My Top Ten Drugstore Finds

Not everyone can afford to run to Sephora every month and spend hundreds of dollars on their haircare, skincare, and makeup routines. So, in an effort to help, I've listed ten things that can be found at any local drugstore that are truly amazing products that won't break the bank!

1. Coty Airspun Face Powder - This setting powder is simply phenomenal. Seriously. It features an "Airspun" formula where the loose powder particles are spun until they reach a very fluffy soft texture making it extremely smooth. It will help to cover fine lines, wrinkles, and other skin imperfections. This is one of my favorite go to setting powders.


2. e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder - This high definition setting powder will help to mask fine lines and set your foundation for all day wear. Its also great for those little touch ups throughout the day as well. This product is VERY similar to some of my favorite setting powders that range in price from $30-$60. With a price tag of about $6, how could a girl ever complain!



3. Got2b Fat-Tastic Thickening Plumping Mousse - This mousse is my absolute favorite to use on my very thin hair. Quite frankly, nothing that I have ever used from ANY other brand has ever come close. This mousse uses collagen to instantly plump up and thicken your hair while promoting the strength of your hair. Try this and you will not be disappointed!



4. John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Hair Glaze - This one most definitely does exactly what it says as it will have your hair glowing! Its gentle enough to use daily but can also be done once a week. Not only will this not damage your lovely locks, but it is also safe to use on your color treated hair!



5. Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Foaming Cleanser, Normal/Oily - This gentle, soap-free foaming cleanser uses witch hazel to cleanse your skin and tighten your pores. This is a great product for sensitive skin and really helps to balance out my oily skin.



6. SheaMoisture African Black Soap - This bar of soap is an all natural, organic product that helps to calm and heal your skin. This product is great for people who struggle with body acne or keratosis pilaris, otherwise known as chicken skin. Its key ingredients include Aloe, african black soap, vitamin e to help fight free radicals, and oats.



7. Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask - This antibacterial mud mask will clear out those pesky pores by using Bentonite clay to draw out any impurities you may have buried deep within them. This mud mask also contains orange oil, cucumber extract, Bergamot oil, and Kaolin making it very gentle for your skin.



8. Freeman Feeling Beautiful Polishing Mask Charcoal and Black Sugar - This purifying mask uses charcoal to draw out impurities and black sugar to exfoliate. Its great for all skin types and is formulated without any parabens. Always a plus!



9. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo - This gentle shampoo is sulfate free and works to deeply condition your hair. With a blend of argan oil, sea kelp, and shea butter, this shampoo will smooth the damaged cuticles of your hair while promoting shine and elasticity. This little number is also safe for use on color treated hair.



10. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner - The sulfate free, color safe conditioner helps to restore moisture to any hair type. It has an extremely creamy texture and helps to mend and strengthen your hair while encouraging more hair growth.



Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

Tips for Creating Flawless Foundation

The number one thing that ladies seem to forget when applying foundation is something so very simple. You want to apply it to where people CAN NOT tell that you are wearing anything. That's basically the whole point.

So how do you achieve this? It's quite simple really. Follow this philosophy: Less is more. Do this and you will thank me later.

To begin, you want to find the right shade for your skin. I understand that you want your "summer shade" and you don't want to be "washed out" but you also don't want to look like a joke either, right? The cold hard truth is that wearing the wrong shade of foundation is noticeable and does nothing to complement your beautiful features. If you struggle with this (which many women do, so you are not alone), head to your closest makeup counter and ask them to match you to your shade. And as an added bonus to doing this, most of these places will give you a sample so that you may try it out first. Score!!

Also keep in mind that there are many different types of foundations available. You will want to ask the pretty ladies at the counter what would work best for your skin type.

After getting your perfect match, let's consider what kind of tool we would like to use to apply your foundation. Listed below are some of my favorites.

1. A beauty blender. This egg shaped sponge has smaller pores than your average makeup sponge so it will absorb much less of your foundation meaning you will use less. That is always a plus!



2. A flat foundation brush. These make a smooth foundation application very easy. You do want to look for one with synthetic fibers since they are nonporous meaning that they do not absorb or trap product. Another plus to synthetic fibers would be the fact that they do not trap bacteria or dead skin cells. Always a plus!



3. A kabuki brush. This brush always for a very quick foundation application that gives you an airbrushed look. This one is my personal fav!



4. Your fingertips. While some people do not recommend this, I see no problem in it as long as you use CLEAN fingertips. You will want to dot your foundation on starting in the center of your face and then blending your way outward. This gives you total control over how much foundation you will use.

Now that we have gone over the tools, let's go through the steps to our perfect foundation application.

1. Cleanse and moisturize your face. Starting with a clean canvas is always best! You will want to wait for about five minutes to let your moisturizer sink into your skin before you start to apply anything.

2. Apply a primer. There are several different options on the market so I would recommend doing a little research before you decide on which one to use. You can also head back to your nearest make up counter and ask for their suggestions. Your selection should be based on your skin type. I use my fingertips to apply my primer and will apply it all over my face including my eye lids. This will help your foundation to stay on longer.

