Friday Beauty - After Sun Products

As most of you know, I just came back from a week at the beach and I took full advantage of that time! I soaked up the sun as much as I could and I was rocking the best tan! One of my best since my life guarding days so that's saying a lot! I was safe about it too. I wore sunscreen with 30 SPF, sat under our canopy when I needed a breather, and reapplied sunscreen when needed. And for those who really know me, know this is very uncharacteristic of me! 

But with all of that, I did over-indulge one day. I still wore sunscreen, and sat under the canopy when needed, but on this particular day I wore a suit that was cut much differently than the ones I had been wearing. Fresh skin was exposed and it seemed no amount of sunscreen was going to help! By late afternoon, I was sporting a slight burn in those areas that hadn't seen sun in a very long time. What did I do post sun exposure? I applied my product to help soothe the burn. 

I love the Banana Boat after sun lotion. I've been using it for years. The lotion is thick, soothing, smells amazing, and really helps extend your tan. On the other hand, the aloe vera gel is something that I use when the burn really needs a cooling agent. This burn wasn't that bad, but had I known my mom had this with her, I would have definitely applied immediately.

  

So what do you do when you don't have these products at your finger tips or under your bathroom sink? Look no further than your kitchen. Have a bottle of white vinegar in your cabinet? Then you have a sunburn soothing product on your hands! Simply apply with cotton balls to the over-exposed area and it will sooth the burn. It stinks, but it works! What do you think about that? I would say that's a pretty good beauty and kitchen hack, no?

What do you do when you get a sunburn? Please share! Everyone needs a little summer sun product advice. Including this beauty blogger!

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Friday Beauty - Travel Toiletries

When packing for a trip, I am not one to take a ton of toiletries. I like to try and pack as light as possible. And I don't pack a large cosmetics bag. It's the bare essentials. So when packing up my toiletries, I hit the travel aisle at my drugstore! It's a great place to get smaller versions of your everyday products and an awesome way to test new products. And sometimes you find surprise products like dry shampoo! I was so excited to find a travel can! And aren't those tiny loofahs the best! Here are some of the ones I'm taking along.

I also hang on to all of my samples from Clinique Bonus time! That's the best time to hoard all of your favorites in mini versions! And, you get cute little cosmetic bags to boot! That brings me to another packing point. Don't take all of your cosmetics. Bring along your daily essentials, and a few select tools, but stick to one eyeshadow pallete, one liner, and your mascara. No need to bring it all!

I pack all of my stuff in clear plastic bags. Mine came as part of a Mary Kay travel kit and I love them. If something spills, you simply wipe it out and move on. Definitely something to think about investing in, if you don't have something similar already. 

Happy Friday, Travel Beauties!!

Friday Beauty - High Heels and a New Lip Color

 Dress: Target (similar); Belt: Ann Taylor (similar); Booties: Ann Taylor (similar); 
Handbag: Kooba (similar); Necklace: The Zoe Collective; 
Bracelets: Jessica Simpson/Fossel/(similar)Gift;

Shades: Prada (gift/similar); Lip Color: Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Lovesick

I know that in my Friday Beauty posts I normally bring you some kind of product I'm currently using or interested in trying. But today, I'm talking about what makes me feel beauty and that is wearing high heels! I've worn heels for years and I kind of took them for granted. They were just another pair of shoes I wore to work, out to dinner, for a girls night, or shopping. Now, I wear them on special occasions or days I know I'm not going to the zoo, the farmstead, or anywhere that McKinley and I might go. And I miss wearing them. I feel like I'm neglecting my heel collection!

Over the past week, I've had the opportunity to wear heels twice and I've loved it. And in today's look, I felt especially beautiful. Maybe it was the awesome day I had with my son, the cute sundress, or the fact that I wore heels. It was a combination that just worked. I know it will sound completely superficial, but when I put on a pair of heels, I just feel different. More confident. More womanly. More beautiful.

 

 

Dress: Target (similar); Belt: Ann Taylor (similar); Booties: Ann Taylor (similar); 
Handbag: Kooba (similar); Necklace: The Zoe Collective; 
Bracelets: Jessica Simpson/Fossel/(similar)Gift;

Shades: Prada (gift/similar); Lip Color: Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Lovesick

A cute dress doesn't hurt either. And I can't talk about Friday Beauty without talking about my new Revlon lip color. I love it! I purchased the Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking a while back and really like it. So much that I decided to try another. Recently, I purchased the Colorbust Balm Stain in Lovesick. I love how it feels when you first apply. It goes on smooth and doesn't leave a sticky residue. And it actually stains the lip. I don't need to reapply often. It leave my lips a slight pinky hue and still feels as smooth as when I applied. Definitely worth the purchase!

