Tangle Tamer Max

Since growing my hair out, and getting rid of my extensions, I've been getting really bad knot/tangles in the back/underside of my hair, right next to my neck. I work at a daycare- and so I see a lot of infomercials. One infomercial I saw was for a detangler brush. I wanted one, but wasn't super excited about ordering it off the T.V.  so instead I decided to check out my local beauty supply store- Sally's.

I found a couple tangle brushes, and decided to go for the cheaper one, which was $9.99

At first I really liked the brush, because it did get the tangles out, and it did make my hair smooth, and I was getting a whole lot less hair left in the brush than with my boar bristle- but...then I started to notice that whenever I would brush my hair, the surface directly under the brush was covered with tiny little pieces of hair. The brush was actually breaking my hair. After a few weeks worth of use, I noticed that my hair was getting shorter!! This freaked me out, since I try to take good care of my hair, and I'm trying to get it longer. Because of this, I avoid using the brush. I'll sometimes use it if I have a bad snarl, or if I need to brush my hair when it's wet (I try to NEVER do that, but sometimes I have to).

ELF Makeup Lock & Seal

I love this stuff! it had mixed reviews on the website, but I decided to buy it anyway, and I have been really happy with it. I like to go dancing, which is really sweaty! Well, though I love my eyeliner, it does have one downside, it smudges easily. If I'm not careful my eyeliner will melt and make my eyes look puffy and baggy. Normally I use a loose powder under my eyes to hold it in place, but even then, it can start to excape.

Enter the lock and seal. this stuff STAYS put. seriously, I sweep just a little bit of this over my lids and my lash lines, and when I come home, several sweaty hours later, my makeup looks good as new! Yay!


Well, I decided to issue the Makeup lock and seal a new challenge. The other day a friend came to see me for lunch and see said these words "Wow, you're unusually made up for the daycare aren't you? You don't usually wear full makeup here." ...I was wearing the same makeup that I wore everyday. When I informed him of this, he said "Well, maybe it's just been an easier day so it hasn't all worn off as fast." Yikes. I thought I'd looked ok...
   So what I decided to do was to put on full makeup, put on a coat of lock and seal, and see how well it held up to eight hours of chasing around one year olds. Dancing? easy. Playing  "mommy" for four infants? HARD.

Freshly applied Makeup 9:30

After an hour at work 10:30



Play time 2:30

Lunch Time 1:00



Outside Time 4:00

Closing Time 6:00

Hair Appointment 6:30

Home 8:00

Bedtime- about to wash my makeup off 11:30

Village Inn with the guys 9:00



Coconut Oil

So if you're like me and you spend time on the Internet, you've probably heard all about the miraculous coconut oil that is suddenly all the rage for...well, everything! I'd heard amazing things about using coconut oil for your hair and skin so i decided to try it. I bought a big jug of Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil from Nutiva at Costco because 1. It was the cheapest coconut oil I could find 2. Coconut oil supposedly doesn't go rancid, so I have time. I was pretty nervous about using it on my face, because, well, it's OIL. The first time I used it, I instantly regretted it. I think I probably used too much, but my face was so slick and oily it was GROSS! I thought for sure I was going to break out, but I didn't. Since I've been using the coconut oil, my face is smoother, healthier, more moist, and the blemishes have started to dissipate.  My routine is that after i was my face, i rub my fingers against a chunk of solid coconut oil so i get just a tiny bit of the melted liquid on my fingers, then i spread it evenly over my skin.

I've been using it on my hair as well, but haven't noticed any changes there yet. I've seen tons of coconut oil hair masques and stuff online, but I've just been smoothing the oil onto my ends and lightly massaging it through my hair.

I also used it as a lotion on my body, and was impressed with how long my skin felt soft, smooth and moist. Unlike lotions, which only last a few hours- a day, this was still going strong after three days!

I tried using it to shave, but I got a lot of red bumps, so maybe that one isn't for me- though it might not be the Coconut Oil's fault.

What do you use coconut oil for? How do you use it?

Chapstick Cake Batter Flavor

I saw this new limited edition Chapstick the other day while I was cruising around Walmart at 2 am (true story) and decided to try it out. I can honestly say it is now one of my favorites! It works as well as anything else from Chapstick, is nice and soft and smells AMAZING. It doesn't taste that great, but it's not too bad either. Definitely something to grab if you see it!

