Listen, I'm not going to call this beauty blogging. Because not by any stretch of the imagination am I a beauty blogger. Nope, I'm just a girl who buys too many beauty products (and who's mother sends her even more) and wants to share what's worth all that hard earned money and what isn't. I've been sending these little roundups to an email list of ladies I know and after the last one multiple people told me I should post this stuff online. So, why not? I'll give it a try!
Just to get some housekeeping out of the way: most of my links will point to Amazon directly or through the Shop Style affiliate programs. I'll get a smidgen of money for anything you buy off my links, but if you don't like that, that's okay too. Go all indie and find the products without my link. But, on to the good stuff...
Operation, Grow More Hair
My hair grows at a disgustingly slow rate. It really bums me out. But! If I hunker down and treat it well, then I see marked improvement. This summer I really started to enjoy Olly Vitamins' Undeniable Beauty Gummy Vitamins, 60 gummies for $27.51 on Amazon (Prime, too!). Not like I started sprouting hair magically or anything, but I could tell a difference in the overall health of my hair and nails!
Next up in the hair routine is Wen Lavender Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment by Chaz Dean, $39.75. I try to deep condition with this stuff about once a week (for at least 20min) and it makes my hair infinitely more manageable and super soft and bouncy. It's pricey, yes, but a little goes a long way.
Dirty Hair, Don't Care
I'm also trying to wash my hair less. Not because shampoo is supposedly bad for your hair, but because I am lazy and hate spending 20min blowing out my hair every day. Three products have enabled this laziness without making it simultaneously gross.
I use the Living Proof Prime Style Extender Hair Primer, $13.67, on the roots of my wet hair, then mix a little of the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, $17.48, all over. I use the Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo, $22, at night (I get really oily at night. Dunno what that is.) until I just can't stand it anymore and have to start over once again. It's hard to describe it, but even though it sounds like I'm using a lot of product, Living Proof stuff always feels like it's washing out and somehow makes my hair even shinier and stronger the more I use it.
Selfie Ready (Or Something)
Thanks to my friend Jill I am finally wearing sunscreen on my face, daily. It only took several endorsements and 33 years of life to be a responsible person with the sun and my face. Anthelios 50 Tinted Mineral Ultra Fluid Sunscreen by La Roche-Posay is $33.50 and lasts forrrrrever. Don't be turned off by the tinted bit, it's actually an insurance policy against looking ashy or chalky due to sunscreen residue. Or as the woman at BlueMercury told me, you'll never look oddly white in your selfies.
Another note, this stuff layers really really well with other face creams and foundations you might be wearing. I have enduring love for Algenist Concentrated Reconstructing Serum for $95, thanks to my mom and Chanel's Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup for $47 thanks to Cecelia.
Cold Weather Skin Sucks
It took exactly two days of below-65 temperatures for my skin to start screaming for moisture. The only thing I use, again, thanks to Mom, is Josie Maran Whipped Argan Body Butter, $35. I dig this link and deal because you also get a travel size version with your regular sized tub.
Of course, the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil, $29, is a perennial favorite for all seasons. I love it for face, hands and even hair. This stuff also lasts forever.
Perfect Pout
We were eating bacon cheese fries at Shake Shack when Cathy asked me, "Okay what's the deal with your lipstick. It hasn't budged the entire meal." Tru dat, my friends! Because Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick, $28, is like a tattoo on your lips! My friend Kate told me to pair it with the Hourglass Panoramic Long Wear Lip Pencil, also $28. There have been days when I haven't needed to reapply the stuff, even after many cups of coffee and meals/snacks galore. Not a lie. The stuff is worth every penny. (I use the orange-y red color called Raven.)
That's all I got for now! I don't do these little round ups very often but when I do, they are for products that are truly great and I am 100% happy with. Got anything I should try? Leave me a note in the comments! I'll try anything once and I love locking in on a favorite product I can always rely on.