St. Tropez Self tanner trial

Hi lovelies,

I am trying to get a natural tan for my wedding. I have honestly considered going to the tanning bed -- and was about to sign up, when I decided to do a LOT of research into the pros and cons. There was one picture I saw - 

photo credit: Google images/lifeofblyss.com

that gave me the chills....and I decided right then and there that it wasn't worth it. and, when I really think about it - my sister has gone tanning since she was 16 (she is now 25, almost 26), which adds up to about ten years of tanning, and she already has a serious amount of wrinkles on her face and knees. Those are MY genes at work too, and I don't want to end up looking like that (sorry sis). So, I've decided to go on the self-tanner wagon, and try what I've researched to be the best self-tanner on the market (within a $20-100) range :)....St. Tropez self-tanning mousse. I have things to do today that prevents me from trying it on my whole body, but I DID go ahead and do a trial run on my legs, just above my ankle. here's a picture:

On the left: St. tropez 60secs after applying (there's a tattoo of my son's footprint on the foot in case you're wondering, so just ignore!), and the right leg is my regular pasty winterized leg as usual :)

I only applied it below where my pant is rolled up, just as a trial, and stopped above my ankle since that will be visible when I go out today. So far, I'm happy with the results and can't WAIT to try it all over :). I think tonight I will exfoliate, and tomorrow I will moisturize and apply it to the rest of my body :). Super excited after all the rave reviews to try it out myself. A lot of the reviews state there is almost NO way to mess up your tan with this product. 

-CW

* I am in no way compensated for any of my reviews - these are all my genuine, un-biased opinion of the products I buy myself with my own dime. Please take this into consideration when reading, commenting, etc. on my blog. Thank you.

Beauty Haul (SUPER LATE) review from Jan.

Hey lovelies!

Okay, so I have seriously been slacking on my blog (due to the pre-wedding stress) so SORRY to anyone looking forward to this! But at least I've had a good 2 months to really review these products :)

I'll go in the same order I had in my first beauty haul post :)

1) Urban Decay Naked 2 Pallette --

I absolutely LOVE this pallette. I have just about thrown out any other eye shadow I've had stored in my purse or bathroom. This pallette has just about everything I could ever want :) I don't go crazy with my eyeshadow either, so this is great for anything from natural looks to something a little more dramatic. 

I give it 5 stars :)

2) Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original

I gave this product four stars - it did A GREAT JOB at keeping my eyeshadow in place. In fact, once I applied it to my lids and applied some eyeshadow, there was absolutely no room for blending my shadow, period. I like to blend it a little so everything doesn't look so clown-ish....so it lost one star in my opinion. 

3) NARS bronzing powder in Laguna -- 

I gave the Laguna bronzer five stars. LOVE LOVE LOVED this. I use it EVERYDAY now. It is such a beautiful color on my fair skin. I will definitely re-purchase once I run out!!

4) NARS blush in Deep Throat

another five star product. I only use this every once in a while because I have naturally fair skin with red tones already so don't always like the added color. But on the days i do, this is perfect for my cheeks :)

5)Sephora Contour brush #43

Okay, so I promise i don't love absolutely everything on the market, this just happened to be a great beauty haul of mine, and i always do plenty of internet research between M.D. reviews for possible benefits/consequences of using particular products on your skin/hair, and reviews of real consumers from other web sites and blogs. This brush was highly recommended online, and I have to say I'm right there with other reviewers. I love this brush! I use it for both my bronzer and blush :) I even use it to help contour my nose, and it works great :)

6) AmorePacific Moisture Bound Tinted Treatment Moisturizer SPF 15

I love this so much, and believe it is definitely worth the splurging!! I feel tough, that it is really easy to not rub in all the way by your temples, creating an orangey look right there. That can easily be fixed, and I probably need a vanity mirror and more time getting ready in the morning/ Anyway, my skin does feel moisturized after applying, but not greasy like it did with my The Balm tinted moisturizer.

*I have yet to try the tarte tinted moisturizer, because i love my AmorePacific so much!

7) Blinc Mascara -- 

Piece of CRAP to say the least. Left my eyelashes very clumped and impossible to wash off :(

8) Clairisonic MIA 2--

I have already posted a review on this product, so please refer to that post.

9) Bellezza hair straigntener

Really great hair straightener, love the adjustable TEMP :)

Hair Care routine

Okay lovelies,

So I am re-vamping my hair care routine to GROW MY HAIR OUT LONGER! I've got 3.5 months until my wedding (hold cow, if that doesn't put things into perspective....)

Here goes!

1) DRINK WATER! I need to be drinking at least "8" glasses of water a day - that's about 4 water bottles a day. So far, I'm lucky if I can drink TWO, but I'm staying motivated.

2) BIOTIN SUPPLEMENTS - I have one supplement I keep at work (MAXI-HAIR), and a bottle of Biotin at the house. I take one of each a day. Maxi-hair actually has some bitoin in it. But these will keep the vitamins in my system I'll need to grow my hair out faster.

3) Wash hair maybe 3-4x a week. Washing your hair isn't healthy for it, and strips it of it's natural oils needed to moisturize and replenish hair folicules. So, enter in dry shampoo!

4) COCONUT OIL - I've been doing this weekly if not bi-weekly - I rub the oil in between my hands to heat it up, and then quickly apply it to my skin and hair, and let it seep in overnight! My hair ends up feeling greasy overnight, but moisturized after my shower the next morning. 

5) SCALP MASSAGES - I am massaging my scalp in the shower after apply my conditioner. Massaging your scalp stimulates the folicules and increases bloodflow to the area being massaged.