Life Hack- Makeup Primer

While on my Internet adventures, I come across some pretty interesting and weird tips, and because I'm me and way too curious for my own good, I have to try it . The latest one I saw was for "on the cheap" face primer. Apparently, according to the girl (who's blog I've lost, if you've seen it let me know, so I can site it) Monistat anti chaffing gel-powder has the exact same ingredients as Smashbox primer.
 the Monistat is only $6, and a little goes a long way. I was definitely wow-ed by this product. It went on very smooth, blended great, had a nice matte finish that covered/blurred imperfections really well, didn't make me break out, and was great under makeup. Unfortunately, there were a few downsides too. It took a REALLY long time to dry, and you definitely want to make sure it's dry before applying the makeup- and the deal breaker: It was too drying for my skin. Since this is an anti chaff gel, the purpose is to help with moisture problems. This would be great for people with oilier skin, or in the summer while my skin is moist- but right now, it sucks the moisture out of my skin and leaves it kind of flaky. That makes me sad because I really liked this product as a primer. It lasts a long time, it's cheap, and it really does a great job as a primer- so check it out! tell me what you think!

L'oreal Hydra-Renewal

I've recently been on the look out for a really good facial moisturizer that will go well under makeup, since the one I use really doesn't, and I don't want to have to have separate moisturizers. I posted a facebook status about it awhile back- and I got a lot of responses (Thanks guys!) BUT....I don't have the $14-$20 to spend on a little bottle of lotion....So until I find a coupon for it, it will have to wait.

     I ended up buying  L'oreal Paris Dermo Expertise Hydra-Renewal Continuous Moisture Cream for Sensitive Skin.
From the moment I started to apply this to my skin, I knew it was a mistake. It was heavy, and greasy and made my skin feel tacky, greasy and heavy. I could practically feel my pores clogging, and sure enough, by the time I got off of work, I had a fresh crop of zits. on top of that, my skin didn't even stay moist. It dried right out and started to flake. This might be a product for you, but not for me. I have very sensitive, dry skin, and most moisturizers make me break out- so if you're like me and have delicate skin, or you want something light and gentle; this product is not for you.

My Beauty Arsenal

People always seem to be interested in what I use for my look. I like to think it's because they know I'm a penny pincher, and yet I still look good, so they want to know to save some cash. So, I'm going to list my swear-by, use daily products.

Face




Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

Noxema Triple Clean Anti Blemish Pad

 

Witch Hazel

-

 



Zapzyt

Garnier Moisture Rescue (Dry Skin)

ELF Mineral Infused Primer

 










HardCandy
Glamoflauge

ELF Flawless Foundation (Porcelain)-
Winter use

Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Foundation
 (Creamy Natural or Translucent Light)-Summer use

Physician's Formula Mineral Wear
Matte Finishing Veil

Maybelline Fit Me Bronzer
 (Medium Pink)-

ELF Studio Bronzers (Warm Bronzer)





War Paint Beauty
Shimmer Eye Roller

Loreal Paris Liquid Eye Pencil
(Carbon Black)

WarPaint Beauty
Eyeshadw



Rimmel Lash Accelerator
Black



Hard Candy 1,000 Lashes
 Midnight Black

Maybelline Lash Discovery
Waterproof, Very Black

Love and Beauty
 Hint of Color
Coconut Flavored Lip Gloss



Maybelline Illegal Length
Black, Waterproof

Maybelline
Voluminous False Fiber Lashes
Black, Waterproof

 







 

Hard Candy World Balmination
 Bridal Blush

Generic Value
Heat Activated Texture Spray








 



 



 

 

 

 





Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo



ELF Mist and Set

Weight Watchers Smoked Flavor String Cheese

I saw these weight Watchers cheese sticks at Walmart while I was shopping. Normally I wouldn't buy the name brand stuff, since it tends to be a bit more expensive- but the name "Smoke Flavored String Cheese" caught my eye. They are AWESOME. Man, this is like a cheap (and healthier) version of smoked Gouda. I'm going to be buying a LOT of these. They are only 50 calories a stick too, which isn't too bad.

Morning Star Smoke Veggie Bacon Strips and Chik Patties

Today while I was at the Walmarts, I once again found the vegetarian/vegan cooler- and so I bought myself some treats. I had had chik'n patties similar to these before; but I wasn't sure if they were the same brand.

The bacon was surprisingly good. I'd never had vegetarian bacon before- and though it obviously isn't real meat- it still had amazing taste and pretty good texture too. It cooked quickly, and has 30 calories and 3 grams of fat, less than normal bacon.

The chik'n patties were also very tasty. They have good texture- similar to real meat and good taste. They are a lot like the chicken patties you can get from Wendy's, but healthier.

The reason that I'm doing the two reviews together is because I ate them together- This is what my meal looked like:

Beauty Flops

This is a list of products that I wish I hadn't bought, but I did.There are many many more than the few I've listed, of course, and maybe I will do another one of these posts later on, but for now- here's the top things I will never buy again.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser- Everyone made this product sound like such a good idea. It's supposedly great for all skin types, dermatologist recommended, blah blah. The minute I used this, my skin became so dry it started to crack when I would talk, and peel off. I literally couldn't move my face because it hurt so bad- and to top it off, within a few hours, I'd started developing large, angry red pimples.

