Jade Face Massager Revisited

A few months ago, I got several shipments in from overseas. One of those items in my many shipments was a jade face massager. Even then I wasn't sure if I was really going to use it. I just knew it was pretty. But I am using it. I love it. There are tips for using this tool though. Plus, the secret to it's skin rejuvenation has recently been revealed to me through my many trial and error experiences.

Tip #1: Get that baby cold!

This is the most important tip for me. You see, the jade is predominantly nonporous. So whatever temperature you put it at, it will stay until another temperature is introduced. I know, it's confusing. I will simplify. The cold, smooth surface is good for closing pores which makes the skin feel smoother. After a good exfoliating or some steaming, I must roll the jade over my face. The smoothness of the stone paired with that cold sensation feels great! Trust me.

Tip #2: Roll it UP

When using a face massager, it is crucial to roll it in an upward motion. We want to defy gravity. Rolling in a downward motion will only increase your chances for sagging and wrinkles. The combination of the solid structure of the roller and the smooth surface prove themselves to be viable in defeating the early signs of age. Remember, we are training the skin.

Tip #3: Don't Crack Me

If ever your roller has serious damage, don't try to fix it. Any adhesive you use will just destroy the surface of the roller. Any chips, cuts, or dings could also cause a nasty scar on your face. (Ouchie and yowzers!) Keep your jade roller protected and safe from breakage in a bag or box that is padded. Replacing them (if you can't find a dealer selling them for a low price) can be pricey, so take good care of it.

Tip #4: Keep it Clean

Do not use your massager on a dirty face. It will only spread bacteria and cause breakouts. Use it only after the face it thoroughly cleansed and moisturized. To keep your massager clean, use a mild body soap or even baby soap to remove any debris. Remember to dry it well to prevent rusting of metal casings.

I hope this was inspirational and informational for all of you that either own a jade face massager, would like to have one, or never even even heard about it. :)

Love Your Hands

I forgot I even owned this stuff! But I'm glad that I remembered. This is the best moisturizer I've used on my hands since the weather started getting cold and dry. It's the best so far really. This is Bask Heavenly Silk Daily Skin Nourishing Moisturizer Anti-Aging Firming Lotion. It is my weapon of choice against dry, rough hands this frosty season.

I purchased this small sized bottle at Beauty Brands a few months back at that "Girls Night Out" event. I love this lotion. I can only wonder what it will do for the rest of my skin. I'm pretty sure it will make the rest of me feel like cashmere just like it does my hands. I can't wait to get my hands on a larger bottle later on today. :)

I Wanna Be a YouTuber!

Michelle Phan, who is an absolute YouTube sensation, is holding a shoe designing contest. And to enter, you must design a shoe on ShoeOfPrey.com and submit a video response. I normally don't do this sort of thing, but I went ahead and entered. I suggest the rest of you all out there try it. Here's her video detailing what you will win and how to enter:


Here is my entry. I call it the "Krissy". I put information regarding my design in the description box. :)

Braid Out Heaven

Recently, I've been putting more effort into my hair. The pay off has been more than what I could ever expect. I'm loving my hair right now.

I recently did a braid out because I hadn't in so long. I was super pleased with the results. Even more so, I realized how much more my hair had grown.
That little separation in the middle is not a lack of hair. It's where the part was. I just should have fluffed it out more. At any rate, it was thick and so easy to do. Four French braids, aloe vera gel, and the smallest satin rollers for the ends of my hair. A few hours later I had this. I combed it just a little and used just enough hairspray to ensure my waves wouldn't fall or disappear.

I guess I'll relax again soon. I will see how much longer I will manage what I already have going. I want to stay away from the creamy crack as often as possible. Maybe I could just flat iron it. Yeah :) And then I'll post pics of that. :)

Til next time, HHG! :)

STOP! Don't Clip that Nail!

I'm guilty. I'm totally guilty. I'm the type of person that will clip all my nails if just one breaks or splits. DON'T DO IT! I came across this video on YouTube that will show you how to repair a broken nail. It's simple, practically free to do, and it's quick. Hope you all enjoy it. :)

Nail Fantastic

Finally!!! I got a chance to stop by my house and get a snapshot of some of my nail art. This isn't everything, but it's a good portion of it. Let's see what we have here...
I'm going to keep it simple because it will take a while to describe just what I have here. I have rhinestones in the following shapes: flowers, stars, hearts, round 1.5 mm and 3mm
I have miniature bows and pearls, fimo flowers, and miniature beads.
In the clear bow are 20 assorted nail art decorations with acrylic sheets, beads, and glitters. In the clear package is another assortment of miniature beads, acrylic sheets (stars, hears, rain drops, and sequins.) I may have left something out, but I think I got most of it in there.

What I left out of the picture are and assortment of different color glitters, fimo slices, acrylic powder creations of my own and the acrylic powders, and more decorations. I also have over 100 different nail polish colors and tools I use for decoration.

I will making more post on this topic soon. :) What an obsession to have! :D

Nail Orders AWAY!!! :D

Recently, I've been on this nail decorating kick. I've been collecting a variety or colors and textures to try out. It's been a blast. My fascination has expanded my nail polish collection to over 100 colors. There are blues, greens, glitters, pinks, and a whole array of flashiness. :)

Nail art is become quite my area of expertise. I've ordered many shapes and sizes of rhinestones and other nail decorating items as well. I'm not sure which item is my favorite in this department, but with me all that glitters is gold. I have two orders due to arrive soon. One set includes miniature bow decorations and acrylic sheets cut into various shapes. They will add that extra twinkle on my hand that is sure to draw the attention of many sets of eyes.

I haven't been home much at all because of family issues. Thus, I haven't had the opportunity to photograph and post images of my growing collection of treasures. I love to go home, sit in the middle of the floor or at my vanity table and just create works of wearable art. Rewarding doesn't begin to describe the exhilaration I feel when I know I've made something to pretty and complimentary to my personal style.

HAIR UPDATE!!!

I'm loving my hair right now. I haven't made many changes to my regimen. I've kept many of the same products actually. For some reason though, my hair is growing, shiny, and flowing. I'm expecting to gain more length over the next few months because I trimmed it well. I'll have to make sure hair pics go up as well. HHG!

Long Time...

Life has been crazy everybody. I had to set aside my blog for a little while. Like many other people, I have been through some trials and just had to work through them. However, with the holidays coming up soon, I will actually have time to post all the material that I've accumulated over the last two months. School has been a whirlwind, and so had my family stuff. I'm sure you all understand. Still, I apologize for not posting new stuff.

