Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Glow Getter: Origins Never A Dull Moment Skin Brightening Cleanser



Never A Dull Moment™


Hi Mommies! Long time no talk. But now that I'm here, lets talk skincare!

Since the weather here in New England has officially turned sad and ugly, my combination skin was looking, well....sad and ugly. The cold air was making my dead skin cells cling to my face for dear life, and the result was dull, lackluster skin with mega clogged pores and breakouts...so freaking unacceptable.

As I was working out a game plan (I kid you not, its that serious), I recalled the bright, clean pored results I got from the Origins Never A Dull Moment Cleanser. I had picked up a sample over the summer and loved it, but I'd gotten sidetracked with other products, so I'd never purchased the full size. Well, girls, the first opportunity I got I beat it to my Origins store (Ana wasn't there. Sad face.) and picked up a tube.

Never A Dull Moment is packed with fruit acids and papaya extract that dissolve pore clogging debris and dead skin cells for a more radiant, healthier looking complexion. The cleanser itself is a clear gel that works into a creamy lather when added to damp skin, and it smells absolutely heavenly, like fresh cut fruit. What I appreciate the most about this cleanser, however, is the fact that it does not dry out my skin. When I rinse it away, my pores are noticeably clean and my skin is smoother, but there's no gross, tight feeling afterward. This is really huge because its important to not over dry oily skin or you risk major repercussions. Like, major.

So since my love affair with this stuff began, I've had considerably less clogged pores, my pores themselves have shrunken considerably, and I've had almost no breakouts to speak of. I've also noticed that my superficial hyperpigmentation marks have faded, and my skin is more even toned and healthy looking. Clearly, Origins and I are BFFs!

If your skin's feeling down in the dumps, you should definitely head to Origins and give Never A Dull Moment a go. You'll be glowing in no time.



*This post brought to you in part by Alexandra at Mommy Glow. Go pay her a visit, and tell her I said hi...and thanks. :-)*

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Cutest Kitty I Ever Did See…

 

Happy Halloween, Mommies!

So I’ll be the first to admit that Halloween is my least favorite holiday. The origin and true meaning of it has sent me into anxiety information overload more times than I’d be willing to admit in print. I’m used to it though, its just one of the many side effects of being a research whore who needs to know everything about everything.

Well lucky for me I have this fabulous little kitty to keep me focused on the good, yummy things in life. Without her I’d go absolutely crazy, I’m sure.

Ladies and Mommies, I’d like to present…

Robot Kitty…

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…Shy Kitty… 

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…and Silly Kitty!

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She loved the pink lip. I used NYX’s Pinky lip liner and Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Plaza Pink. She wears it so much better than me.

Hope you all enjoyed your Halloween. I’m off to steal all of Kitty’s Almond Joys…don’t judge me!

Good night :-)

 

P.S.~ I can’t wait to show you girls the skin treatment I made from the Jack-o-lantern scraps!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Taming the Beast: Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray

 

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Good morning, Loves!

Its Fall! Well…not officially but it sure feels like it here in New England. The air is nice and crisp, the temperature is comfy, the humidity is nonexistent, and I’m not constantly at the mercy of blotting papers and pressed powder. Aaah, freedom!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I’m a November baby so this change starts the landslide into my birthday and the hubbub of the holidays. It always feels like a new beginning, and this year I welcome that more than I ever have. I’ve got a growing list of things to accomplish before I turn twenty seven! The clock is ticking!

Anyway, as all we vain chicks know, with a change of season comes a change in beauty! That means going from bright, punchy lipcolors and nail polish to deep, vampy ones, and smokey eyes galore. Its also my time of year to switch from rocking my naturally curly hair to sleek, straightened locks.

The only problem: my hair is a nightmare. A TOTAL FREAKING NIGHTMARE!