E.L.F Zit Zapper- I bought this while I was browsing through the ELF section at Target. Even though it was only a dollar, I wish I hadn't bought it. This product did absolutely nothing to help my pimples, in fact, it made them worse and created more.

Equate Oil-Free Ultra Gentle Facial Moisturizer- I was looking for a gentle moisturizer that would provide my face with much needed moisture, without causing me break outs. Unfortunately, this was not the lotion I was looking for. This product burned my sensitive and dry skin, went on liquidy without much coverage, felt kind of greasy, didn't absorb well and next morning- tada! zits all over my face, with my skin just as dry.

E.L.F TintedMoisturizer- I thought this moisturizer would be convenient, since I could skip the foundation step- but the very lightest color was way too intense for my skin, and the color looked patchy and unnatural. guess I'll have to stick to clear lotions for awhile.

Rimmel Fix and Perfect-  I used this product for a long time, and it's not that I hate it, it definitely does what it is supposed to- but it is such a dark, over powering color that it changed the way my skin looked under makeup and made me look too intense. It also didn't last all that long, and while it did smooth the tone of my skin, I find that gels provide a much better base for your makeup than creams do.

 

 

E.L.F. Concealer- this basically did absolutely nothing. It was thin, didn't cover anything, didn't build well and didn't blend well. It looked really unnatural and strange under my makeup, and gave my skin a weird, rough texture. It only made my blemishes worse in the end too.

L'oreal True Match Foundation- I have a hard time finding good foundations for my skin, which I've mentioned before, so I'm always on the prowl for a good foundation. I bought this and ended up throwing the whole bottle away. First of all it was too watery and slimy. The consistency was bad, and it didn't blend very well. The "True Match" part didn't lie...unfortunately, it matched my skin and tone so perfectly, that I looked chalkboard white. It didn't offer any pigmentation or tones that my skin didn't have- and all day for the few days I wore it people kept asking if I was sick or wasn't sleeping well because I was so pale.

 

 

Rimmel Clean Finish- I used this a couple times, but it was a pretty obvious flop. For some reason all the makeups I've tried that say "clean" in the title feel greasy, look shiny and unnatural, don't blend well, look patchy and are too thin and liquidy...I wasn't impressed with the way this made my skin look. It gave it bad texture and just looked bad.

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam- I actually really liked this foundation. It starts out as a foamy mousse and as you start to use it, it becomes a really thin, easy to apply liquid. It blended well enough and had great color....BUT, whenever any moisture touched it (tears, rain, setting spray, hair spray, etc) it would create pock marks in the finish, washing away instantly wherever the moisture had hit. this was not good in the summer at ALL. I liked it fine except that downside; but since that was a pretty big deal breaker, I had to move on.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Correcting Kit- I was having a lot of problems with acne at the time, and I'd bought the Physicians Formula Clear Complexion kit and loved it, so I figured "Why not?" no. Just no. Their correcting palette made my skin a weird unnatural shade, and made all my makeup look powdery and off. The concealer wasn't bad, but it's thin, kind of transparent and doesn't build well. The shimmer is too bold and too pink, and doesn't blend very well. I wasn't too happy with this kit, and didn't end up using it.

 

 

 

 

 

Physicians Formula Magic Mosaic Multi- Colored Bronzer- Another Physicians blunder I made (I made quite a few of these). The bronzer sounded like a good idea- customizable color all in one palate....but instead it was hard to use, it made me look like I had fake baked- not natural at all- if I used the darker colors, and made absolutely no difference in my skin tone if i used lighter colors. I wasn't a fan of this at all, and found a much better bronzer with a similar concept.

 

E.L.F. High Definition Powder- I'd of course heard all the HD powder hype, and since HD powders are expensive, I decided to give this one a shot...I was not impressed. It left my skin looking powdery and cakey, not smooth at all, and it gave me an unnatural weird glow and texture. It was a bit better if I sprayed setting spray over it, but not much

 L'oreal Power Volume- Volume? no. Ugly huge clumps and lashes that stuck together? yes.

Cover Girl Exact Eyelights- This mascara is supposed to add highlights to make your eyes really pop. It was kind of pricey, but I decided to try it. Big waste. I noticed absolutely no difference at all.

Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Black Drama- I just wasn't impressed. There was no real added drama, my eyelashes didn't look glamorous or "fake" they looked clumpy and weighed down with product from a huge, bulky brush. I tried cleaning it up, but the mascara itself is too thick.

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Diamonds- WASTE OF MONEY!! This mascara is supposed to have flecks of glitter in it for a glitzy, glamorous holiday look. It looks just like any other mascara. There's no noticeable sparkle, and it clumps and doesn't go on well at all. NEVER buying this again.

Rimmel Scandaleyes- This product is ok by itself. The lashes stay soft, and even though there's clumps, you can comb them out. However- this product does not play nicely with other mascara. That just makes a clumpy, sticky disaster.