I will say this much. I'm getting into the whole nail scene. I have plenty to show you. I will be posting videos on YouTube soon. I've tried some awesome products so tons of reviews of nail polish, hair oils, and other things are coming.

Right now I'm going to do a quick review of my new favorite product for the hair. That is JOJOBA OIL!!! I had been using coconut oil and loving it. I was using amla gold oil and loving it. I love all my hair oils. However, jojoba is the queen of hair oils for me. I seal with it everyday now. My hair is not only shiny and lustrous, but it is healthier. I'm not experiencing much breakage at all. It doesn't really have a smell either, so it doesn't clash with my other hair products that are scented.
Stay tuned everybody. This weekend, I will be putting up information on my nail polish and nail art collection that will be expanding soon because I'm expecting more products.

More Stuff

I've been crazy busy, but I took this pic of some more items I got in from China. I'll cut to the chase. Left to right we have an epilator stick, a jade face massager, and microwave oxygen face massager.

The epilator stick was probably 99 cents. It's basically a tightly would coil the you roll over the face to remove hair. I won't lie. It takes some getting used to, but it's highly effective and efficient.
The jade face massager was about 5 dollars. I love it. It's pretty, feels great against the skin, and it does seem to make my skin less inflamed.
The other massager I bought on a whim. I use it on my umm....double chin. There. I said it. LOL. It packs quite a lot of power. I love it. I believe it was about 2 dollars.

I will have some more posts up about my nail obsession really soon. Stay tuned. :)

A Few New Tools

I had wrote a few weeks back about my purchases from overseas. I have received a majority of those items, so I thought that I would start putting up those things little by little as they come in. Today's post will feature some important beauty tools that I got for super great prices.
Left to right: Lady shaver, pore cleaner, pore scrubber for nose area, facial mixing kit.

The lady shaver is an essential for me. It's small and mighty, cute, and less than 4 dollars on eBay. (Come to think of it, all the items in this post are 5 dollars or less with shipping.) The pore cleaner is awesome. It was sucking out dirt like a vacuum! I had no idea how powerful something so small could be. Now I know. LOL. The pore scrubber really works up a lather and I feel a tingle in that area after use. It's invigorating. Love love love it. Lastly, we have the facial mixing kit. It is my favorite.

I'll have more stuff up over the next couple of weeks. I have some major surprises. I would say, but then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore. LOL. Also, my purchase from Sasa.com made it in. All I can say is FABULOUS!!!

Celluless...Really?

I couldn't resist. I did one of those random searches on Ebay and came across a small machine called the Celluless. It's a portable vacuum therapy machine used for reduction of cellulite and supposedly helps with blood circulation. I bid on it won it, and now it's in my possession. I thought was a little ridiculous at first until I got into several bidding wars before landing my own :)

Using the Celluless is actually quite easy. I didn't have s set of instructions in my package, so I just figured it out on my own. It's draws the skin into a suction cup as it's glided over the skin. The cellulite is reduced by the blood flow and the muscle contractions that happen as a result of the suction. At least, that's how I'm thinking it works. I could be wrong. At any rate, it's a vacuum system that it intended for parts of the body like the buttocks, thighs, arms, back, and abdomen.

My experience with this machine thus far is good. I felt a significant firmness and smoothing of my skin after using consistently for a week. The jiggle is more contained. I'm really liking this. I think I will use the machine for a few months before I do an update.

Hyaluronic Acid Update

I am in love with this stuff! I've been using it for over a week now, and the difference in my skin is like night and day. I have a permanent glow. I'm never very dry, or over very oily. There is balance to my skin. I feel it firming up again. My outbreaks (even with a menstrual cycle) were virtually nonexistent.

With all this hydration and balance restored to my face, I went on to use it continuously on dry ares of my body like the knees, elbows, and feet. The roughness fades my friends. It fades. The hyaluronic acid is the king of kings when it comes to hydration. There is no dry part of the body that it can't fix or treat. It's just that good. But it gets better....

The other day after washing my hair, I added a few drops to my leave in conditioner. I noticed less shedding, detangling was a breeze at 9 weeks post, and the moisture stayed locked in. Later on after my hair air dried a bit, I blow dried it (with heat protection, of course). Afterward, to put the lost moisture back into my hair i mixed a little of the hyaluronic acid with my moisturizer. It was like a miracle. My hair is smooth, no frizziness, no dry ends, easy to comb through... Most of all, it shines! I've been super excited about products I've tried in the past, but nothing beats this. I'm not saying for nothing either. I mean it.

I can only assume that with this kind of moisture my hair is going to grow even faster. With nothing hindering the growth and the moisture being boosted, I've got it made. I'll be updating with hair pics soon. :) HHG!

NEW VISION

FINALLY!!!! I've got my new glasses. I'm more than satisfied. I think they make me look more mature. Considering I'll be 25 in a few months, I found it absolutely necessary to update my look. Anyways, here are the new looks. :)

Hyaluronic Acid

I placed a last minute order on Amazon.com for hyaluronic acid. There are several versions of this product. In all my confusion, I just went for the most basic version that I could find. It was a super value (cuz I'm the bargain queen :D)

So what is so special about hyaluronic acid?

• It's super hydrating. It can absorb and hold several times it's own weight in water.
• It gives plumpness to the face decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and treating the dryness that can cause wrinkles
• A little goes a long way. The product usually comes in the form of a serum accompanied with a dropper. It takes only a few drops to cover the entire face.
• It can be added to creams, lotions, etc. to provide superior moisturizing and more youthful looking skin.
  

I went with the Timeless Skin on Amazon. (CLICK HERE for that product) It was the best value for the amount. Normally you only get one ounce for anywhere between 10 and 30 dollars. I got a two ounce bottle for 15.95 with free shipping. And it wasn't snail mail. I got my package in 3 days. Also, they've never been given a negative review. All is either positive or neutral with 97% positive feedback over the span of their existence.

I've only used the hyaluronic acid a few times, but I noticed right away how quickly it absorbed. Even further, after having it on overnight, I woke up with my face looking smooth and girlishly plump. I even mixed it with a foot cream to see if it would work wonders on the feet since they tend to get dry from time to time.

I would recommend this product to several groups of people. It's appropriate for ages 16 and up. It seems to be gentle and effective in fighting several common skin problems. Also, it can help keep possible skin issues at bay. Give this a try and tell me what you think. :)

Ordering Fun :)

Who said beauty had to cost an arm and a leg? LOL. I've found a solution, sorta. See, buying things in the American market can get expensive. Often, the demand can't be met, so they hike up the price. Often time, this can slow sales, but still generate great profits. I'm not mad about that at all. It's business, and I love my country. (We're so awesome!)

