March: Five Things

Lovelies,

March was a pretty good month on the whole. I discovered a few loves and enjoyed a few new purchases. Here's my top five:

1 | Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM (Pre-Loved). I scored this long-desired beauty on EBay last month with the proceeds of a sale I made to a friend. I have used it everyday since. Best. Day bag. Ever.

2 | Bath & Body Works, Slatkin & Co. Candles. I always thought these were overhyped. Then I bought them in a two for $20.00 deal. So freaking worth it. One candle can literally make your whole house smell amazing. My favorite right now is Peach Bellini.

3 | Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti. Amazing texture, buildable color, moisturizing. Enough said.

4 | Young House Love. This blog ate up a lot of time in March. I found myself getting sucked in, and next thing I knew, it was an hour or so later. Love this couple's design ideas and DIYs.

5 | Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter. Smooth, moisturizing, long-lasting, cheap. It was an impulse buy, but I find myself applying most nights before bed. Love.

 

Review: Burberry Body

 

I've always been a fan of Burberry fragrances. My signature scent throughout high school and college was the original Burberry fragrance, and I really haven't encountered one of their perfumes that I DIDN'T like.

That said, this weekend, for my birthday, we picked up the small bottle of the 2011 Burberry release, Burberry Body. I must say, despite all of the tepid to scathing reviews, I'm quite enamoured of this fragrance.

I'm notoriously bad at picking out the subtleties of a perfume, but when I smell this gem, I think clean florals. I can also detect a little fruitiness. On the dry down, it comes across as warm and inviting.

Here's what Fragrantica (an amazing resource for perfume hoarders like me) has to say:

Body Burberry is a luxury chypre - fruity composition that begins with notes of fresh green absinthe, peach and freesia. Roses and iris are in the heart, leaning on the base of sandalwood, cashmerean, musk, amber and vanilla.

I can easily see this becoming my new signature. And it doesn't hurt that I'm obsessed with the packaging.

 

Score!

 Are you a self-professed makeup junky like me?

 

Then run to the nearest Burke's Outlet (We have them in the South. Not sure if they are everywhere.) and look in the makeup section.

Why?

Because I just found Stila Lip Enamel gloss for $3.99...They are originally $20+.

I love a bargain. *sigh* I picked up Giggle (hot pink), Joy (sheer red), and Euphoria (berry). I am happy to report that these glosses are long lasting and not sticky. 

Definitely the find of the year makeup-wise!

 

Loreal Voluminous

So, I've been trying to use Loreal Voluminous mascara for the past two days. And I must confess, I just don't get it. It makes my lashes look beautiful, but after a few hours....I'm smudge city. I can clean it up, but in another hour or so, I'm looking like rocky raccoon again.

Everyone else seems to love this mascara. Is it just me having these problems?


Thank you all for the comments on my last post! I'm so glad to be back. :)

Okay. So I'm a bad blogger (And a few favorite products!)

I know. I promised some posts, and I went AWOL. I have no excuses....Other than:

1. I'm working on a few big projects at work. I'm in charge of fundraising for Relay for Life for our plant, and I'm also the new publicity chair for the county's Relay for Life.
2. I'm going to Colorado for training in relation to one of my big projects. I'm doing some work for all four plants, and I have to learn a new software, which is based out of Colorado...What a hardship, right?
3. I'm having some medical problems. Nothing to worry about, I hope, but I'm going to a neurologist in April. I'm taking a medicine for nerve pain in my skin, and it makes me really loopy.

But here is some new info about products I'm OBSESSED with right now:

1. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure (?) in Thinking of Blue. I may have the name wrong, but this shade is the perfect cream navy blue. The formulation is amazing. Go directly to Walmart, do not pass go. Buy this stuff! It is a top, base, and it has a hardener in it as well, I believe. I use two coats, and they last for days!

2. Tresemme Brunette/Red head shampoo (Brown bottle)- I'm not usually one to rave about shampoos, but this product is perfect. It really removes nasty color-changing deposits from my reddish/brown hair, and it leaves it shiny and soft. It also has a very nice scent as well.