I’m dead smack in the middle of transitioning from relaxed to natural, so I’ve got a ton of thick, wild curls going on, with their chemicaly altered counterparts straggling behind, and its becoming super obvious! I don’t have the strength to do the Big Chop, so I needed something that would protect my hair in its fragile state while helping my roots actually stay straight so my hair didn’t look like it was having a total identity crisis.

Enter: Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray (applause!).

Product info:

"There’s one rule when you expose your hair to heat- the hair must be protected. This product guards against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft. Its a fantastic tool for instantly transforming all hair textures, enhancing strands’ flexibility to reform and hold shape.” (source)

To use, simply spray each section of hair before blow drying or flat ironing, and heat style as usual. This spray definitely makes straightening my hair easier, and it does not revert back to curly as quickly as it normally would. I also noticed that my hair keeps the smooth, supple feeling that it has when I wear it curly, but I think that may be partially due to the henna gloss treatment I gave myself recently. More about that later!

Upon inspecting the ingredients (as all self respecting natural hair enthusiasts do!), I realized that the Heat Tamer Spray contains two different types of silicones as main ingredients: amodimethicone and dimethicone. The significance of this will vary depending on your hair type, because silicones are essentially plastics that coat the hair and can prevent moisture and nutrients from entering the hair shaft, and can even cause breakage when used incorrectly.

So what’s a curly girl to do? Be sure to wash your hair with a shampoo that contains sulfates or other cleansing agent to remove the silicones, and deep treat the hair thoroughly with a silicone free conditioner EVERY TIME. If you don’t, you could be depriving your hair of much needed nutrients and moisture when using this stuff.

As long as you know how to use it, Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray can definitely enhance your hair straightening experience!

Bust out those flat irons, girls! Fall is coming!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Need food for thought? Have some Kandee.

 
Kandee Johnson


Hi loves!
As I type, I’m in a state of blending in with my sectional, flanked with an extra large mug of tea and a pile of old magazines while Rachel Zoe is showing on the telly. She’s so fab.

Don’t envy me, girls! See, I woke up this morning with a bad stomach ache and a horribly weakened resolve. The thought of going to work and pretending that I was happy and well was making me even more weak and nauseous than I already was.

So what did I do?

Called in sick and decided to feel sorry for myself for the day.  Quite the perfect opportunity to catch up on Youtube videos and blogs, so I got comfy and logged on.

My Youtube subscription box is filled with beauty gurus (naturally), and one of them is Kandee Johnson. She’s an extremely gorgeous, optimistic makeup artist who makes information filled videos with cute, cheeky titles (“A Whole Lot of Nudes!”, “Oh my MOD (twiggy)”). It was while browsing her channel that I came across the video “Go Get Your Dreams and My Story”.

I have to admit, I don’t usually watch these kind of “inspirational” Youtube videos. I usually find them to be a little contrived and a lot egocentric, but something, most likely my weakened resolve, made me click that link.

It wasn’t contrived, corny, or egocentric. At all. It was the story about her life before tv, Youtube stardom, and Glaminars. With watery eyes, Kandee recanted her story of abuse, near homelessness, malnutrition, and becoming a mother in the midst of all the chaos.

That’s right, she’s one of us :-).

After listening to Kandee’s story about her dreams and how she made them come true, I forced myself up from the couch, swigged some Pepto, and proceeded to clean my entire apartment. And by clean I do mean clean. I put away all of my Lovebug’s toys, washed all of the dishes, took out the trash, moved all of the furniture so that I could vacuum and sweep the entire floor, cleaned the baseboards, put everything back, scrubbed the toilet and bathtub, uninstalled and stored the air conditioner for the season, and all the while pondered : Why the HELL am I feeling sorry for myself?


Don’t get me wrong, my life is hard, but life is hard for everyone. I know its an understatement to say that single motherhood is difficult, but that’s really what it is, and it was getting to me for a while. Its taxing and stressful, but its also what feeds me, gives me life, motivation, and purpose. Even though roadblocks and curveballs are part of my everyday life, I know there are plenty of successful people who have walked in these same proverbial shoes.