I've found a sort of loophole in my weekend of indulging in the international market. I've looked to India for something that I've been using for a few years now. The product is about impossible to get here in the U.S. if there isn't an Indian community. The product is called Fair and Lovely. It's a controversial item. Long story....I use it as a makeup base and a sort of toner or BB cream. (I will do a post about BB creams in the near future.) I put it on and everybody thinks I'm wearing makeup. It does wonders for the skin over time. Most notably, it reduces shine, controls oil, soothes the skin, provides sun protection, and a list of other benefits. I'll post the link to that below.

CLICK HERE

Ok. I went on Sasa.com and got a ton of stuff. The prices there are great. It's the Asian equivalent of Ulta. It's just something different. And with the shipping being only 6 dollars, you can have a lot of fun there. I'm registered with them, and I get frequent updates about sales and markdowns. I love it. I can't wait for my package to get here.

Now I'm on Ebay. You can get so many cool items from Hong Kong and Japan there. You just have to know what you're looking for. You can purposely set you search options to these and other countries. I'm in the process of getting a pore cleaner that literally sucks the dirt and oil out of your face. I'm also getting a pore scrubber for the nose area where pores are unusually large leading to clogging and irritation. I'll be sure to put up pics of all this stuff. I'll put up prices as well.

Beauty from Overseas

I'm looking on one of my favorite site for international cosmetics: Sasa.com. I love the layout, the wide range of products and the opportunity to try something that I can't get here in the continental market. It's so much fun going through the endless pages of products dedicated to this and that.

The only problem that I'm having now is what I should buy. I set a budget and all that. I'm just super unsure about what I should buy. I know I definitely want to look into something that will revitalize my skin and get rid of these horrid marks left behind by years of eyeglass wear. I never thought I would get to this point, but at the tender age of 24, I have laugh lines, and I see wrinkles in my forehead. AHHHHH!!!!! Time to get that under control ASAP!

I guess I'll take the next few hours out to make some decisions. And when everything arrives I'll be sure to update.

BTW: My car just got fixed today and I'm still waiting on the new glasses so that I can drive. What a mess.... But I'm working through it. :)

New Glasses

I did the unthinkable...I broke my glasses. It may seem like a curse, but it was actually a blessing in disguise. I went to the optical store and managed to order some pretty snazzy pairs of glasses. It was more than time for a new look. Also, I was long overdue for an eye exam.

It will likely be a week or two before they get in, but I'm so glad that I took care of that portion of my business.

One thing I kept in mind while picking out my glasses was my love of makeup. What is the use in having frames that covered my eyeshadow? LOL. The one thing about my old glasses I hated was how they blocked me from seeing my elaborate eye makeup that I spent so much time and effort on. They also created unsightly dark marks on my face from the metal wearing down over time.

On that note, I will be trying a homemade treatment on those areas to reverse the damage created from wearing those hideous things. I will be posting more on that a little later :)

Diets, Diets, Diets

This has been one crazy summer. My schedule has been absolutely wild. As a result, I've actually put on a few more pounds rather than lose some. I won't go into that. My point is that it's time for me to get serious about this whole thing.

One thing I learned from my mother (whom is not an authority on this but just wise) told me not to think of losing weight through diets. They work, but only for a little while. And when people reach their goals, they do the unthinkable and gain all that weight back. I don't want that. I want a continuing good bill of health and to be at a healthy weight.

I don't feel pressure to lose weight to please anyone. I'm just serious about getting in shape. I've spent too much time trying to please others and not looking out for myself like I should. It's alright though. Life is changing, and now it's all about my total health and beauty. :)

Hawaiian Silky

I had to give this product a try because everybody else was doing it. LOL.

I have a daughter who has curly hair and I have relaxed hair. To save money, I often buy products that work for both of us. That keeps my wallet in check and me out of the beauty supply store so often. There are a few things that seem to work well for us because the products are natural and gentle.

Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker 14-in-1...What can I say about this product? I honestly like it. This is another item that is great my daughter's and my own hair. The smells is nice. Fruity almost :) I like that a lot. The consistency was a bit of a shocker though. I was expecting it to be a little thinner. It doesn't bother me at all though since our hair tends to get a little dry at times. I love the way it makes it so easy to comb through our hair and can be sprayed evenly throughout the hair. This is summer love at first spray. LOL. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do plan to keep this in my regimen for the summer and longer maybe.

CutesyGirl.com Sale

Hey Ladies! Just wanted everybody to know that CutesyGirl.com has a rockin sale going on right now. Tons of styles start as low as 9.99 a pair. Unbelievable! It's true tho. I think that I may pick up a few pairs myself. And those that spend 50.00 get free shipping. That's all the time though. Make sure you check out this sale before it's too late.

Click HERE to go to the sale. :)

L.A. Colors Makeup Products

As I promised, I'm finally doing a review of the lot of L.A. Colors items I've accumulated over the past few months. Let me be totally honest. After using their products, I feel like an idiot for paying tons of money for Sephora and other products that cost a lot more. I have the finishing powder, and array of eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliner, blush, and lip products. They are serious competition for bigger brands.

The only drawbacks I can think of for this line is a complete line not being available in stores across the U.S. and the color intensity. The packaging is simple and to the point but tends to give and appearance of being cheap. Technically at the price it's available for, it is cheap. The products are good though.

The colors won't pop without the aid of an eyeshadow primer. This is true for most eyeshadows because they crease and fade. With the primer (I prefer Urban Decay), they last all day and look pretty like the more expensive brands. Color options are somewhat limited, but mixing colors give you a wide range of choices.

Lip gloss and lipstick with this brand is average. You have to reapply frequently, but I don't mind for only a dollar. You get what you pay for. The pigments are pretty and natural. They're moisturizing as well. I don't get the cracked lip or peeling from these. I used them frequently whether I had a full face of makeup or I'm just dressing up my lips with a light face powder.

Mascaras and eyeliner work pretty well. They say as long as you prime the eye first. Clumping is occasional and running of liner happens when my eyes are really watery.

I think I'm talking to much now. The bottom line is that I give L.A. Colors the seal of approval for an inexpensive line that provides good colors, portability and style that won't leave you broke and sorry. LOL

New Satin Cap

Satin is an essential part to preventing breakage of the hair and loss of moisture. I NEVER sleep without my satin. On nights where I'm too lazy to put on a cap (or don't want to be confined), I always sleep on a pillow covered with a satin pillowcase. Other nights when I'm more dedicated and less tired, but reach for a satin cap or hair wrap.