3. Apply your foundation. I put a little of my foundation on the back of my hand to use kind of like an artist palette. I then run my brush through the foundation and start my application. Start from the center of your face and blend your way out to make sure it is even.

4. Apply your concealer. You want to choose a concealer that is ONE shade lighter than your actual skin tone. Anything lighter than that will give you a reversed raccoon eye affect. I use a skinnier makeup brush to apply this by dabbing it lightly just underneath my eyes and other problem areas.

5. Using a powder brush, apply your setting powder. Listed below is my favorite setting powder. Try and enjoy!


Now continue on with your regular makeup routine!

9 Steps to Preventing Damaged Hair

With a world full of hair dyes, straighteners, and sulfates, our hair is bound to suffer. The key to maintaining it's health will rely completely and totally on YOU and how you treat your lovely locks.

Did you know that once your hair emerges from your scalp it is no longer living? At that point, it becomes mostly composed of a protein called keratin. This means that once it is damaged, it will not be able to repair itself.

Our hair has several different parts. It begins with the hair follicle which is located in the second layer of our skin called the Dermis. Once the hair emerges from the skin, it is called the shaft. The shaft of the hair consists of three different parts--the cuticle, cortex, and medulla.

So how can you protect this beautiful part of you? Allow me to fill you in.

1. Try skipping the shampoo all together. There are many different options on the market today for "No Poo" shampoos, otherwise known as cleansing conditioners. These are the cleansing conditioners that I would recommend for you. I've personally tried all of these and they work wonderfully.

 

DevaCurl Combo No-Poo Cleanser Shampoo + One Conditioner (2 Liter Duo) 2 Piece Set














WEN Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner 16 oz with Free Pump

2. If you must use a shampoo, try just shampooing your scalp and then conditioning the rest of your hair. I say this because most shampoos on the market today contain Sulfates, which can drain most of the moisture from your hair. If you look on the label of your shampoo, sulfates will be listed with the following names: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Ammonia Sulphate, TEA Lauryeth Sulphate, and Sodium Myreth Sulphate. Sulfates are basically detergents and are just added to shampoos to make them lather. You can also use a sulphate free shampoo. Alterna has some of my favorite ones.

Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo, 8.5 Ounce

Alterna Caviar Clinical Daily Detoxifying Shampoo-8.5 oz.

3. Skip washing your hair for a day or two and rock a messy bun! This will help the natural oils from your scalp travel further down the hair shaft. And if you don't want to put your hair in a bun? Use a dry shampoo. They work amazing and some of them have amazing fragrances.

*see my blog on Dry Shampoos for recommendations

4. You should ALWAYS deep condition your hair. If you do this once a week, your hair will thank you!

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask-5.25 oz.










5. Use oils in your hair. Jojoba oil is the closest to the natural oils that our hair produce and will work wonders for you. Just place some in the palm of your hand and work it through your hair from the root to the tips. You can leave it on your hair for an hour before you take a shower or leave it on over night. Do whatever works best for you! You can also use a couple of drops of essential oils in your shampoo or conditioner. Lavender, Sandalwood, Rosemary, Cedarwood, and Thyme essential oils are amazing for hair as most of these stimulate your scalp and encourage the growth of stronger hair.

NOW Foods Organic Jojoba Oil, 4 ounce

NOW Foods Lavender Oil, 2 ounce

NOW Foods Rosemary Oil, 4 ounce

6. Try skipping the heating tools and let your hair dry naturally whenever you can. Whenever you must use heating tools, you can use tools that are designed to inflict as little damage to your hair as possible. Listed below are a few options for you to consider. You should also try using a heat protectant spay whenever possible.

Deva Blow Dryer with Diffuser

T3 Feather Weight Compact Folding Dryer

T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Ion Generator Hair Dryer

7. While deep conditioning and allowing oils to sit in your hair, try wrapping a warm towel around your head. This will increase the absorption of the moisture and oils into your head.

8. Try taking vitamins. There are several options on the market that are formulated specifically for healthy hair. An added bonus to this is that most of these vitamins also benefit not only your overall health but your skin and nails! You can try the more expensive versions with added benefits or just stick with plain ole prenatal vitamins. Either will work just fine.

*Can be found exclusively at Sephora.com and are worth EVERY PENNY!

9. Simply take better care of yourself, eat a more balanced and healthy diet, and visit your doctor whenever you don't feel at your best. Are you surprised to hear this? Just like your body, your hair needs to be nourished from the inside out in order to maintain its health. After all, if you don't have a healthy hair follicle to start out with, you wont have a healthy looking piece of hair to emerge from it either. Several things can effect your hair such as hormonal imbalances, smoking, and lack of sleep. So, follow my advice and start out this new year with a better, healthier you!

As always, I'd love to hear you guys thoughts and answer any questions. Feel free to comment below! Good luck on your journey to healthier hair!