6) EAT HEALTHY - okay, I'm totally FAILING at this right now between chinese food and ice cream...but my idea is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. 

7) DRY HAIR WITH A OLD T-SHIRT instead of a towel - towels rub the hair shaft, making it frizzy. Using a t-shirt is a softer, more delicate solution to drying your hair. 

I have also been considering starting to CO-WASH, or use the "no 'poo" method to washing/conditioning hair, but perhaps after the wedding. I'm already trying so many different things and re-vamping all my routines - it's a lot at once.

Anyone have any other suggestions, or solutions to growing your hair out longer? LOVE to hear them :) Thanks for reading.

-CW

Review - Mia2 by Clairisonic

Hello lovelies :)


So, I've been using the Mia2 face brush by Clairisonic for a few days now. I was my face like I normally would have to rid of the makeup on my face, and then use the face brush to thoroughly cleanse. I have been using the sensitive brush head it comes with, as well as the trial gel cleanser included with purchase.

I LOVE IT!

Okay, so not totally in love - but it's a little biased. Since I've been using the brush, I have noticed I've been breaking out a LOT. But I can tell the brush has been bringing up a lot from underneath the surface. So my next ten breakouts that were just lying in wait - are starting to go ahead and rise up for battle. They aren't so bad though, just little bumps. I've always had really good skin. 

In short -- in just the few days I've been using it (just 1x nightly before bed) I've noticed my skin feels very smooth afterwards, and my skin has been breaking out from all the dirt and makeup I've trapped in my pores previously. I think it's great I'm actually cleaning my skin from another layer up to the surface versus just what I can see in the mirror. I'm going to continue to use it every night and update my review later, but so far so GREAT :)



-CW

BEAUTY HAUL! 1-11-13

Hello lovelies!

I sure wish you all would start commenting, I'm getting some HUGE page views but no one likes to share :(. In case you didn't know, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts, experiences, etc. on my blog or similar/same products and what not from my blog. Okay, I'm done scolding! Onto my beauty haul!

I went on sephora today to do some online "window" shopping. I decided to go ahead and pick up some products since my beauty routine needs a little revamping! Here's all the products I purchased today:

1) Urban Decay Naked2 Pallette -- YES! I finally splurged on it - I've been eyeing it since it first came out, and have been trying to make do with the Balm's Nude 'Tude eyeshadow pallette. *Don't get me wrong, I love the Balm - but I really love the shades in Naked2 and want to try it out. There's no way I won't love it. 

2) Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original -- I am finding out that I actually need something to make this shadow stick to my lids, especially while I'm working. 

3) NARS bronzing powder in Laguna -- okay, so I'm on a splurge-FEST. I currently have Bahama Mama by the Balm, which I adore. But I've heard such rave reviews on this that I really want to try it.

3) NARS Blush in Deep Throat -- Hopefully my finance never learns the name of this blush because it will be endless joking every morning! *I actually found that my the Balm blush in Down Boy was VERY pink to everyone else, almost clown like, while the Hot Mama was very sheer and peachy (more for an olive complexion maybe?). So I can't wait to try this oh so lovely reviewed blush!!

4) Sephora Collection Classic Contour Bronzer/Blush Brush #43 -- I read the reviews on Sephora's website and chose this brush for both my bronzer and blush, hopefully it pays off! *My kabuki brush by the Balm seems to work fine but applies a little more at a time than necessary. Then again, I'll find any excuse to revamp my beauty routine! :p

5) AmorePacific Moisture Bound Tinted Treatment Moisturizer SPF 15 -- This was my MOST EXPENSIVE purchase, but it was a bestseller from sephora and top rated as well, with lovely reviews to compliment it. It retails at about $70 but I've heard a little goes a long ways. 

*My current tinted moisturizer is with the Balm -- works fine, but doesn't hide any of my recent break outs or blackheads on my nose! It actually makes the black part of my black heads look a cream color, and doesn't do anything for the outline of them. Sounds weird, right? If you get close to my face at all you can see it bad. :( 

*I think I really wanted to like the Balm due to the fair pricing!! But the more I use them, the more I feel they aren't exactly what my skin needs or what I'm looking for. I still have a bunch of their products left over so in case any of these new items I've purchased flakes I still have some backup :). 

That was it for what I paid for, but for every qualifying dollar you spend, you get 1 dollar for 1 point towards other products (seeing that you are a Beauty insider -FREE- with Sephora!). I had about 238 points to spend. I chose two products:

1)Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hr Primer Broad Spectrum 30 SPF  -- I thought this would be cool to try since I've heard a little about Tarte and their awesomeness?

2) Blinc Mascara -- I reviewed the reviews on Amazon since everyone is pretty honest and open there, and found this product had some good compliments. Why not?

I have also just purchased the Clairsonic Mia2 in light pink - I want to try it so bad, it's going to be my birthday present to myself :). It's about 135.00 on amazon :)

As far as hair goes, I bought the Bellezza (sp?) hair straightener on Amazon to replace my 2 year old Chi. I received it a week ago and I love it already! You can change the temperature, which is a huge plus :) I was so used to my Chi and just turning the button to "on" - it's great to be able to adjust the temperature for my hair now :). It also get as hot as 450 degrees, so I'm on the hunt for a good heat protectant spray.

So, I'm totally excited about getting them all! I should get them by Wednesday with the 3-day free shipping! Has anyone else tried these products that is reading? 

Thanks for reading :) Reviews to follow!

-CW

*Note: I am in no way compensated for any reviews, comments, etc. regarding any of the products shown in this post or blog. I am responsible for the opinions displayed and assure my readers they are of genuine nature.