The other day on an expedition to K-Mart with my sister, I picked up a satin cap made by Conair. It's glorious. The band is nice and snug, and the weight of the satin is much lighter than my previous satin caps and wraps. It was also half the cost of the deluxe satin cap I bought which was 6.99. The bad wore out quickly and the mesh netting on the outside was strange. It was great while it lasted, but this Conair cap is much better and cheaper at 3.00.

Update Pic

This is what my freshly relaxed hair is looking like. Like I said, I need a trim. LOL. It's still doing quite well. My ends are filling in pretty nicely, and though it's hard to see from this angle, I've reached beginning BSL/ full APL. I'm happy about the progress. Who knows where my hair will be after the summer with continued pampering and moisture. :)

BTW... Sorry for taking so long to post. It's been a looooooooong week. LOL

Smooth, Real Smooth

Finally! I am relaxed! And my hair has grown like crazy. I'm just so shocked, and in a good way. My hair is thick, full of body, and genuinely in great condition. I'm so happy with my hair, I don't know how to act. LOL. I'm still wearing my protective styles because now I can seriously focus on length. (I'll post pics tomorrow.)

At this point I'm focused on retaining and gaining length since I've achieved the total hair health that I've been working on for nearly two years. I need a trim, but aside from that, I'm not experiencing any real issues with breakage or thinning. This is the best condition my hair has been in since I began my journey nearly two years ago. If I keep things up, I will hit my summer length and health goal. :)

Summer Blues

I've been so busy that I've practically ignored myself. My hair is still not relaxed. My nails look awful. I think it's because so much has been going on. That's ok tho. I'm gonna conditioner wash my hair tonight and give myself a well deserve manicure. I may do a pedicure too.

My new growth is crazy! LOL. I'm doing all that I can to keep it in check until I do decide to relax my hair. I've been using this nutrient spray by Garnier on the new growth especially because it contains oils that are good for the hair and keeps frizzing and dryness at bay. I got it at Wal-Mart for just over 3 dollars. I know....My pj-ism is getting me again. I can't help it tho. This stuff is cool. You have to shake to activate it and it smells wonderful.
I'm still going through all this makeup I have trying to decided how to review each item. I don't want to dedicate the whole summer to makeup, so maybe I'll do a mini haul and review with two groups: Loves and Have to Dumps. Honestly tho, there isn't much that I want to dump. :) Til then I'll be around. HHG!

Cuticle Remover

I have an obsession with my nails. I love for them to be uniform, painted, and just well manicured. I spend hours soaking, trimming, clipping, filing, and just going the extra mile to make them look good. However, my cuticles have always been a huge issue for me. It seemed like no matter how hard I worked to get off all the dry skin it would remain. This was causing my painting jobs to look messy and unrefined.

The other night on a expedition to Wal-Mart with my sister, I picked up a bottle of cuticle remover made by Sally Hansen. I had a lot of anxiety looming over me because it does dissolve the dead skin and could cause irritation, erosion, or some weakening. At any rate, I got home and tried it. It was the best decision I ever made. It made rubbing back all that bad cuticle and clearing it away a breeze. At around five dollars a bottle, it's a good investment as well. Especially for someone like me that does their own manicures at lease twice a week.

It will take time to see if it has an adverse effects, but at this point in time I'm happy with it. It works wonders for my feet as well. It was so easy to use. I just can't believe it. Just thought I would share that bit with everybody :)

Goody Modern Updo Pin Review

Well...I'm still not relaxed, but I was so curious about that updo style thing that I just had to try it. It basically looks like a giant hairpin. And that's really what it is.

Let me cut to the chase. It's not worth the almost six dollars I paid, however, I still like it. I tried to follow the directions that came with it, but I ended up just doing my own thing. It takes a bit of practice, but it's something that I would recommend for those that want to try something different. For those that have longer hair, it's a good investment. It's a sturdy, versatile item. I wouldn't recommend it for hair shorter than beginning APL because there could be a lot of tugging trying to get it to stay. I wouldn't discourage shoulder length ladies from buying this though, especially if you have thick hair

The only thing I don't like about it is the outward curvature of the ends. Rather than being straight or slightly bowed like a normal bobby pin, they curve outward. Because of this, it can get a little tricky when inserting and removing. Being patient and careful is the key. Otherwise it's easy to believe that it's going to be stuck in your hair. LOL. And that's not the case.

I will likely try the other styling tools from the Goody line. HHG :)

Quick Slim Tip

I have several reviews that I want to do this week. But right now, I'm still in the process of updating some things. But please be on the lookout. This is finals week and things are crazy. Did I mention I was in the middle of a move too? LOL

At any rate, I just had to give this tip because it was an idea I had at the very last second. I was going out on a date and I wanted to give myself a quick slim. I didn't reach for a girdle or order spanks. Wanna know what I did? I discovered a secret with a pair of control top pantyhose. That's right. Rather than waste 60 dollars on designer undergarments or be squeezed to death with a rigid girdle, I cut the legs off a pair of control top pantyhose that had seen their end (I thought). For less than five dollars I was able to get that support and shaping that I wanted. And it works great. Granted, they don't last forever, but they are cheap and will do well if you treat them gently. Did I mention no panty lines? It's just a tip. If you like, give it a try and see how it works for you. :)

Hair Divine

I have a strong desire to try some new things with my hair. There's nothing wrong with a little change up every once in awhile. Keeping that in mind, I picked up these items at Wal-Mart the other day on an excursion with my mother. (She's so much fun!) I've been wanting to try the Bump Its for some time, so I picked them up. I also got the Goody Modern Updo styling tool and FX Silk Drops

I haven't had a try to give any of these things a try. Today I'm going to wash my hair and try the Silk Drops first. Later in the week, I will try out the styling item after I've had my hair relaxed. That way my hair will be in condition to handle the tugging. I'm so many weeks post that I don't want to risk it. I'll get back to everybody and let you know how it goes. HHG :)

Palladio Rice Powder

I can't say enough good things about this powder. WOW. I love the smooth texture, the light scent, the weightlessness, and the way it makes the "shinies" disappear.

I've had this powder for a few months now amidst all the other products I'd purchased. This is my favorite powder for setting my makeup and finishing off my look. What it does for me is provide round the clock protection from occasional shine that occurs. I use this in conjunction with a primer. The outcome is a smooth matte finish that lasts for hours. Surely, I have to reapply later in the day, but it's so lightweight and pleasant it doesn't bother me at all. As I've said, this has been in my makeup collection for a few months and I still have plenty left.