3. Bath & Body Works HandiBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Lotion in Fresh Lemon - I hate lotions. No seriously. I only have three types of hand lotion I'll even consider using, and this is now one of my most favorites. It has surpassed Mary Kay Satin Hands for me!

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Whisper - This is the prettiest baby pink gloss ever. Yes, it is kind of sticky, but it is well worth it. It is glittery, but it isn't chunky. Just try it out! I fell in love with this shade, and I went back for the peach as well. They are my staples now.

Also, I'm on day 1 of my Revlon Color Stay Foundation, so I'll keep you posted on that. Does anyone have application tips? I don't use liquid foundation much, so I'm a little out of practice.

Again, I'm sorry I've been all MIA. I have missed the blogging community, and I hope to get back in the swing of things soon. Anybody living in Colorado want to come save me from the big bad airport? :-/

Extensions: Cheating is fun.

So, as you know, my hair is only about shoulder length. I've always wanted nice long hair, and before my wedding, I decided to buy some. Those that can't grow, buy! ;)

I purchased a set of the Remy human extensions at Sally's in August, and I've loved them ever since. They were fairly expensive at $80, but I got a nice discount from the Sally's because of my wedding. They were very sweet! Here is a picture of me wearing them lightly curled:

It gives you kind of an idea of what I look like with the longer hair. The color is a bit off, since I've lightened and dyed my hair red since I purchased these. I don't really have any shots of me with a good view of them. I'll work on that!

Here are a few facts about human hair extensions: 

1. You can straighten, curl, or otherwise heat style them. Just like your own hair though, you don't want to be too harsh on them.

2. You can dye them. Just treat them like your own hair. Be gentle when applying the dye and condition afterwards.

3. You should wash them every so often if you're using hairspray or other styling products on them.

4. If you want the extensions to look more natural, either cut them yourself or take them to a styling and have her cut them with your own hair.

5. You don't just need extensions for length. They are great for volume too! If you want more volume, place them closer to the top of your head, leaving enough hair to cover the weft.

Hope these little tips/facts were useful to you! I love mine, and I'm so glad I got them.

How to: Use an eyeshadow trio

This is by request.

This is just one way to use an eyeshadow trio. There are tons of ways to place the colors, but I use this one a lot. It looks very natural, and it only takes a minute or two. If you want something a bit more dramatic, you can pack the second darkest color on your lid and place the darkest color in your crease!





Hope you enjoy!

At home dermabrasion

While bargain hunting at Marshall's recently, I found a nifty little product that I was pretty excited to pick up to the tune of $12.99: Neutrogena Pure Glow Microdermabrasion.

The kit is basically all you need to give your skin a new glow at home. Here is what you get:

You also get 2 AA batteries to run your little scrubber thing. 

The foam pad that covers the machine is replaceable, as is the cream with aluminum oxide micro-crystals. 

The instructions basically tell you to wash your makeup off, dip the wand into the cream, and dot it on your skin on your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. You then use the wand to buff the cream around your skin (no more than 2 minutes in any place), and you get a choice of 2 speeds. When you're done, you wash the cream off with a warm water and moisturize with your favorite cream.

You repeat this process nightly for 7 days (every other day if you have sensitive skin). After that, you will continue to use the kit 1 to 3 times weekly.

I've been using it for about 3 days now, and I notice a difference in how my makeup goes on and how my skin looks. I feel like my moisturizer is more effective now, and I don't have any irritation from the system. I also feel like my skin is more "glowy" than normal. I will post a picture once I'm done with my 7 days.

I noticed on Makeup Alley there are a couple swaps available for this product if you can't find it in stores or online!

NOTD: Pink Pearl

Has anyone else used this $1.00 brand? I'm in love with this baby pink color. It  has just a smidge of shimmer to it, but it mainly looks creamy. I'm obsessed with these shades right now for my nails. This only took two coats, but I probably could have gotten away with one, actually. :) I found it in Dollar General.

