Scary Mascara

Eyelashes. Who doesn’t adore them? What female character – in a cartoon or real life movie- doesn’t have long, dark, beautiful, upward-curling eyelashes? Crossing cultures and generations, eyelashes have long been a symbol of beauty and femininity. So it’s obvious that when you put on your mascara, you don’t want clumps. You don’t attempt the spider legs look. You want those long, gorgeous lashes that your ungrateful brother somehow inherited and you were overlooked.

The key to makeup: don’t let everyone know that you are wearing it. The point is to look natural. Clumpy mascara is one of the first ways you give your secret away.

The point of makeup: to enhance [not disguise!] what you already have. The point of wearing mascara will be to enhance your lashes- making them look darker and longer than they are.

I have tried many different mascaras- some very expensive, and some from the shelves of Walmart. The commonly number one rated mascara is Maybelline’s NYC Great Lash. I used this for awhile, and still use the waterproof version when I am planning to spend a day at the pool[you will have a heck of a time getting that stuff off even with makeup remover!]. However it does not satisfy my day to day mascara needs. This stuff won’t clump, but it goes on so smooth that it wont enhance either. My lashes look short and stumpy when I use it- and I have pretty long lashes to begin with!

A tip: always use black mascara if you want your eyes to be noticeable. Black draws attention to your eyes, no matter what your skin shade and eye color are. Use eye shadows for color, and let black be your staple mascara color.

The moment of truth: What do I recommend? I have been using Covergirl’s Volume Exact mascara for years. A few times I switched around to Maybelline, Lancome, Estee Lauder, and some of the other popular brands. However I was never as satisfied as I am with covergirl. I love the silky smooth way it goes on my lashes, making every last centimeter dark and noticeable. It stays on all day and holds a nice curl in my lashes.

Secret indulgence: I love the feeling of dipping that red never-been-used brush into a new bottle of mascara. Anyone else??

Pearly Whites

It’s not a secret that your teeth are very important! How many people do you smile at each day? [hopefully a lot!] You are constantly showing your teeth, and once those adult teeth come down they are the only set you’ve got. [Unless you are one of those weird “I had a third set of eye teeth” people.] So it’s important to do what you can to make them stay healthy and clean for your entire life.

I am a huge proponent of daily flossing, using mouthwash, and brushing- at LEAST twice a day! There is nothing wrong with a mid day cleaning- especially when it is common for you to drink things like coffee and tea or something else that clings to your teeth.

I always thought the relation of candy to cavities was a myth until I started eating large quantities of caramel corn this year. [It’s a treat when you’re gluten free and other desserts are not quite as tasty]. I realized that sugar and caramel cling to a lot of hard to reach places in your mouth- make sure you get the tools needed to clean those hard to reach spots.

Electric toothbrushes? I’ve tried them, but haven’t been extremely impressed. Seemed to be a lot of money to do a halfway job. My scrubbing skills via toothbrush are a lot more effective than some electric brush! And the saying "squeaky clean" caught on for a reason. When you can literally hear squeaking as the toothbrush rubs your teeth, your teeth are clean. Same with rinsing shampoo out of your hair.

My favorite type of toothbrush is Colgate's Whole Mouth Cleaning Toothbrush- while you are brushing, the other side of the toothbrush is giving your gums or cheeks a nice massage inside. Leaves your whole mouth feeling clean! As far as flossing, if you don’t do it regularly, you will bleed the first few times. Make it through the first week and you’ll come out with tougher gums. And use something gentle like Crest Glide or waxed floss- not the stuff that feels and looks like a tiny rope.

I floss & use mouthwash every day, and every 6 months when I go to the dentist he tells me what “gorgeous teeth” I have. I don’t mind the compliment- I work hard to get it! Thanks to those fluoride treatments as a kid, as well as good genetics, I’ve never had a cavity. That is becoming more and more common as dental health awareness grows. It is vital to take the time to show care for your mouth- and if your parents spent thousands of dollars for you to have straight teeth, use some Crest Whitestrips every now and then- keep them straight and white looking!

Spray Away

I recently changed my hairspray, and I couldn't be happier. I use a lot of hairspray, but because my hair is so fine I have to be careful what kind I use. Using too much spray can often make my hair look greasy or weigh it down. Then any styling attempts turn into the too straight, heavy, and flat look. Not exactly what I am going for.