This was about 5 dollars. It was one of my smartest makeup purchases yet. I even use it when I don't want to wear makeup just to give my skin a silky smooth feeling and a perfected, flawless appearance. By the way, I wear the translucent formula. I'm sure there are other colors, but the translucent works for all skin tones being that it goes on like a transparent veil. Try it. :)

Sephora Anti-Shine Primer

I decided that it was time to purchase a makeup base after my sample from Sephora began to run out. However, I wanted something that would give me that matte look that I crave. As a result, I opted for the anti-shine formula. I think I paid about 18 dollars for this 30ml. This may seem steep, but I only use a tiny bit.

I like this base a lot. It spreads easily, feels extremely light, and it helps make application smoother and more even. I don't see as many pores when I apply this, and my makeup lasts longer foundation wise. I love the matte look it gives my face before foundation application. Also, rather than having my makeup seep into my pores, this makes it sit on top of the skin. I would recommend this because a little goes a long way. I use a pea sized amount for the entire face and that is more than enough.

Grey Day

On one of my trips to Icing, I came across the most interesting nail color. It's made by the Incing brand. The color is "Ice Queen". I'm in love with it. It's a grey with undertones of blue. When pair with yellow, the blue tone appears and the grey is more true. When paired with black and white, it retains the blue undertones. This is my new black. I've gotten a ton of compliments on it too.

This didn't cost more than 5 dollars. The quality is comparable to China Glaze or OPI. The bottle is shaped just like the China Glaze bottle as a matter of fact. Let me know what you all think about this color.

BTW, that background is at my internship. LOL. See how the color matches that phone? That's a sure sign that it was meant for me. :D

I Called My Avon Lady

I know that I said I was going to slow down on the makeup, but the truth is that there are some colors that I was still needing, so I got a few more eyeshadow sets. Shame on me. I know. LOL. One of them was the one pictured above. It's Avon True Color, and this quad is called "Fresh Cut Greens" I love it. The colors are pretty bold but subtle all the same, and the quality is great because it's Avon. :)

I paid about 8 or 9 dollars for this quad. Having brown eyes, it makes them look softer and more deep. I like to pair this with black/brown mascara and mink brown eyeliner. On the bottom, there is a color guide that tells you where to put each color which is really helpful. I didn't have to contemplate how to wear each color. Mornings are crazy so instructions are a super plus.

This is not the only quad color available of course. I would recommend that everybody have a look at all the color schemes they have available. They're lovely for spring this year. :)

Sebastian Review

I try to do a review for all my hair products. And so this is one of those reviews :)

I like this stuff a lot. It's thick, but it's so smooth and creamy. I feel like it is actually protecting my hair (especially the ends). It spreads over the hair evenly. And It doesn't weight the hair down either. I got a good amount of shine and softness. I have virtually no frizz. I would recommend this to those with coarser hair like mine because of the substantial texture of the product. The smell is an added bonus. It's really light and sweet. I used this to blow dry. So I can only imagine what it will be like if I flat iron.

I got this as a less expensive alternative to the CHI Silk Infusion. The small bottle of CHI Silk Infusion retails for more than $13.00. I got the Sebastian thermal styler at Big Lots for $7.oo only to find out that it retails for near $25.00 all across the internet. I guess I just got lucky. But if they continue to carry it at Big Lots, I'll buy it...for $7.00 LOL

Updates Coming Soon! :)

It's been a crazy few weeks. I had finals and major papers for my online courses, I'm doing 2 internships, and I'm just busy all the time. Things should be slowing down just a little bit here very soon. I have a ton of updates and reviews for some items that I've gotten in the past few weeks. I even went to Sephora. (Shame on me and my pockets too apparently. We're so busted. LOL)

I should have something up Saturday night. It's too bad that I can't just do one now. But I'm totally unprepared, and I need to soak my fingers, trim my cuticles, get out the cuticle oil, and get something on my naked nails. I'm thinking nail hardener since it dries in like 30 seconds. Then I'll paint them a new shade of grey. It's just a little something I picked up at the Icing. I'm talking too much. I have to wash my makeup off too.

HHG and happy beauty. I will return in not that long. LOL

Lush :)

I had no idea there was a Lush Cosmetics store in my city! Yay! I got a chance to go. And I was so happy with my purchases. Here's what I got
Street Party Bath Bomb (1) $4.95-Limited Edition (Mine has an American flag in the side though. LOL)
Sunny Side Bubble Bar (1)-$6.15
Shimmy Shimmy Sparkle Bar (1)- $6.75

(All these images are from Lush.com by the way.)

The bath bomb is for my daughter. The ladies at the store did I demonstration for us. It filled the air with a lovely refreshing scent and the tub with luscious glitter. She just had to have it. I guess it's a sort of house warming gift for her. She can use it for the first time in the new house. I love my "Goose". :)

The Sunny Side bubble bar caught my eye immediately because it looks like a golden nugget. LOL. And I love anything that sparkles and shines. It supposed to turn the bath water a luxurious gold color. And it won't turn you into golden statue either. The golden glitter typically rinses away for the most part.

The Shimmy Shimmy was something I had to have. How many times can I say it; I love GLITTER. I'm such a big kid. And with this bar, I rub it across the skin and get the glow and a little bit of that glistening effect. I heart this so much. It has a nice subtle vanilla scent as well. So if you want, you can put any scent over it without a clash.

There was one other item I picked up at Charlotte Russe. And that was their scent called "Refuge". It smells like spring. I don't know exactly how to put it into words. It's a floral scent with notes of citrus and something oriental that I could swear I've smelled before. It's very feminine, light, and crisp. There is also night version of this, but I decided to stuck to the basics. And this was only 10.99. It's a great bargain.

Budget Beauty Fix

I am an addict. I can't stop shopping. But the bright side to that is that I never run out of items to review and material from which to write. :)

I checked out two of my favorite stores for bargains: Dollar Tree and Big Lots. At the Dollar Tree I picked up all the makeup items in the picture (two lipsticks, 1 lipgloss, foundation, small lip palette, and three eyeshadows. At Big Lots I picked up a mini brush set (enclosed in the black case that reads "Ms. Makeup" on the front), and Sebastian thermal styler.

Now that I think about it, I may have bought some other items. But these things were big hits on my list....Yeah...I did buy more stuff. I got some some more brushes and eyeliner. But those where things that I replace or something like that.

My whole point in doing this is to prove that you can have beauty on a budget. I don't think I spent more than 20 dollars on beauty products this evening. And these are brand name items. I spent a lot of time just searching for that perfect. And I want to share that information because of the poor economy.