Drugstore mascaras

Another article just went live. Read ahead to find out a few of the options for drugstore mascaras!

Drugstore mascaras offer a cheap alternative to department store brands

Posted using ShareThis


Coming up:

Tips for using eyeshadow quads (ex. covergirl, etc) as requested by Jennifer at Becoming Briggs!

Coolest thing ever!

Some of you have been sent products to try or have been in contact with the makers of special products before, but since I am relatively new to "beauty blogging," I haven't ever been approached by a company.

Well, today I got an email from the creator of Curlformers thanking me for my post about them on the 15th. He was very nice, and he even told me that the picture on my post of a girl in Curlformers is his daughter! :) It is a family business based in the UK (I believe), and I was so gratified to receive a thanks on my review. It made my day!

Read my Curlformers review!

Now I am off to do my second interview at the big company! Yes, that is right. I got the second interview! :)

NOTD and new article on Examiner.com

Hey lovies,

How is everybody this week? Things are great here. Still plugging away on finding a "job," but things are looking up. I'm getting some nice hits on the Examiner site, so the more views I get, the better the pay. I was the "Most Popular Jackson Examiner" the other day!

Anyway, I painted my nails yesterday using Essie's Curtain Call and Borghese Celestial Silver. I did a french tip effect, so I thought I would show you. I got both of these polishes at Marshall's for $2.00 a piece. :)

As you can see, pretty subtle, but I like the "princessy" feel.

Here is the link to my new article, please check it out and feel free to comment. Thanks!

Jackson Beauty Examiner

Tag: Tattoos

Deanna and I are all about getting people to own up to their ink lately! I was super excited to see her beautiful tattoos, and I'm ready to show you mine too!

Though some people do think tattoos are trashy, to me, they are a way to express myself on my skin. I can keep all of them covered or show a few at a time. I also tend to pick designs that are at least feminine or 'pretty.' And my favorite artist (Cory Hand) usually chooses colors to that "go with" all of my other tattoos.

Here we go:

Triquetra: My 1st tattoo. It is a Celtic knot representing the Holy Trinity. I'm Irish Catholic, so I went for traditional. :)

This tattoo is in memoriam for my mother, who passed away from lung cancer. It is a reminder that when life is hard sometimes all you can do is breathe, and also that my body is a temple. Lungs aren't that easy to replace!

This heart infinity symbol is for my husband. He has an infinity symbol on his arm for me. We got these on our anniversary last year.

I have a skeleton key on my collar bone, to remind me of my childhood. Our house only had skeleton keys, and when I was little I took all of them out of the doors and played with them...We never got them matched back up to their respective locks. All my parents could do was laugh! I loved shiny things. :)

This was my funny tattoo (Several celebrities have it!), but it also has meaning to me. Sometimes I let people walk and talk right over me. Especially in professional settings. I got this at a time when I was feeling disrespected at work by some of the employees, and it helped me to remember that I don't have to sit back and take it! Lindsey Lohan attributed a similar meaning to her's as well.

Okay, that is very hard to see...But it is a star in my ear. My tattoo artist calls it the "baby star tat." I got this on my birthday last year. I just really wanted a little secret tattoo in my ear, lol.

This is a cover up tattoo designed by Cory Hand of By The Book Tattoos in Columbus, MS. He is, without fail, my favorite and most used artist. He designed this for me to cover a bad magnolia tattoo. The meaning of this is "giving love to the world." He "cut a heart-shaped hole" in my back through which my heart bubbles out to everyone. We added "All you need is love" at the bottom, because it is my favorite Beatles song, and it expresses the idea of the tattoo perfectly (to me). This tattoo was featured online by BME News, a body modification website.

I have one more tattoo on the inside of my left pointer finger of a teardrop (Don't have a hand picture). Cory convinced me to do that one, and I must say that when people start whining or when I want to pout, it is VERY useful. It never fails to give people a laugh. I just hold it up under my eye, and they crack up, which is what I'm all about. I love to make people laugh!