So when I ran out of hairspray a few weeks ago, I headed to Target to see if they had my Paul Mitchell spray. Usually it is only sold in salons but I figured it was worth a try. Not finding it there, and becoming increasingly desperate, I decided to try something new. My Paul Mitchell is usually around $16.50 and rarely on sale. Trust me; I check often. Since I was trying something new I didn't want to spend too much money. I noticed the cheapest stuff they had: Salon Grafix Shaping Hair Spray. I grabbed it and got out of there as fast as possible- Target is one of my greatest weaknesses. I got the Extra Hold and figured that if I hated it it was only 4 dollars down the drain. Worth a try for a desperate girl, right?

To my surprise, I loved it! Even more than my Paul Mitchell, which I have been loyal to for at least 10 years. Don't get me wrong: Paul Mitchell Extra Hold hairspray is awesome, and works great, but why spend that much money if you don't have to? This hairspray isn't heavy- it is even lighter than Paul Mitchell and doesn't leave my hair feeling heavy or greasy. It does an excellent job holding style throughout the day and I love it. I can also use that extra $12 for other products now :) Also, it smells just like the stuff my mom used on my when I was a kid. I used to dance competitively and apparently she didn't want to use the expensive stuff for all my hairdo's at competitions. Understandable when your daughter is 7, right? That being said, it also has a little bit of sentimental value for me.

To use: After I blow dry, I spray some around the crown of my head, lifting up chunks of hair and spraying underneath. Then I tease my hair with a fine tooth comb and some hair paste [see previous] and once I have the style I want, I spray lots! Although my husband hates the smell of the spray at first, he does usually like the smell of my hair . . . so I guess you give a little and get a little, right?

Tip to remember: Expensive does not always equal the best quality for your needs.

Paste for Hair?

Have you ever heard of hair paste? I hadn't until just this past year- and I have to say, I am loving it! It's one of those items that you just didn't know you were missing out on....not an essential, but beware, because it could quickly become one!

My favorite is by Redken, called rewind 06. This product will add a lot of texture to your hair. It's hard to know how to use unless you've seen it done, but it will definitely help you shape and twist your hair into any style. I usually put it in after I blow dry and hairspray my hair. You just need to get a dime sized amount of this pliable styling paste on your finger, rub a few times between your palms and then push your hands together over your hair. Little "spider web" looking pieces will fall on your hair and then you can use to style your hair into the desired position.

I love this product because my bangs LOVE to hang in my eyes. So when they get a little bit too long- I am either back to my hairstylist [the chic Lynn Le] or I am cutting them myself [something that I have been commended for at times but also reprimanded for by my hair dressers]. With hair paste, I rub some on my bangs, sweep them to the side and they dry in that position. Best part? They don't look greasy from all that product! They dry in that position and stay there ALL day long, looking fresh and clean.

It might sound a little out of the ordinary, but hair paste is an amazing product to utilize! Definitely try it.

Dreaded Season Quickly Approaching

I don't know about you, but I never look forward to swim suit season. Shopping for swim suits is avoided at all costs, but then you get invited to that one beach/ pool party that can't be turned down without appearing extremely rude. And somehow, someone corners you into promising to go swimming with them.

I don't know if this happens to you every year, but it does to me. Finding a cute, flattering swim suit that still leaves things to the imagination has rarely, if ever, been successful for me. However I found this article helpful and maybe you will too. At least you have a guide as you make that shopping trip now!

Check it out:
http://fashion.about.com/od/swimwear/a/findswimsuit.htm

Little Tips to Make Your Cooking Simpler

Are you ever in the kitchen just starting to cook something that you have been thinking about all day, when you realize you are missing a crucial ingredient? One egg when you need two…heavy cream gone bad…or maybe something weird like buttermilk that you just don’t have sitting in your fridge.

Well I have come across a few helpful tips [and they work!] for these items.

Buttermilk?!
Combine just under one cup of milk with 1 TB lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes. You just made buttermilk.

Oh no! I just ran out of brown sugar.
Combine 1 cup of white sugar with 1 TB molasses. Stir for long enough and you have brown sugar- home made!

Heavy cream gone bad?
Mix ¾ cup milk with 1/3 cup butter. Melt butter, pour into cup and stir. Equals 1 cup heavy cream.

Short on eggs? Substitute it!
Precisely 1/3 cup of applesauce equals one egg.
1/3 cup is the typical snack size applesauce container you buy at the grocery store. Best part? Now you can eat cookie dough without worrying about getting sick. I make it for my husband all the time and he loves it. Also, you can’t tell any difference in taste or texture from eggs-whether the cookies are cooked or uncooked!