I want to be one of those people.

No, I need to be one of those people.

I was racking my brain trying to figure out who, what, and where when I remembered something…

It was a weekday night, and I was making dinner, so my Lovebug dragged her wooden step stool into the kitchen so she could watch me cook. Its one of her absolute favorite things to do, and she’s becoming quite the little sous chef. I could hear her grunting and panting as she lifted the weight of the stool that almost equaled her own, but I let her struggle her way across the room.

When she finally reached her destination, she plopped it down, planted her foot on the top step, and looked at me triumphantly and said “I did it Mama! I’m strong.”

“Good job!”, I said, as I clapped and kneeled down to plant a big kiss on her heart shaped lips. I was so proud of my girl. When I pulled back, she was staring at me with her eyebrows threaded together, looking very concerned.

“Are you strong, Mama?” she asked.

And I, without hesitation, replied “Yup, Mama’s strong just like you…you made me that way.”

And at that she beamed so hard that her eyes turned to slits, wrapped herself in a hug, and gave me an affirmative nod.

Like she knew all along.

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Friday, June 18, 2010

Some Carol’s Daughter Love…




Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Milk has been around for a few years now, and there’s a ton of hype about this product. They definitely don’t need my little blog post to promote it, that’s for sure. Its popular among natural, relaxed, and blow dried women of all ethnicities, and I can totally see why!

This product is really lightweight, yet moisturizes effectively because its actually sinks into the hair instead of coating it. I apply about a dime sized amount to my little love’s damp hair, and it transforms her mane from a dry puff to moisturized and defined goodness! Have a lil’ look see:

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Hair Treat: Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment




 Hi girls!

Time for some more hair chat...

So now that I've decided to go natural, I've been exposed to this whole new world of haircare products. Unlike the products I've used in the past, these are meant to encourage the natural hair texture, not oppress it, nourish it instead of beating it into submission, and I have to say I'm totally digging the philosophy!


I put in an order for some Miss Jessie's products a few months ago, and I'm really impressed. I've especially seen a huge difference in my Lovebug's hair since I've been using the Baby Buttercreme on her. It used to be really dry looking and kind of frizzy, but now its moist, soft, and her natural curl pattern is really pronounced. Love it.


Along with a few other styling cremes, I purchased the Super Sweetback Treatment, which is a deep conditioner that contains centella extract which encourages healthy growth while nourishing the hair and weighing down curls for manageability. The conditioner itself is pink and sweet smelling, like strawberry bubblegum. The consistency is thick, heavy and dense, and when I applied it to my hair, it kind of melted and absorbed into my strands instead of coating it like many conditioners I've tried. I got the same results when I used it in my daughter's hair too, which I was pleased about since we have two completely different textures.


I applied it to my whole length of hair, concentrating on my natural roots and my dry ends, and let it sit for 30 minutes ("What is that on your head, Mom? Its pink.") like it says on the directions ("You gonna leave it on there, Mom? Why?"). I made sure to cover my hair with a plastic cap for maximum absorption ("I want some in my head too, Mom. Cuz its pink."). 

I immediately noticed a difference in the feel of my hair when it was time to rinse it out. It felt silky, soft, and really healthy. And get this: my curls actually air dried in their natural form! It didn't get all frizzy and dry looking. Just healthy, formed curls. Ha! And when I used it in my Lovebug's hair, it was sticking straight up in healthy looking coils.


The biggest difference that I've seen with this conditioner vs. commercial brands is the use of actual plant oils instead of mineral oil and other greasy, no good additives. The drawback, however, is the price. At $48 plus shipping, this will not be a staple item for me. I'll just have to savor it until its all gone...its gonna be so hard to say goodbye... until I become independently wealthy, that is.


Gotta dream big!

Until next time, Mommies!

NOTE: Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment is now available in a 2 oz. sample size for $9.00

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Hormones and Chocolate: Lush “Cupcake” Fresh Face Mask

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Hi Mommies!
Long time no talk (sorry).