What makes you feel beautiful? Is it a new pair of shoes? A fun lip color? Or something super easy like rolling the windows down and just letting your hair blow in the breeze? That's a good one too! That carefree summer feeling makes just about anyone feel beautiful, no?

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Friday Beauty - Jergens Natural Glow

 Are you ready for spring? Me too! I loved having a huge taste of it a for several weeks. We had some amazing weather that had me wishing my legs were tan enough for shorts. But because we're only in March, my legs are Casper white and I wouldn't be caught dead in shorts! I immediately stared thinking of the quickest way to get a little color without heading to the tanning beds. Let's be honest, in my youth, I lived for tanning beds. But now that I'm older and wiser, or just seriously afraid of all the damage I may have already caused, I'm steering clear of those things. 

Because I'm a 40 something, I remember when self-tanners came out and everyone walked around streaked and orange. So bad, right? And because of said memories, I'm scared to death of try self-tanners again! I see others walking around with a healthy glow, and when I ask about it, I'm told it's a recent spray tan, both standing booth and professional spray, or self-tanners from their favorite brands. In the past, the only self-tanner I've tried is the Jergens Natural Glow daily moisturizer but I never really had any success. It never produced that gradual tan. I didn't like it or dislike, it just never gave me the results I expected.

 So while trying to obtain a slight tan for KCFW last week, I scoured my bathroom cabinet for a bottle of my Jergens natural glow. I couldn't find a single bottle! I happened to be looking for a certain lipstick, and while moving around several makeup bags (yes I have more than one or two), I found a trial of the Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow moisturizer. It was three sample packets for days one through three so I decided to give it a go! Or should I say glow....

So here I am on day one. All pasty white and ready to get my glow on! I applied the Day 1 sample to legs and arms and waited for the tan to grow.

Day two has rolled around and I'm not much darker. I apply the sample to arms and legs and wait for the gradual tan to appear..... 

Then comes day three. What's this I see? A little bit of color? Yes, but if you look closer, it's a little orange in color! Not the color I'm really striving for when I think of natural glow. I'm thinking sun-kissed. You know, that bronzy look. Not that orange glow.

And if you look even closer, it's darker in all the wrong places! 

And splotchy and uneven. I applied in downward strokes and repeated in the same pattern back up. I also made sure to go back over and smooth it out by using circular motions. And I was careful around feet and knees. It sure doesn't look that way, does it?

Oh, what's that on my towels? That's Jergens Natural Glow! Even my husband wanted to know what was all over my towels. I have more glow on my towels than on my actual body! 

The good news in all of this is that if you don't like the orange glow, that's okay, just use your washcloth, a little soap, and some elbow grease and it all comes off! The rough patches become a little less dark and the color starts rubbing off your legs and arms as well. I think I'll give myself another scrub, wait a few more days, and try another round of self-tanners. I'm on a quest to find the right product that gives me that bronze look of having just stepped foot off the beach! 

Have you tried Jergens Natural Glow? If so, what was your result? Any self-tanners that you love and would recommend? Right now I have the L'Oreal towelettes waiting in the wings. Let's hope I have better results!

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Friday Beauty - Rouge Coco

 What can I say about the House of Chanel. The clothing, her style, the cosmetics line....all enviable! I've worn Chanel cosmetics for years! I love their eyeshadow quads, I own more than I care to mention, and I'm a huge fan of their lipsticks. About a month ago, I stopped by their counter and chatted with my favorite makeup artist, Madeline. (If you get a chance, swing by the Halls Chanel counter and set up an appointment with her. She's amazing!) She told me about the re-launch of the Rouge Coco lipstick line and I couldn't wait to test it. 

