret that few people know: I have a really hairy face. I'm not a gorilla or anything, but I do get a crop of thick blond hair on my chin and upper lip. Needless to say, tweezers are my best friend. I occasionally go to the salon and get a wax, but it's pretty embarrassing leaving the salon with a bright red upper lip! That in mind, liquid foundation has never worked for me. It gets stuck in the little blond hairs and looks clumpy! I have found that mineral powder makeup is my favorite. It never looks heavy or greasy, and it makes my skin look even and less red. Since I don't use it very often, I go through a small container about every 6-8 months. I do splurge a little for this one, and use Bare Minerals. They have a few different shades, and I keep two colors on hand: The Light and the Medium. I only use the medium if I've been tanning or in the summer. Otherwise my skin is pretty fair.

You can get it for about $20.00 online. I get mine at Elements Salon and Spa right here in Cape. Gotta support the local businesses!

Lips:
I'm a chapstick junkie. I pick one up almost every time I'm at the drugstore. Currently I'm using this:

Its really smooth, and also has a little bit of shine to it. I also cycle through Burt's Bees and Blistex brands. I do have a tube of lipstick in my purse (You're welcome, Mother!) that I use on RARE occasions. It's some that a friend gave me and I've had it so long the label rubbed off. It's just a creamy pink color. I think that lipstick looks really fake on me for some reason. Wish I could pull it off!

HAIR:
I used to be slightly obsessed with my hair. I had to wash it every day, straighten it everyday, and use only salon-bought products. Here's a picture of me from a couple of years ago when I was going through this phase.

Looks like I'm about to play a mean game of Rock Band. It also looks like I'm a crazy person. And I was. Crazy about my hair. I had to have it highlighted every four weeks on the dot, not mention all the money I spent on hair smoothing oils and gels. Yep. I was crazy!
I now have a much more relaxed view of my hair. I still get it highlighted, but only every 6-8 weeks. I also don't highlight my entire head, I just do a "partial" as my stylist calls it. She just highlights the top of my head only and leaves the underneath naural. After about two years of this my hair is back to its natural color "underneath." It's a dirty blonde/light brown color. The top part of my hair (the part that's visible) is highlighted with both blonde and brown high and low lights. The result is a much more natural look! I've also ditched the straightener and on most days go with my natural, wavy hair. Here's a pretty recent picture:

I'm still me, but in much more relaxed, natural way. My hair is naturally wavy, and to keep it from getting too fly-away, I use a scrunching mousse straight out of the shower. No brushing involved.

I found that this mousse is my Product Pick. The reason I like it so much is because it leaves my waves feeling smooth, and not crunchy. Some hair products make my hair really tangly in the shower, but Pantene doesn't. I can also blow dry my hair with this mousse in it and my hair still doesn't get frizzy. How bout them apples?

Shampoo and Conditioners and I have a love/hate relationship. I hate how much salon products are, but I love how healthy they keep my hair. I love how affordable drug-store shampoo's are, but I hate how I can tell a difference in quality. After years of testing every drug store shampoo under the sun, my Product Pick for shampoo and conditioner is this:

Biolage Hydrotherapie Shampoo $19.99

Biolage Hydrotherapie Detangling Solution $25.00

Yes, I know that's a lot of money to spend on shampoo and conditioner. But I am being completely honest when I say I have found no other comparison. The shampoo makes my hair feel thick and healthy and the detangling solution does just that; makes my hair more manageable. It hurts every month when a portion of my spending budget has to go towards these items, but I made a deal with the hubby that if I can't get it at the grocery store, then it has to come from my spending allowance. Sigh.

Now you know what products I love most. Have something you think I should try? Let me know! Have a good weekend friends!