Since August I think I’ve been doing my makeup pretty much everyday. I don’t usually put anything on my face on Sundays, but I have been doing L’oreal BB Cream and tinted moisturizer as well as some type of primer. I have to say, if you’re looking for a one step color correct Stila makes a great color correcting primer. But it’s around $50.
I am trying to save some money by using drugstore brands, and I am impressed by Wet’n’Wild lately. Since discovering their new contour palette and highlighter, I’ve also been trying out other items like the Liquid Catsuit liquid lips and the primer and finishing spray.
I have been loving the finishing spray, it really does help your makeup last all day. Some days I’m out for 12 hours and this holds up. Obviously after 12 hours of wear you’re going to have some creasing, but I don’t look horrendous after the day is through. I also bought 4 shades of the liquid lips, I am really loving them. It isn’t as drying as I thought it was going to be. I tried wearing all 4 colors on different days last week, but this week I’ve been giving my lips a bit of a break with Burt’s Bees new lipstick in the shade Russet Red and a 3D Gloss by Rimmel.
I also threw out my Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara since I couldn’t remember when I purchased it. So, it probably was getting too old. I did get a Boots No 7 Volumizing Mascara in the holiday gift collection, but it’s been underwhelming. Instead I splurged a whole $8 on Wet’n’Wild Fiber Lash Kit. Just. WOW.
The results are incredible to me, as someone who hasn’t really got the time to deal with false lashes in the morning. I definitely would need time to play with them, practice does make perfect. Although the fiber lash kit probably doesn’t come close to looking like mink lashes, it does create a bigger impact compared to mascara alone. I do admit that putting on the fiber step after priming with the mascara gave me a bit of anxiety. Once I pulled the fibers out on the brush I knew I couldn’t breathe, don’t move, and don’t you dare sneeze! I could imagine this getting all over the place, and in my eye, if there was some natural disaster that made my hand move.
Check out these results though. On one side there’s the Boots No 7 and the other the kit from Wet’n’Wild.
I’ve also had some success improving my skin texture by doing a multiple step cleansing routine at night. I use an oil based scrub to take the makeup off, and then an acne scrub to remove excess and target my breakouts. After that I’ve been using a micro peel mask, but not every time. I sometimes use a charcoal based mask if my skin is feeling more oily than usual. March has been strange, some days are in the 60s and 70s, and tomorrow it’s going to be 13 F in the morning. So needless to say my skin is getting dry and flaky, but still oily in my T zone.
One mask I diy it with coconut oil, tea tree oil drops and sugar to create a nice scrub that gets all my makeup off. I don’t really have the time to steam my face everyday but I am doing it more often. At least once a week. Clean and Clear makes a steam activated One Minute Mask that works with the hot moist air generated in the shower.
After that is when I apply another mask, either the Alba Micro Peel or the Shea Moisture African Soap Charcoal Mask. It depends on how my skin is feeling that day. I follow up with Neutrogena Hydraboost Moisturizer.
I know that putting oil on your face sounds counter productive for someone with combination skin, but doing multiple steps ensures that you’re stripping away dirt and pore clogging oils and replenishing skin with moisture that is needed. I’ve seen Korean beauty routines that have similar steps, and I do love a nice sheet mask.
Other Products to Try
Stonewall Kitchen makes a fine line of items for the kitchen and the home, from box mixes to sauces, hand soap and candles and more. I’ve been cooking more for fun and for a living, and Stonewall makes it easier with ready made jar sauces and jams. I’ve been buying them from Old World Cafe in Corning NY mostly, but you can find them on Soap.com and in select supermarkets.
My Favorites:
Truffle Spread, this is great for a lazy but delicious meal served over pasta and chicken or over melted brie with some crackers. I’ve even spread it on toast with thin sliced honey crisp apples and it’s amazing.
Wild Maine Blueberry Jam, this has no sugar added. Instead it’s sweetened by stevia, which makes it taste like my blueberry pie filling I have no time to make anymore. It’s lovely on a pb&j sandwich or just slathered on an english muffin.
Soy Candles, they just burn cleaner and don’t leave a heavy scent in the air. I love the scent of Mint and Lavender and the Summer Garden scent is light and not too floral. I’ve also given them as gifts to friends over the winter holidays. Winter Solstice smells like my grandmother’s anise cookies with some cedar notes.
Gluten Free Brownie and Scone Mixes, I’ve yet to try these but I can’t wait to actually get some time in my own kitchen to bake something again.
Other great gluten free brands I love are Udi’s Everything Bagels, Schar Breads and Glutino makes a really good gluten free english muffin. I’ve been learning through trial and error that even though Udi’s bagels aren’t real bagels, they are better than other alternatives. I recently bought a rice flour based everything bagel that looked promising but ugh, the interior wasn’t soft the whole thing was pretty dense and hard. Note to self, don’t try anything new.
I also tried a new local wine and I do like buying things from small sellers. But I didn’t realize that red wine can contain sulfites, which turned out I’m highly allergic to! I had hay fever all night and into the next morning really bad. I’ve had reds before but they just give me a slight headache, but nothing like what I experienced last week. I think I’m just going to stick to me Moscato and vodkas.