Boost Your Roots

My hair is very straight, very fine, and seriously lacks in body. Growing up I was that girl who had long pin straight hair that wouldn’t do anything but fall flat. I would spend hours curling it for a party only to have straight hair again 20 minutes later. Did I try hairspray, mousse, or gel? Yes….and with products in my hair, it would just get heavier and fall flat again.

This past summer my cousin-in-law [who is a hair dresser] offered me hair product and styling advice. At first I was doubtful that it would work, given my history in attempted hair styling, but I went out on a limb and bought a few products. The one that has proven to be my favorite is Catwalk by Tigi: Root Boost Spray for Texture. I love this product! If you have problems getting your hair to have body- especially right at the root, then this is for you. You just spray it in after you shower, comb through, and style your hair regularly. I have used it regularly since last summer and thoroughly enjoyed having hair with bounce! Last weekend I went on a mini vacation and forgot to bring my Root Boost… and to my dismay, all weekend my hair fell flat. I couldn’t understand why until I realized the one product I had gone without: my Root Boost! If you have hair like mine, you should definitely give it a shot. It’s more expensive in stores but I have found it on Amazon for a decent price.

To hair that has body!

The Art of Shaving

It is no secret that I often cut my legs when shaving.  When I first started around age 11, my dad would ask me if I had just gotten off a battle field when I came out of the bathroom. After complaining about my plight to my friend Megan, she explained to me a simple solution: 4 blade razors.

Up until that point, I had always used a triple blade razor.  It never occurred to me that the blade count on a razor could make for a cleaner shave.  The next day I went to the store, hopeful and skeptical at the same time.  Four blades were a little bit harder to find, and a little more expensive, but totally worth the effort.  Now when I shave I can count on not getting cut- even when I am in a hurry and not paying close enough attention to the angle of the razor on my skin! My legs stay smooth for longer and I can even use soap instead of shave gel- something that was never a possibility before.

Moral of the story: Use 4 blade razors.  My favorite brand is Bic Soleil, I have used their 4 blade razor for about 3 years now, and used their triple blade for many years before that.  Like I said: it is a little bit more expensive, but I only have to buy the 4 pack once or twice per year.  Totally worth the investment.

Taking care of your skin

I have really sensitive skin, and have tried multiple skin cleansers over the years.  After years of red and raw looking cheeks, acne, and dry/ oily skin my parents finally took me to a dermatologist.

My doctor told me that a good facial soap should not get sudsy and frothy.  Often we think the more that the soap suds up, the more clean our skin is getting.  Actually, that causes break outs to happen more often. And you know that stinging you sometimes feel from facial cleansers like Clinique's three step cleanse? Not good! Your skin should never feel like it is tight and stinging.  That feeling does not equal clean; it equals damage.

I was recommended Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.  I have used it on my face for about 6 years now.  It is so gentle on my skin that I can use it to take off my eye makeup without it even bothering my eyes! Then I use the facial lotion for the areas around my eyes, lips, forehead, and neck area.  It is incredibly moisturizing without the greasy feel.

My skin is difficult to define.  Some areas on my face are oily, and some are dry as the desert.  Solution? Moisturize the dry parts, and leave the oily parts alone.  Voila! Uniform skin.

When you switch over, it typically takes your skin about 6-8 weeks to adjust.  In the meantime, you might find breakouts to be more common.  Persevere! It will be worth it when your skin adjusts and your acne clears up for good.

Tip of the day:  Moisturize your face every day to prevent wrinkles!  And don't forget your neck- you don't want to be a 40 year old with a crease-free face but a wrinkly neck : )

How do I...?

How often do you try a new product and after two days find yourself completely frustrated with your vain efforts and profitless venture?  Once again, that product just doesn't work on you the same way it does on that beautiful advertisement.  Is there any hope?

Do you often attempt to imitate something you see on TV or someone you see at a party and fail? Only to wonder, "How am I supposed to do that?" Or more likely, "How did she do that?" So often I see others who seem to have mastered an art that I still fumble around with like a three year old.  Like the back hair bump.  Or the smokey eye look.  Or the perfect curls.  Why does it seem that these things come to naturally to others, but my nail polish gets all over my fingers when I paint?

This no longer has to be the case.  The truth behind these tips, and many more things, is not the person.   The trick behind so many of your questions is the product! But which product? And how do I find it without spending all my money on every other brand of that product before I find the right one?  And what do I do when I finally find it and they discontinue my stuff? [Always happens that way].  This is the place of the tried and the true- small steps to finding tips that will change your life.