 Not only is the formula new and improved, the reinvented version of Rouge Coco is more expressive than ever with a new formula and vibrant color spectrum, the names are all new. Well, new to us. The colors are broken into five categories; Artists, Lovers, Friends, Muses, and Family. And, to take it one step further, they are all named after someone in every category! How great is that! You must have been someone incredibly important to get a color named after you! I recently tested Jean and brought her home! I love the new formula and the color is perfect for spring! A berry, that leans more toward purple, that feels so luxurious on your lips! I just want to know who Jean was. According to the chart, she (or he) was an artist. Their influence must have been epic!

Have you tried Chanel's cosmetic line? If so, is their lipstick on your list of products you currently use? If not, head to your local Chanel counter, or ask for Madeline when visiting Halls. It might be a little on the pricey side, but it's totally worth the spend! A lipstick that will last and a friend for life!

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Friday Beauty - No Dry Time Nails

I love to do my nails. I love getting manicures and I really enjoy doing them myself as well. I've loved experimenting with nail art, but it hasn't been too extensive in design. But the thing about doing your nails is that you have to wait for them to dry. And I mean wait. Like a couple of hours and who has time for that?!? If and when I actually do my nails, I paint them at night after everyone has gone to bed. I'll paint them, work on the blog, watch a little TV, and then I'm off to bed. Usually by then they're dry. 

Then there was the invention of the gel polish. I love getting a gel manicure! It lasts for about two weeks, is instantly dry, and you can be as rough as you need to be without a worry of chipping the polish. The down side to the gel mani is that you have to go back into the salon to get it removed. Sure, you can do it at home, but the process is long and it really dries out your cuticles. And, if you're like me, you usually just peel it off which is horrible for your actual nail bed. Oh, and you have to pay roughly $25 a visit for application. Mani's aren't cheap!

The best solution of all was the creation of the nail polish strips! They are an absolute dream come true! I've been using them for a couple of years and I've tried most the brands on the market. I love Sally Hansen's Nail Effects. They are really easy to apply, come in various colors and nail art creations, and the obvious no dry time is the ultimate reason to love! The little box comes with everything you need. The nail strips, cuticle pusher, and instructions for application. I love an all-in-one beauty buy! The Maybelline nail strips work pretty much the same way, however you file off the excess instead of peel like the Sally Hansen version. It doesn't come with anything but the strips and instructions.

 

Then Jamberry entered my life. Jamberry are Nail Wraps that are made of high-quality vinyl. They are long lasting and they are applied with heat and pressure--no chemicals, no odors, no smudging, no dry-time! The wraps can last one to two weeks on fingers, and up to six weeks on toes! They are latex-free, cruelty-free (never tested on animals) non-toxic, and gentle on your nails! For anyone who is leery of harsh chemicals around children, this is the product of you.

I started using Jamberry after my aunt held a Facebook party about a month ago. I love the catalog of nail wraps, which is quite impressive! And the online parties are so much fun. There are daily games, prizes to win, and a huge door prize at the end of the party which my mom won during Mandy's party! The application is a little more difficult than the previously mentioned products, but there are tons of YouTube instructional videos to assist you. Because they are heat activated, you need a hair dryer, but Jamberry does offer a cute little heater for purchase. You also need a cuticle pusher, manicure scissors to cut off the excess, and a nail file to file off the ends. I haven't quite gotten the knack of applying them, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I still highly recommend them because they do live up to their guaranteed longevity. Honestly, this is the way to go in the world of manicures.

Have you tried any of these nail wraps/strip products? If so, which ones? Any not listed? Tell us about them. Which is your absolute favorite? 

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Friday Beauty - A Smokey Eye

 Over the weekend I attempted my first smokey eye. I've read about how to apply them over and over and over again, yet I've always been so fearful of trying. That is until I purchased the Clinique All About Shadow Quad in Smoke and Mirrors. It literally has a step by step guide on the mirror and corresponding numbers on the shadow liner. They even number the sponge applicators that are included. Now, I'm not an applicator kind of girl. I use brushes and have for years. I feel the shadows go on a lot smoother and it's easier to apply more or less color when needed or desired. In my opinion, the sponge applicators just seem to soak up the shadow. 

In the first photo, you will see all the tools I used (they are what I use on a daily basis), and I will touch on how I used them during the application process. This really is the easiest smokey eye you can ever do!

I have my quad, all of my brushes, my concealer, my MAC paint, mascara, and Clinique primer. Did you know that Clinique made a primer? Me either and more on that in a different post.