This isn't me showing off or anything. This is a broke college student (who is a single mother as well) that wants to keep up her appearance. It would be awesome if I could just carelessly throw my money away. But I have to be super careful. And I'm hoping that I can get a better camera so that I can do makeup shots of the fabulous things I'm doing with these items. They may be inexpensive, but they are great products. And so I guess I'm on some silly quest to prove it. LOL. Stay tuned and see what happens. Much love, and stay beautiful. :)

I think I tried to justify my spending problem....LOL

CHI Makes Me Cheese :D

I got a chance to wash my hair the other night. And I did something I almost never do....I blow dried my hair *Gasp* LOL. But I took the necessary precautions. And my new dryer makes it so much easier. And it's an ionic dryer too so I'm assume that's why I had minimal frizziness.

At any rate, I took this time to try out the CHI Silk Infusion. I noticed one thing immediately. It smooths over the hair easily and evenly. I just worked it right on through. And then I began to just dry over the hair with no attachments on the dryer. And I got it to the point where it was just a little damp. Then I sectioned the hair off into smaller parts and added the comb attachment. I also added my moisturizer to my hair for more heat protection.

Overall it was a successful blow dry. My hair came out soft and shiny. Liked this product a lot. I had been using the Dove heat protection spray which I love. But it was nice to change it up a little. And I like the way it made my hair feel. I was running my fingers through it so I had to pin my hair up. LOL. It was an expensive buy at just under 14 dollars for the small bottle. But I don't use much heat at all. So I would consider it a brilliant splurge.

I'm off to moisturize my hair before bed now. HHG! :)

Done Out In Decco

So, I decided to change my nail color for like the third time this week. Now I'm sporting OPI's "Done Out In Decco". It's phenomenal. The color is gorgeous and so even. I've been wanting to try this color for awhile. And now I'm glad I did.

Today, I got the deal of a lifetime. I got two more OPI nail lacquers. And they we just 2.98 each. How did I do it? I went to the 35% off bin at Beauty Brands. But the colors I got ("Banana Bandanna and "Sahara Sapphire") were actually 65% off. It was just what I needed after I dropped ton in the furniture store today. It was totally cheap but made me feel so good.

Beauty Brands Ahoy

Today was exciting! I finally got a chance to go to Beauty Brands. And I didn't get too crazy. But I picked up a few items. Again, I swear I'm not a hair product junkie. But I did finally get the CHI Silk Infusion. And I will be using it soon so that I can write a review.I got three nail lacquers as well. The first two are made by China Glaze. And I got those in "Fairy Dust" and "Fifth Avenue. And the last bottle I got was by OPI. And it's called "Done Out in Decco". I am currently wearing a China Glaze lacquer in "Metallic Muse". It's gorgeous. So I have high hopes and a ton of confidence in the other colors I picked up today. The bottle of OPI I got is my first brush with the brand. But based on it's reviews, I have really high hopes for this lacquer as well.

Honestly, I've been buying a ton of stuff outside of this. There's so much that I don't really have time to post it all. But I can tell you this: I got most of it at Dollar General and Dollar Tree. They carry L.A. Colors. And let me tell you...I love this brand. The nail polish is amazing. I love all of it. And if I see something new, I just pick it up because it's usually just one dollar. So sure, it adds up, but the deal is just too sweet. And the product is good.

At any rate, I will be back with more reviews and updates on the new products. And perhaps I'll be able to get up some pics of my hair and makeup looks. :)

Much Needed Hair Love

I have been without a proper hair dryer for quite some time now. And today, I decided to deal with this issue head on. LOL. I bought one. I got the Cricket Friction Free Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Dryer. It's fabulous. On the site it says that it's 59.99, but in the store got it for 49.99. Hmmm....Oh well.

Also, I know I promised that I wouldn't be doing the hair product junkie thing. And I've been sticking to it just like I said I would. But I got a packet of the Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Condition. And I tried it the other night. It's amazing. I was so pleased, I bought a bottle of that today. And let me tell you...It's so smooth and creamy. And it smells amazing. But the real magic is how smooth and silky it makes the hair feel. And for that reason, I have decided to incorporate it into my regimen.

Foundation and Concealer

The other day, my friends and I went to Wal-Mart. So much fun. You know I headed straight for the makeup aisle. LOL. And I picked up two really cool products. Both are made by Maybelline New York. The first product I got was Pure Makeup foundation in tan (dark 1). The other was Age Rewind Double Face Perfector (dark).I've been on the hunt for new foundation for a little while. I'm currently using Mary Kay foundation in bronze 500. And as much as I love it, 14 dollars is a little steep these days. So I got the Maybelline as a sort of comparable product. And it's great. It's water based which is great because some oils do clog the pores. It has great, even coverage. At five dollars, I couldn't ask for much more. I'm still in the testing phase with it, so I'll have to use it a little longer. But so far so great.

The concealer is a miracle worker. I had been using the Sephora concealer stick I got for 12 dollars. It was not for me because it didn't last long enough. The formula could get pretty chalk like and not blend with some products. Anyway, the Maybelline concealer covers so well. I love it. I hadn't seen my eyes look that bright in a long time. I paid right under eight dollars for it. Oh...did I mention there is a concealer end and highlighter end? Honestly, I will probably use it exclusively for concealing, but the feature is nice. It blends well and has a nice creamy texture. This will be something I will buy again.

Relaxer Woes and Results

So, my relaxer didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it too. I had a processing issue but it came out pretty good still. But I have to admit that I majorly freaked out at first. Also, I decided to cut about and inch of all the way around because I felt like it was necessary to achieve a look I was going for. But don't worry. I'm still APL (and working on BSL).

Anyway, here is a pic of my hair in some soft curls after the cut was complete.
I don't have a shot of my edges, but they have pretty much grown all the way out. That breakage is all gone now. That was a major goal for me to grow the edges in nice and healthy. It took about a year to get them where I really wanted them. The wait was so worth it though.

Now, let me explain the cutting. My ends were not filling in the way I wanted. They were healthy but uneven. So I decided to go ahead and do some chopping. It worked out great. Sometimes when I cut my hair a little blunt, I just keep it in rollers and wear curls. It's low manipulation and cute. Loose or tight, wavy or more coiled...curls work well for me.

I haven't bought any hair products. I'm only going to replenish what I'm already using. The one thing I did get though was the Garnier Fructis Firm Hold Hairspray. Curls stay longer if you sprayed them. But I don't think I'll use that much. And I'll be back into a co washing routine that will wash out the gunk anyhow.

I've had a sudden interest in hair accessories. I wanted to jazz up simple styles and be different. I have headbands, clips, barrettes...And they aren't damaging either. They really add that little something to the hair and complete a look.

My rambling is out of control. LOL. HHG!!!

GirlPROPS and Fabuless

I recently ordered and received my items from Girlprops.com and Fabuless.com. I couldn't be happier. The quality of everything is great. And I got some pretty sweet deals. I will likely be placing another order soon. Here's a pic of what I got for myself. There was more, but they were for my "sis" and my cousin.If you have any questions about specific items, let me know. I'll be glad to answer. And I encourage everyone to have a look at those sites.