So lately I've been, like, extra hormonal...you know what I'm talking about. The mood swings have sent many an innocent bystander running for cover, and the zits were coming out and waving ‘goodbye’ to folks on their way out the door. Sad, sad story.

In addition to the hormones, the oppressing humidity we've been having in the Northeast has turned my face into an oil slick, which just makes matters worse since bacteria thrives in excess oil! All of this resulted in some deep, stubborn blemishes that completely shot down my Mario Badescu Drying Cream, Clarisonic brush, and my go to skincare mask, Freeman’s Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal. I even stooped as low as Crest toothpaste!

Feel my pain?
M'kay, thanks.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Beauty With a Conscience: Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo

Ultra Hydrating Shampoo




Happy Thursday, Mommies!

Time to talk hair!

So recently, I decided to stop relaxing my hair and embrace my inner curly girl. It was a huge step for me because I've always had a little bit of an aversion to haircare. Relaxing my hair ensured that I didn't have to think about it much, and it made my hair care routine extra simple. Strange disposition for a product junkie, but I just can't seem to bring my self to care about it that much, and I still don't, actually!

I do, however, care about my Lovebug. Her texture is kinky/curly (type 3 in the front, type 4 in the back) and really thick. It was while researching products for her natural hair (more on those later) that I decided to stop relaxing. I began to wonder what kind of message I would be sending her by stressing the beauty of her hair texture while suppressing my own. Needless to say, it was time for a change!

During my research I discovered that shampooing is a big faux pas in the natural hair world. Apparently they're very drying and have a tendency to strip the hair. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not giving up my shampoo! Never! Thankfully, I came across Ojon.


Monday, May 24, 2010

All Purpose Beauty: Josie Maran Argan Oil


Lately I’ve found myself much more intrigued by natural beauty products than I’ve been in the past. I mean, the thought of them have always been kind of nice, but in the back of my mind I’ve always doubted that I could actually get results.

Yea I know. Really stupid, right? Especially considering my newest beauty acquisition: a bottle of organic  Argan Oil.

I was actually at Sephora to return the Tarte Natural Lipstain Pencil I bought (Ugh, epic fail! I don’t even want to talk about it.), and  I was just planning on grabbing a bottle of C.D.’s Hair Milk for my Lovebug when I spotted the Josie Maran Argan Oil while waiting to check out. The small 0.5 oz bottle retails for $14, but considering its good reputation and Sephora’s no hassle return policy (I returned my Tarte Lip Stain sans receipt!), I decided to give it a whirl.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Smooth Move: Origins Modern Friction for the Body







Last weekend I had the pleasure of embarking on a child free trip to the mall (Thanks, Dad!), and I was like a kid in a candy store. Now I remember why childless people do so much shopping. My hands felt utterly empty in their child-free state so I decided to fill them with beauty goodies!


I popped into the Origins store with the intention of purchasing their Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask (nice addition to the at-home facial arsenal!), and I realized that I had never set foot in the store before. I've always been somewhat intrigued by Origins products but I'd never taken the dive for one reason or another.


When I got into the store the associates immediately offered their assistance, and upon starting a conversation with skincare-loving associate Ana, I was introduced to the Modern Friction buffing paste for the face. Ana quickly turned on the water in one of the gleaming chrome sinks and spread the concoction onto the back of my hand and launched into an explanation about the ingredients and benefits of Modern Friction. The gist: rice starch for skin refining, and lemon oil for brightening, and all of the benefits of microdermabrasion treatments without the irritation.


Anybody who knows me can tell you I love a good exfoliator, and I've definitely been through my share. But when Ana rinsed my hand it was moisturized, brighter, and positively smooth, something I've never experienced with a scrub before. I was hooked!


But alas, I'm still working on my bottle of Microdelivery Scrub, so I decided to hold off and snatched up the Modern Friction for the Body. Microdermabrasion for my body? I'll take it! 