 

First up, I always, always, always use a primer on my lids. ALWAYS! It just highlights the shadow and doesn't allow it to settle into the crease after a full day of wear. Honestly, if you aren't using one today, you should be! I swear by the MAC paints.

Here's the quad and your step by step guide. Just apply the shadow where the diagram indicates. So easy!!

 

 

Apply the highlight color to just below the brow bone and just to the top of your crease. I used a flat wide brush when applying my highlighter.

 

For step number two, use a fluffier tipped brush to really get in the crease. One important tip, wherever you apply the shadow is where it will be its heaviest. I try to shoot for just off the corner of the crease and blend out and in from there. If you're using the sponge applicator, go light at first and add more as needed!!

  

Use the same brush for step number 3 and start applying from the inside corner of the crease and blend toward the center.

Once you have applied both steps 2 and 3, go back in with a fluffy blending brush to combine. You don't want to see definitive lines from where you started and stopped both shadows. Work in a circular motion while blending.

Step four is the eyeliner shadow. I love a shadow liner and I've used one for as long as I can remember. You have complete control over how much, or how little, you use at one time. And, it goes on so much easier than an eyeliner stick. Use a small angle brush to apply. (If you are using the applicator, apply using just the tip.)

I load up the brush and start from the dead center of my eye and work my way to the outer corner. I work with tiny brush strokes as I go. Almost like I'm connecting dots. Reload the brush with more shadow as needed. Once I have the line I want, I reload my brush and then start from the inner corner of my and apply to the middle.

For a smokey eye, line both the top and bottom lash lines. For the bottom, I start at the outer corner, staying as close to the lash line as I possibly can, and go to just past the center of my eye. Blend, blend blend! You don't want to see your bottom lash line liner!

Then load up your lashes with your fav mascara. I've been using Maybelline Great Lash for about a month, not a fan, so for this look I went with Clinique's High Impact Mascara. A new mascara, a sample provided by Clinique, that I'm currently testing. 

I am one who hates to see spider eyes, think Tammy Faye Baker, so I go back in with a mascara brush to smooth out any clumps that have formed. Plus, I try to make them as full as possible.

 And here is the final look!

When going with a heavy eye, keep everything else light. I went for a very light, sheer blush, and nude lip. You want only one thing to shine in this look and that's the eye! For my cheeks, I used Stila Convertible Color in Lillium. For my lips, I used Chanel lipstick Rouge Coco in Sycomore and gloss #237.

What do you think of a smokey eye? As intimidating as you thought it would be, or easy as pie with the help of this Clinique quad? Other brands that offer this kind of shadow are L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Revlon. Great drugstore brands that won't break the bank! 

I can't wait to hear your stories! Share them with all of us!

Happy Friday, Beauties!

My Beauty in 2015

In keeping with the New Year's theme of goals and resolutions, I am making a goal to try and blog more about beauty and the products I love and use repeatedly, products I really want to use, and the ones I end up trying. 

Lately, I've really neglected my facial routine, especially at night. I'm trying to make a concerted effort to get back into the cleansing process and not let busy nights and bedtime routines be an excuse. As most of you know, I'm a Clinique girl. I've been using their Three Step Program for over 20 years and I'm not about to change now. Don't worry, I will talk all about it in a later post. And while on my quest for clean healthy skin, I'm thinking of investing in a cleansing brush. Clinique has one that I'm researching, but after asking Lucky Magazine beauty editor Jean Godfrey June her opinion, to which she gave it her seal of approval, I'm not sure more research is needed!

I'm currently on the look out for a new mascara. I used a Clinique mascara for years and recently found out that they discontinued it. I was almost in tears! I've been experimenting with a few different brands and fell in love with the Chanel INIMITABLE mascara. But at $30 a tube, and being on a budget, I just can't swing it right now. So, I recently purchased "America's favorite" Maybelline Great Lash mascara. At $3.99 a tube, this is much more wallet friendly. I've only used it once so I will keep you posted on my thoughts. 

Other items I hope to chat about are my favorite drugstore finds, my go-to products for everyday use, makeup application tips that I've learned along the way, what to spend your money on and where to save, and I'm hoping to hear from you regarding topics you would like to have me tackle!

I'm excited about this new adventure in blogging! But, if you were hoping this was the big announcement I talked about yesterday, it wasn't!! Check back Monday for the big reveal! I can't wait! 

Happy Friday, Beauties! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!