I'm in the middle of a deep condition after finally relaxing. That's another process all in itself. I will not forget to put up pics. It's been a crazy week, and it will be getting a lot crazier. LOL.

Finally!

Ok. All my Ebay items are in. Here's the pic and description.
Left to right: NYX Glitter Mania in "Hot Gold", Milani eyeshadow quad in "Denim Blues", and Profound Eyeshadow Shimmer and Body Glitter (greens with blue glitter)

I've been buying so much lately that I can't keep up. And believe it or not, I'm still not relaxed. My internship is keeping me quite busy as well. (Shout out to the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Department Juvenile Detention Center) I will try to get some more updates. I have more stuff coming in from Cherry Culture. Super exciting. And I will definitely be relaxing this weekend. The snow has fallen and I'm not going anywhere. LOL. HHG and happy beauty.

So Disappointed!

There are a few things irritating me today. I am no longer putting up a reminder for the NYX Cosmtices sale. The shipping for 15 dollars worth of items was 11.80. So I just decided to skip on the sale. That is ridiculous. I could see if it was for international shipping, but I'm definitely in the U.S. So I'm outraged. Thankfully, CherryCulture.com is having a huge sale on selected items. I only paid 5.95 for the shipping. And if you buy 40 dollars worth of items, then the shipping is free. Did I mention that they carry NYX Cosmetics and had a ton of their items on sale?

I'm still waiting for my replacement item to come in the mail from that ebay seller. And until I get it, I can't post a pic of the other items I got on ebay. It's just one of those things I guess. But perhaps I should have waited to give positive feedback for the seller. I was being nice when I did it. But that's just the way it is sometimes. I don't know.

To top off all that, I had a tuberculosis scare. I have to get a tb skin test for my internship because I would be working in close quarters at a juvenile detention center. And my test read positive. I wasn't positive, but I had an allergic reaction to the injection. So I went to the hospital and had to get chest x-rays just so that I could return to my internship. But I lost a few hours because of that. And I learned that from now on, I will have to have a chest x-ray everytime I have a tb test because of my allergy to the injection. Grrr! Annoying!

Again, there is a bright side to every gloomy story. I ordered from GirlProps.com and Fabuless.com. So I'll have a little haul blog about that. I got a few items for my friend and cousin because I promised that I would get them some neat stuff when I was ready to order. So yeah. We'll all be happy because I'm a shopaholic. LOL.

I'm finally going to attempting relaxing my hair very shortly. I just have to get the little one off to sleep and get this homework completed. And then I'm home free. Wish me luck everybody. Have a blesses rest of the weekend and a fabulous week. I'll try to get up pics of the relaxing results by Monday. :)

Family Dollar Good Finds

REMINDER!: NYX COSMETICS 1 DOLLAR SALE ON UNTIL JANUARY 25. CLICK HERE

As I'm waiting for my items to arrive in the mail, I sneaked a few more things into my collection. But I got them on the cheap so it's all good. I went to Family Dollar. And they carry the L.A. Colors line. I got a few things. But my absolute favorite is the metallic eyeshadow. It's pigmented very well. I was super impressed. I'm gonna post a pic of my little haul.

I got some nail polish as well. I'm obsessed with my overall beauty, so I will paint my nails in the middle of the night and sleep pretty. It works out well because I'm not a wild sleeper. But yeah...L.A. Colors also had some fabulous shades. So I picked up two. It was just a bunch of stuff. But anyway, here's the pic. I'm tired of rambling. LOL.

No Relaxer...Yet

REMINDER: NYX COSMETICS SALE UNTIL JANUARY 25TH. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

I still haven't relaxed my hair. I've had enough time and energy to do so, but something in me hasn't gotten me there yet. But I have this interview on Tuesday, and I really want to look my best. So there is a chance that I may do it in the next day or two. It may seem shallow and all, but the reality is that the perfect hair style they look for is more or less the key to getting hired. Sad but true.

I plan to do a clarifying wash first. And I still have some porosity control conditioner that I'll use with my relaxer. That way I can be totally prepared. And I'm going heavy duty on the deep conditioner too. I'm maybe going to mix in a few oils just for added shine, softness, and protection. It's gonna be gorgeous. No worries for me right now on that front.

I got two products in the mail this week, but one more of them is still floating around out there. So I will wait to post a pic. Also, I forgot to include a pic of the glittering, purple nail polish that I got at Wal-Mart the other day. So I'll be sure to include it in the next pic.

That's all for now I guess. HHG!

NYX Cosmetics HUGE SALE!!!

Ladies, there is a huge sale over at the NYX Cosmetics website. It's a 1 DOLLAR SALE. That's right. They have a huge selection of makeup going for just a single dollar. This offer is good until JANUARY 25th! Head over and get in on this great deal. I will post the link below. Just click and go! :)

http://nyxcosmetics.com/index.php?m=Sale

Glorious

My Sephora stuff came in. And I'm so relieved. The eyeshadows are two different colors thank goodness. LOL. I won't ramble. Here's a pic and descriptionTop row from the left: Sephora Colorful Strass Mono Eyeshadow "No. 05", Sephora Colorful Pearl Mono Eyeshadow in "No. 4), Sephora Blush Me! Mono Blush in "Meringue Jalouse", Aquolina Pink Sugar eau de toilette Natural Spray (1 oz.)

Bottom row from the left (free samples): Couture Couture by Juicy Couture eau de parfum, Couture Couture by Juicy Couture Scented Powder, Kim Kardashian eau de parfum spray.

Just so you know, I checked the eyeshadow. It's super pigmented. I love it. And the blush is gorgeous. Just that perfect hint of shimmer makes it real for me. And my spray is amazing. It smells like pure candy. And since I'm on a diet, it suits the need and pleases my senses. :)

I'll be back with more updates as things arrive.

Hooray Wal-Mart

I picked up a few items from Wal-Mart. I'll post a pic and description. Also, my package from Sephora will be arriving tomorrow (or today). Also, I'm going to be relaxing my hair and putting up pics of the results. (I know I was saying that I wanted to try to transition, but now is not my time. I'm too busy to even try that.)Umm... LOL. The items coming in from Ebay are going to be coming in randomly. But I will be sure to post pics and updates for all of those.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Here's the pic and items' descriptions
From the left: Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, Bonnebell LipLites in "Cherry Berry Kiss", (top) NYC. Sparkle Eye Dust in "Pink Champagne", NYC. Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in "Translucent", Biore Deep Pore Cleansing Strips

Beauty Haul!