The $34.00 price tag may scare some of you budget-conscious Mommies out there, but you only need a tiny amount of this product at a time, so you'll get more mileage, and more dramatic results than your traditional body scrub. Pack your lunch for a week and hold off on those new shoes! Your skin is worth it,  Mommies!


Summer's coming. Wanna look good in those short shorts and tank tops? Then go 'head and scrub, girl!


Stay Smooth!


photo source



Thursday, April 22, 2010

Be Pretty. And Earth Friendly Too!

Product Image Toddler Girls' Hello Kitty Earth Day Tee - Green




Happy Earth Day!

Before I became a Mommy, Earth Day was soooo not relevant to me. I always pictured tree hugging, dirty haired, guitar playing, weed smoking, orgy having weirdos gathering in a field somewhere to sing songs to the air.

What can I say? I have an active imagination.

But now that I'm my new post-motherhood self, I've come to appreciate the significance of preserving the planet. I have a legacy now. My daughter will have children, and her children will have children, but what will their future look like if we continue to destroy their home? Can you imagine childhood withouth swimming, biking, and feeling the sun on your face? Its just so sad...and so preventable.                                            

Any changes we make are part of a collective effort to save our planet, and preserve our planet and way of life. For this generation and those to come after, we need to address the state of the Earth.

But what's a girl to do when she wants to be green and look cute too? Its not as hard as you think! Here are some quick tips on how to be green without sacrificing the pretty:

  • Try to buy products with sustainable packaging 
  • Buy organic products whenever you can
  • Purchase products with less packaging (plastic casing, boxes, pumps, etc.)
  • Recycle your empties. Empty bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cleanser can all be recycled. Just be sure to discard the cap before submitting for recycling services.
And here is a list of some green beauty and baby faves:

Look Good. Be Green. Save the Planet.

Enjoy your Earth Day Mommies!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Countdown to Sex and the City 2!




Can you tell I'm excited?

OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!

Let me tell you, people have been throwing me some serious hater vibes about my "Sex and the City" fanaticism, but I will not be discouraged. Nope.

I mean really, what's to hate about successful, fabulous, empowered women who love and support each other? Well everything, apparently.

I say let the haters hate, because I'd rather watch these women stomp fabulously in their Manolos along a trail  they've blazed for themselves than watch others shuffle around where they're told, ok?

I'm ready to "get Carried away"...

May 27th baby! Let the countdown begin! 35 days and 21 hours to go, Mommies!

Product Review: Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil








Good Mooooorning!!
Wake Up! Its time to talk eyeliner!

I found a cheap-o liner that I just had to share with you.

I must admit, when it comes to makeup, I can be a total snob. Don't get me wrong, I do have some epic loves that live at the drugstore, but they're few and far between. But ya know, we're in a recession, we're moms, and we're super busy. Anything that I can get at the same store as my dipes and wipes for a fraction of the cost is alright with me! Thankfully, drugstore beauty brands are stepping up their game, so we can look like beauty queens without the high maintenance budget.



When I heard that these babies were a good dupe for the Urban Decay 24/7 liners, I was thrilled! I've been dying to try the UD liners but I just cannot justify spending $17 for a freakin' pencil.

Puhleese, Mommy's got bills to pay.

Now I don't have to shell out the big bucks, because for a whopping $5.49, you get a soft, super black, long lasting product that makes lining your eyes a cinch. Here's a swatch:



The swatch on the left is the color you get with light pressure, the one on the right is with a little more. It takes almost no effort to get a rich, dark pigmentation. Once it dries, it won't rub off. Great for a busy mom with little time in the morning, and no time for reapplication during the day.