Sorry this was so long, but I have a ton of tattoos! lol Hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me, and I hope you'll fess up too! :) I tag EVERYONE!

Remedy: Straight hair blues? You too can be a Curly Sue!

Okay, here's the deal:

I have very straight hair. I have never had good luck with curling tools: rollers, curling irons, etc. They just don't give me the perfect curls I have always longed for. Until....Dum da da dum!

I heard about this neat product:

Photo courtesy of Curlformers.com

Curlformers is a no-heat, curling tool that you can use to give you perfect curls every time! I have been using these for about 8 months now, and I have been in love with them from day one.

Here's how they work:

In Sally's you can purchase the Curlformers themselves, which are flexible plastic tubes that are pre-twisted into ringlets, and you can also get the "hook" you need to pull your hair through them.

Basically, you take the hook and slide it through the curlformer, hook it on to a small section of hair (damp is preferable) and pull the hair through the curler. That's pretty much it. It takes a little practice to get used to it, but you can re-use your Curlformers indefinitely.

How many do I need?

When I purchased my Curlformers, I had barely shoulder length, pretty fine hair. I only need one package of the "Long and Wide" Curlformers. They come in different sizes, and the girls at Sally's can usually tell you what you'll need. You can also buy these things in a kit with a bunch of different sizes and a hook, but that gets pretty expensive. Now, I have hair past my shoulders, and I feel like my hair is a bit thicker. I can still get curls without buying an extra package, but I have to be careful how I section my hair.

Pros and Cons:


1.They are kind of expensive. I think I paid a little more than $20 for my little starter kit.
2. They are indestructible. Well, basically. They stayed curled no matter how many times you use them.
3. For me to get the best curls, I put them on damp hair and sleep on them, which ain't the best night's sleep I've ever had. You CAN blow dry them, but that seems to take too long for me.
4. No joke, these curls last for HOURS. I spray them with a bit of hairspray, and I'm out the door.


Nobody paid me for my endorsement, and I bought everything on my own. I do highly recommend them to ladies avoiding heat styling. Check out their website: http://www.curlformers.com . Or go to Sally's to see them in person!

That's me on my first try with Curlformers.

Knock it Off!

Who hasn't at one time or another been curious about fake (Knock off) purses, perfume, sunglasses, or what have you? It gives you a little boost to have "the real thing," but have you ever indulged in a little harmless "foolery" ?

Today, I was strolling around Cato's waiting on my interviewer to finish assisting a customer, and I stumbled upon a stand of "Inspired By" perfumes. Preferred Fragrance Inc. puts out several perfumes that are modeled after extremely popular designer brands. They attempt to package them in similar packaging and do it for an insane price. Read: $4.99 for a gigantic bottle.

Now, in most cases, you get what you pay for. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by some of the fragrances on display. Bamberry Weekend (Burberry Weekend) was a lovely scent as well as the mock DKNY's Be Delicious, whose name I forget. Since they were so affordably priced, I picked up La Vida Loca, the Viva La Juicy knock off.

I pick up a lot of berry notes in this and citrus (which are present in the designer fragrance), and I think I am smelling the floral in it as well. My husband loves it!

The staying power of these types of perfumes isn't that good, but for $5, I'm not really ticked about it. It did last longer than I thought it would, and since it is packaged so nicely, I won't mind a bit toting this around with me for a midday spritz. It's a bit of harmless fun, and I can save my special perfume (Burberry London) for special occasions!

Job Hunt + Blush

So, I really cranked it into gear this week with my job hunting. I applied at various places including a clothing store, the hospital, and a large company looking for a receptionist. Fortunately, I got two phone calls today (two days after applying and sending my resume), and I have two interviews set up with the clothing store and the large company. I'm pretty stoked, and I'm equally nervous. My resume is good, and I have marketable skills...But I'm always nervous that I won't get back into the workforce. Wish me luck!