Today was splendid. Despite the cold, it wasn't as cold as it has been. The sun even came out to play. And after weeks of being cooped up in this house. I was out. Class on campus first. And then I hit up Sally's. Here's what I got:
Back row: Just For Me relaxer (super), Orly French Manicure set
Front row: Orly Ridgefiller Basecoat, Orly Nail Lacquer in "Shining Star" (which may be discontinued because it was reduced), Nina Ultra Pro Nail Lacquer in "Powder Puff", Femme Couture Mineral Effects Baked Eye Colour in "Aruba Blue"

My next stop was the Dollar Tree. (Yes. That place where everything is literally a dollar. And the products there vary. But I will try my best to list the products in case anybody wants to Google them or look them up on Ebay. Here's the photo. And the information is below.

From the Left: Maybelline New York Forever Metallics Lip color in "Shell Shimmer" and "Ginger Spice", Cover Girl EyeSlicks gel eye color in "Silver Breeze" and "Neon Pink", Cover Girl Mulitplying Mascara in "Black Brown", Maybelline New York Line Stylist Lip Liner in "Pink 110", L.A. Colors Pressed Powder in "Tan" (black compact), L.A. Colors 3 For Me Eyeshadow Lipgloss and Glitter Gloss in "Pink", L.A. Colors Liquid Eyeliner in "Black/Brown", L.A. Colors All-N-One Makeup Stick in "Pink Satin", L.A. Colors Vitamin E and Aloe Vera Lipstick in "Lilac Frost"

One other item I got at the Dollar Tree was a storage container for my nail polishes. They are supposed to be stored upright. And the height of the box allows this to be possible. Here's a pic of that too:I have some other items coming in the mail this week. So stay tuned for updates! :)

Blame it on the Cabin Fever

I live in the Midwest. And right now, it's blistering cold, snow buildup of over a foot, and so getting out there is not an option. So right now, I'm suffering from major cabin fever. And mind you, I have a four year old who is getting restless with the weather as well.

When the weather gets like this, the only thing I can do is shop, from home that is. LOL. So that's what I did yesterday. I went to Sephora.com and got a few more items. I got a blush, two eyeshadows, and this perfume that I've been wanting since I got the sample from my last order. I did make a bit of a mistake though. I got the eyeshadows in similar colors. But one is more pearl like and the other one has more of a glittering effect. I will be sure to post pics when the stuff arrives.

I was ebay last night as well. And I got a blue shadow quad, and a loose gold eyeshadow powder. I want some Bourjois Paris blush. And so I may get that today. Again, I will put up pics as soon as they arrive.

This weather is not working for my hair. It's too dry. I'm gonna have to revamp my regimen, and soon. I'll be back with an update later. Now I will go watch The Breakfast Club! LOL

Beauty and Stocks - A Must Read

Think about the amount of money that you spend in a single year on beauty products. They can be for the hair, nails, skin...Whatever it is, just give yourself a ballpark figure of what you spend. Frightening, huh? Well, it is for myself. And the story is the same for lots of ladies. It's not something to be angry about because it's inevitable. Beauty is just a part of society that you can't get around. Unfortunately, we are a superficial nation. But it's the American way and I am not ashamed. LOL

For a few years, I've been watching the stock market rise and fall and crash. It's been a serious roller coaster ride. However, there certain companies that seemed to be doing pretty well despite the recession. Want to guess whom? That's right! The cosmetics and beauty industry. With affordable brands sold in all parts of the world, and the emphasis on the importance of beauty, they seem to be thriving. Some companies are not companies at all even. But they fall under the umbrella of a company that sells a particular brand. For instance, Pantene is a brand that operates under the Procter&Gamble company.

Here is my idea. I think that it's only fair that if we are going to buy products from these companies that we should invest. It's not only a means of getting some of what you will spend over the years back, but at the same time you are insuring a better future for yourself and family. It's just an idea I was throwing around.

Here is a list of the companies I've been looking at and their ticker symbols. If you have any questions, feel free to leave comments and check back for answers.

Sally Beauty Holding - SBH
Ulta Salons and Cosmetics - ULTA
L'Oreal - OR
Revlon - REV
LVMH (owns Sephora and several other luxury brands-French) - MC
Estee Lauder (not doing well at this point in time, but long standing) - EL
Beauty Brands - BBGR
Wal-Mart - WMT
Walgreens - WAG
Church&Dwight Co. Inc. (Sally Hansen, Arm&Hammer, and other brands)- CHD
Procter&Gamble (Pantene, Always sanitary need, and many other brands) - PG
Kimberly Clark Corp. (Huggies diapers, personal care products) - KMB
Colgate-Palmolive Co. (toothpaste, soaps, and a slew of personal care items) - CL
Dollar General - DL

This is just the list of companies that I was looking at. You may have more or a different list. But please, give me feedback on this subject. I want to see what everybody else thinks about this post.

A Video All Women Should See

I love the rush I get when I buy anything. When I feel like my money has been well spent, I have a good feeling inside. But when I know that I've spent too much, I have a searing pain in my gut. And then there comes the buyers' remorse.

My love of makeup especially has had me open my eyes to my ideal budget and what I've actually been spending. I used to suffer from the whole "price=quality" complex. And that isn't always true. There are a lot of products in the drug store that are comparable to those at the makeup counter and department stores. There is no reason to spend a small fortune on cosmetics. There are steps you can take to prevent yourself from being a victim of the same complex I had.

1: PRIME YOUR FACE: The reason that many of us don't get the color and definition we crave is because we aren't priming the face. The color and product is seeping into the pores instead of laying on top of the skin. Thus the color fades. Not to mention, the sweating and running of the makeup from not wearing the primer has the same affect.

• One primer for the eye area that I highly recommend (even though it's a bit pricey) is the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

2: FIND ONLINE REVIEWS: Everybody's experience with makeup is different. But getting a general idea of the effectiveness of items that you wish to purchase for the low could save you time and disappointment. Research is always a good way to go (and that applies to anything).

• Try going to the websites of drug stores like Walgreens who have areas where you can post reviews online.

3. DON'T BUY LARGE AMOUNTS: This is a mistake that many of us make. We get excited and buy in bulk. And then you end up with a large collection, sometimes, with stuff you don't like or doesn't work for you. So take your time and consider your budget seriously. Just because the items are inexpensive doesn't mean you aren't losing money.

4. IF YOU MUST BUST THE BANK... Purchase quality brushes so that application will be smooth and flawless. They last longer than some cheaper, lower quality brushes. Or invest in something like a good moisturizer/primer, or skin care regimen. These items last for a long period of time and are necessary for a good regimen for those that regularly wear makeup.