Some great things:
  • Lasts all day
  • soft and easy to work with. No tugging on your delicate eye area.
  • Great color payoff! OMG!
  • Cheap and accessible
  • Easy to remove
  • Available in 5 colors: Black, Silver, Gold, Aqua, and Brown (Black and Brown are not metallic)

Some not so great things
  • Needs a base, especially if you have oily eyelids. The color doesn't exactly fade, but it does travel and flake a little when it mixes with oil. If you don't have an eyeshadow base, just use a little foundation or concealer on your eyelids and set it with powder before applying.
  • It does not last on the waterline, which Urban Decay's 24/7 pencils are famous for
  • The tip doesn't stay sharp enough for me, so I have to resharpen with about every other use, which means I'm shaving away product every time and it won't last as long.


Milani has a huge selection of new products, and I've been hearing great things about them. If the rest of them are anything like this, I just might have to forgive their cheesy display situation and dive in head first!

Line those eyes, and enjoy your day Mommies!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mommy Style: Iman

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Photo Credit: SplashNews


I don't need to introduce this tall drink of  fabulousness named Iman. She's an icon: model, entrepreneur, author, and most importantly, a Mommy!

Brittany over at Clumps of Mascara gushed about the Iman Cosmetics event she attended recently, and noted that Iman was fashionably late. Not because she preferred to make a grand entrance, but because she was coming from a parent teacher conference. Duh.

As modern women, we're all super busy and life can get hectic, but injecting just a tiny dose of fabulousness into your wardrobe can do wonders for your look and your self esteem. It doesn't take much!

Iman's outfit in this pic is totally fab and totally simple: Jacket, tee, yoga pants, tennis shoes, scarf, sunglasses, and bag.

So simple. So chic. Love it.

Be fabulous, Mommies!

Mommy Talk: Really Cute or Really Disturbing?

Shoes




Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that I think its super cute when a little girl imitates her mom. I've taken plenty of pics of my Lovebug painting her face, talking on her plastic cell phone, and swaddling her little brown baby dolls. Not to mention that every opportunity she gets, she dons jewelry, lip gloss, and nail polish, and I'm more than happy to oblige. There are plenty of people who would disagree with this kind of practice, but as long as its just for playtime, I'm totally cool.

But where exactly do we draw the line between really cute and really raunchy?

Take a look at Exhibit A...

Monday, April 12, 2010

Mommy Loves Lacquer: Chanel Nouvelle Vague

Posted by PicasaHappy Monday, Mommies!
I'm really excited because today I'm kicking off "Mommy Loves Lacquer", which is a series dedicated to nail product reviews and polish swatches. Funky nail colors and designs are all the rage right now, so enjoy!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Thank God for President's Day....and Beauty Blogs!






It's FRIDAY! And the beginning of a long weekend!
Thank God for President's Day... Obama, here's lookin' at you, kid. ;-)
I'd also like to show some thanks for the loads of beauty blogs I read on a daily basis, and have inspired me to start this one of my very own. Thanks gals.
Here goes....

Check out Karen's AMAZING lip combo from Bobbi Brown's Cabana Corals Collection over at Makeup and Beauty Blog
Find out why Daneen at Spoiled Pretty is advocating major spendage during the recession!! Aaaahhh!
Skincare freaks rejoice! Beauty Logic Blog is making me want this asap!
Brittany at Clumps of Mascara reminds us about why we don't need makeup. Speak!
Scrangie is such an enabler. Like I need any more nail polishes....sigh...
Get the gist of MAC's Spring Colour Forecast Collection, courtesy of Temptalia.

Happy Friday, Loves!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Product Review: Revlon Photoready Foundation




I got my hands on the elusive Revlon Photoready Foundation! Yay for me!    
 Now that I've patted myself on the back for that menial accomplishment, here is the product description:
                          
                              Perfected airbrushed skin in any light
                              Complete Coverage
                              Oil Free, Fragrance Free

This foundation also includes SPF 20, which is a major bonus for me since I'm always ducking from the sun because of my hyperpigmentation issues. In the reviews that I've read it's been compared to the Makeup Forever HD Foundation, which is huge! The MUFE HD is a famous cult favorite, but it retails for about $40.00, while Revlon Photoready sells for about $14.00. I know!
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