In other news,

I recently tried Maybelline's Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum...And I'm in love. A lot of Makeup Alley reviews said there was too much glitter, but I didn't find that to be the case. I guess I'm just not noticing it. I really love the texture and the way it goes on my skin, and I adore the color. In fact, I picked up their Dream Mousse Concealer tonight to try as well, since my Clinique is almost out. Have any of you tried these products?

Photos courtesy of Maybelline.com

Bangin'

After the new color, I felt a really serious urge for some new bangs. 

As you can see, I chose a really heavy bang. I really enjoy this look when worn with very straight loose hair or even pulled back into a bun. I can pull the bangs to the side for a piecey look as well. I also feathered a few pieces of hair on the sides as well to give a little connection between the length of my hair and the bangs when I pull my hair back.

Tips on cutting your own bangs: (Yes, I cut my own bangs. Almost always!)

1. You can cut them wet or dry but be aware that wet hair shrinks pretty substantially as it dries. Make allowances for that when cutting or be prepared to utilize some nice barrettes for a couple weeks. If you cut it dry, it can be a little harder to make your lines straight. You counteract this by cutting a little bit at a time until you get it how to like it. Also, it is practically impossible to make a perfectly straight line, so to disguise that cut upwards into the hair with the tips of your scissors. Just make little cuts to blend the hair line and thin it a bit.

2. Use very sharp scissors, and place a plastic bag (like walmart) in your sink as a lining. If you neglect that step, you'll be fishing pieces of hair out of your sink for the next 10 years.

3. Go slow. You can't add hair back on, but you can always cut more off.

4. If you want to try different styles of bangs, I recommend searching on YouTube. They even have videos for Bettie Page (retro rockabilly style) Bangs!

Good luck! Don't be afraid. Bangs grow seriously fast!

Vibrant or Bozo?: Toning tips for the color challenged

[My last post talked about how my husband and I went to Walmart, and I let him pick my next "red" dye to try. (They were out of my favorite color.) He picked Herbal Essences Paint the Town Red #44, which is a VERY vibrant deep red. ]

No makeup. Yay!

Since I've been dying my own hair (and other people's) for years, I figured, whatever the outcome, I could fix it.  I used the dye over my own slightly faded medium to light auburn, it came out a lot more red than I was willing to contend with. It was a beautiful shade, but I didn't like what it looked like with my eyebrows. I LOVED what it looked like with my eyes and skin. I kept wavering between liking it and feeling like bozo. (Believe me...The picture doesn't do it justice! It was a VERY red, red!) Needless to say, we made a quick stop at Fred's today, and I picked up a color to tone it down.

Quick fact: If you need to tone a color down, try a shade lighter than you would normally pick. It often turns out darker than you would think! 

They were having a sale, so I picked up two boxes of dye for $5. I got a medium brown and a dark mahogany brown (just in case). Medium brown layered over a darker red, will usually result in a darker auburn that isn't quite as Ronald McDonald.

I love this brand, and I usually differ back to it after trying other brands. It is the cheapest, and it always works for me. My hair usually feels like silk afterwards. BUT (There's always a but.) the gloves that come with this brand are terrible. I borrowed some of my husband's powder-free latex gloves! :)

In addition to switching gloves, I always section my hair off before I dye my hair. If you don't, you run the risk of missing patches. Yuck!

That's three sections secured with hair ties then clipped out of the way.

After I took care of those steps, I mixed the dye according to the manufacturers instructions, and I only left it on for about 15 minutes. I didn't want to get rid of the red. I just wanted to tone it down a bit. After my time was up, I rinsed throughly and conditioned using a Herbal Essences after color conditioner. I saved my packed of Colorsilk conditioner for later. It is a good conditioner, but the packets are messy!

Here is my finished color:

Yet again, the lighting doesn't really do it justice. It is a very deep auburn. The brown balanced it out just enough, and when the light hits it, the red is amazing. 

Should you decide to do your own color, don't panic. Unless you are trying to go from black to blonde or something crazy, you can probably achieve what you want at home. Just do a little research on the brand you like and the color wheel, and you should be good. If you have an "Uh Oh!" moment like I did, just think logically about what color could tone it down. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment!