This is just a quick little tag while I wait for some beauty/skincare inspiration to pop up.
I tag all of you!
1. Would you consider yourself a shopaholic? Oh absolutely, especially if it's LUSH. ;)
2. How would you classify your style? I would say I wear a little of everything, but most of the time it's more boho.
3. What store can you not leave without buying at least one thing? LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH LUSH
4. Where do you find the best deals? American Eagle, actually! I've been really into their clothes lately, and a lot of their shorts are 40% off right now. Go, beauties, go!
5. What designer are you willing to splurge for? I'm going to go with Tom's shoes. Anyone else notice the price went way up?
6. Do you have a go to shopping outfit? Nope, I'm usually in jeans and a cute top or a t-shirt with a scarf or big necklace.
7. What is your guilty pleasure? (Not including makeup) <-- darn...as far as shopping goes, I live in Anthropologie and their Volcano candle is my favorite.
8. What is one staple clothing piece you cannot live without? Plain v-necks from Madewell!
9. What is a trend you hope never goes out of style? BELL BOTTOMS. In loooove.
10. What trend did you love that passed way to quickly? As terrible as it sounds, I typically don't stay "on trend". I buy what I like, that's it. :)
11. Who is your fashion icon? I don't really have one, I get inspired by pictures and seasons more than people.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
I need some help with my blog!
Hi beauties! I know, I know, it's been absolutely forever. I've been trying to collect topics for blog posts, but everyone seems to be giving me topics I've written about already.
So this is where you all come in!
If you have any, any, ANY beauty questions/concerns or anything you'd like to know more about, please leave a comment here, or email me at glitterazziandkisses@aol.com
I'll be looking forward to your suggestions! Stay gorgeous!
So this is where you all come in!
If you have any, any, ANY beauty questions/concerns or anything you'd like to know more about, please leave a comment here, or email me at glitterazziandkisses@aol.com
I'll be looking forward to your suggestions! Stay gorgeous!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
LUSH Deodorant Review
So here's a topic I didn't really think I'd be writing about: all-natural deodorants.
I've been someone who has kind of bought just about any deodorant at the drug store that promises to keep me dry and smelling like beds of flowers, but in the last year or so I've completely changed my skin routine to encompass more of what my morals are.
I prefer things that are completely natural and not tested on animals because not only are they better for your skin in the long-run (no harsh chemicals, no dyes, stuff like that), so I've really switched to LUSH as my go-to company for...well...everything. (I know it gets expensive, but I'm hooked! My skin has never looked or felt better!)
I was originally using Tom's deodorant (the "Naturally Dry" one) but I was finding that by the end of the day the smell completely wore off (ew), and the packaging was big and bulky...but worst of all: My skin was itching like crazy at the end of the day. It also contains aluminum, which I'm trying to avoid.
So I went to my local LUSH and had Jen, their incredible manager, direct me to their deodorants.
I bought three just to see what the deal was...oops. ;)
So let's get glowing!
The first:
Aromaco!
This deodorant comes in a solid (no packaging, no waste!) and is scented like patchouli (one of my favorite smells in the whole world). It is made up of witch-hazel, which is an astringent so it will kill off the bacteria making a home of your pits (sorry I'm gross), sodium bicarbonate (more commonly known as baking soda) to absorb excess moisture, and chamomile vinegar which is antibacterial and soothes the skin rather than irritating it.
All in all, I loved the smell of this, but it wasn't lasting all day, and didn't keep me as dry as I would have liked.
That's why I bought:
Coconut Deodorant Powder
This stuff smells SO GOOD. It's like you're on a tropical island. It's fabulous.
I layer this over my Aromaco, and it keeps me dry all day with absolutely irritation, and it keeps me smelling fresh all day because there's no moisture. It absorbs everything. There are four different kinds of coconut in every bottle, and the powder consistency really makes everything feel dry for hours and hours. If you like the smell of natural coconut, you'll love this one.
I wouldn't recommend this if you really feel like you perspire a lot though, it's very light.
For people worried about smell and lots of perspiration, I suggest my personal favorite (not because I worry about smell and perspiration, I'm lucky in that department):
T'eo Deodorant
I cannot rave enough about this incredible bar of magic. This bar smells like citrus. Personally, I smell a lot of lemongrass (which is a primary ingredient in this bar) which is awesome for me because I'm addicted to anything that smells like citrus or spring lately. So here's what's in it and what it does: lemongrass is a skin toner, and incredibly deodorizing. I smell like this stuff ALL DAY. Green grapes are also used to make this bar, and they're very antibacterial. Why is this a good thing? Their antibacterial properties kill the bacteria that causes the smell under your arms. Next, we have Juniperberry oil, which is an awesome skin decongestant, so if you have bacteria and sweat clogging your underarm pores, the smell won't go away...this stuff takes all that right out.
This is definitely my favorite deodorant that I bought. You take the solid bar and rub it on your underarms (but no packaging again, which I love), and it almost comes off in a powder-like texture. Trust me, it looks thin, but it works.
On days that it's warmer outside I layer this over Aromaco (sometimes I do this even when it isn't warm because I just love patchouli).
I hope this was helpful to any of you lovely people out there looking to switch to a more natural, effective option when it comes to deodorants.
Stick around for my next post! Thanks everyone!
I've been someone who has kind of bought just about any deodorant at the drug store that promises to keep me dry and smelling like beds of flowers, but in the last year or so I've completely changed my skin routine to encompass more of what my morals are.
I prefer things that are completely natural and not tested on animals because not only are they better for your skin in the long-run (no harsh chemicals, no dyes, stuff like that), so I've really switched to LUSH as my go-to company for...well...everything. (I know it gets expensive, but I'm hooked! My skin has never looked or felt better!)
I was originally using Tom's deodorant (the "Naturally Dry" one) but I was finding that by the end of the day the smell completely wore off (ew), and the packaging was big and bulky...but worst of all: My skin was itching like crazy at the end of the day. It also contains aluminum, which I'm trying to avoid.
So I went to my local LUSH and had Jen, their incredible manager, direct me to their deodorants.
I bought three just to see what the deal was...oops. ;)
So let's get glowing!
The first:
Aromaco!
This deodorant comes in a solid (no packaging, no waste!) and is scented like patchouli (one of my favorite smells in the whole world). It is made up of witch-hazel, which is an astringent so it will kill off the bacteria making a home of your pits (sorry I'm gross), sodium bicarbonate (more commonly known as baking soda) to absorb excess moisture, and chamomile vinegar which is antibacterial and soothes the skin rather than irritating it.
All in all, I loved the smell of this, but it wasn't lasting all day, and didn't keep me as dry as I would have liked.
That's why I bought:
Coconut Deodorant Powder
This stuff smells SO GOOD. It's like you're on a tropical island. It's fabulous.
I layer this over my Aromaco, and it keeps me dry all day with absolutely irritation, and it keeps me smelling fresh all day because there's no moisture. It absorbs everything. There are four different kinds of coconut in every bottle, and the powder consistency really makes everything feel dry for hours and hours. If you like the smell of natural coconut, you'll love this one.
I wouldn't recommend this if you really feel like you perspire a lot though, it's very light.
For people worried about smell and lots of perspiration, I suggest my personal favorite (not because I worry about smell and perspiration, I'm lucky in that department):
T'eo Deodorant
I cannot rave enough about this incredible bar of magic. This bar smells like citrus. Personally, I smell a lot of lemongrass (which is a primary ingredient in this bar) which is awesome for me because I'm addicted to anything that smells like citrus or spring lately. So here's what's in it and what it does: lemongrass is a skin toner, and incredibly deodorizing. I smell like this stuff ALL DAY. Green grapes are also used to make this bar, and they're very antibacterial. Why is this a good thing? Their antibacterial properties kill the bacteria that causes the smell under your arms. Next, we have Juniperberry oil, which is an awesome skin decongestant, so if you have bacteria and sweat clogging your underarm pores, the smell won't go away...this stuff takes all that right out.
This is definitely my favorite deodorant that I bought. You take the solid bar and rub it on your underarms (but no packaging again, which I love), and it almost comes off in a powder-like texture. Trust me, it looks thin, but it works.
On days that it's warmer outside I layer this over Aromaco (sometimes I do this even when it isn't warm because I just love patchouli).
I hope this was helpful to any of you lovely people out there looking to switch to a more natural, effective option when it comes to deodorants.
Stick around for my next post! Thanks everyone!
Where Have I Been?!
Hey beauties! It's been a long, long time since I posted! I'm so sorry to those of you checking back to see if I've posted only to find that I haven't, so let me explain...
I started a new school this semester and I'm double-majoring in pre-medical studies and forensic science with a minor in Spanish, so I kind of have a lot on my plate on top of my extracurriculars. I honestly haven't had time to breathe let alone put up a blog post, but things are slow for the weekend (I have off until Wednesday! Hooray!) so I'll hopefully be posting one blog a day to try to make up (even a little bit) for being gone for so long.
My next post will be up within a few minutes; I have a review to do on some new LUSH stuff I tried out.
Thanks for sticking around, lovelies!
I started a new school this semester and I'm double-majoring in pre-medical studies and forensic science with a minor in Spanish, so I kind of have a lot on my plate on top of my extracurriculars. I honestly haven't had time to breathe let alone put up a blog post, but things are slow for the weekend (I have off until Wednesday! Hooray!) so I'll hopefully be posting one blog a day to try to make up (even a little bit) for being gone for so long.
My next post will be up within a few minutes; I have a review to do on some new LUSH stuff I tried out.
Thanks for sticking around, lovelies!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
LUSH review: Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo
I told all of you I would be doing LUSH reviews! Being a LUSH junkie has been a hobby of mine for about a year now, if I'm not mistaken. It's evolved from "oh wow I like this" into a sick obsession, where I find myself in a LUSH store any chance I get to try out new products.
One of those new products I'm absolutely loving:
Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo!
For those of you that don't know me/what I look like, here's a quick picture.
That's my natural hair. It's insanely curly, and usually very, very frizzy. (I guess I was having a good day, since this was before I started using this shampoo)
So here's my story:
I walked into LUSH with my typical list of things I'd run out of, grabbing a few things around the store here and there, until a salesgirl approached me asking if I needed any help. I mentioned that I'd never used their hair products before, so she pulled me over to the table eager to help me out.
She saw my hair situation, and suggested Curly Wurly (which I have been using, I'll review that next!) so I had told her I'd used that, and this was her next suggestion.
I wanted another shampoo because Curly Wurly is a conditioning shampoo and more of a weekly treatment, and I wanted something that lathered better.
Enter Cynthia Sylvia Stout, the most magical product I've ever applied to my hair. The smell is a little bit off-putting, it is a beer, cognac and lemon juice shampoo (weird, I know) after all. If you're into that kind of smell, you'll love this. Personally, I didn't love it, but I gave it a shot because there's yeast (which promotes hair growth) and the beer and cognac gives hair weight and reduces frizz, and lemon juice for shine. It detangles my knots, and makes my hair fabulously bouncy.
It does everything it says it will do. I use it with American Cream conditioner, which takes the smell of the shampoo out (and then my hair smells like vanilla...mmm.)
I would definitely recommend this shampoo to anyone with curly/frizzy hair in need of a pick-me-up, I'll never go back to another shampoo. I love this!
Hope this was helpful. I can do an update as I use more of it, but I figured I would post an initial reaction. Stay gorgeous!
One of those new products I'm absolutely loving:
For those of you that don't know me/what I look like, here's a quick picture.
So here's my story:
I walked into LUSH with my typical list of things I'd run out of, grabbing a few things around the store here and there, until a salesgirl approached me asking if I needed any help. I mentioned that I'd never used their hair products before, so she pulled me over to the table eager to help me out.
She saw my hair situation, and suggested Curly Wurly (which I have been using, I'll review that next!) so I had told her I'd used that, and this was her next suggestion.
I wanted another shampoo because Curly Wurly is a conditioning shampoo and more of a weekly treatment, and I wanted something that lathered better.
Enter Cynthia Sylvia Stout, the most magical product I've ever applied to my hair. The smell is a little bit off-putting, it is a beer, cognac and lemon juice shampoo (weird, I know) after all. If you're into that kind of smell, you'll love this. Personally, I didn't love it, but I gave it a shot because there's yeast (which promotes hair growth) and the beer and cognac gives hair weight and reduces frizz, and lemon juice for shine. It detangles my knots, and makes my hair fabulously bouncy.
It does everything it says it will do. I use it with American Cream conditioner, which takes the smell of the shampoo out (and then my hair smells like vanilla...mmm.)
I would definitely recommend this shampoo to anyone with curly/frizzy hair in need of a pick-me-up, I'll never go back to another shampoo. I love this!
Hope this was helpful. I can do an update as I use more of it, but I figured I would post an initial reaction. Stay gorgeous!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Preventative Maintenence: Does it Help?
We all see the ads on television all of the time: wrinkle repair, intense moisture renewal, plumping, firming, tightening...the list goes on for ages.
But for those of us that feel that we don't have these problems with our skin (yet, at least), should we start using these products to prevent said things from happening all together?
Let's get glowing!
The good thing about these anti-aging products is that they usually contain many anti-oxidants that promote cell-turnover. What happens during cell turnover? It's the replacement of old cells with brand new ones. Therefore, the product you're slathering all over your face aids in the production of new and improved skin cells. These cells make you look younger, because they themselves are younger!
Some ingredients that aid in cell turnover include: vitamin C (you can take a gel capsule and break it open and put it directly on the skin. They also sell vitamin C sticks in most drug/beauty stores for relatively inexpensive prices), alpha lipoic acid, and retinoid. Retinoid is a strong ingredient found in many anti-aging products (we hear things like retinol or retin-A, etc.). The issue with retinol, is you need to limit your sun exposure while it is on your skin, or it can damage skin cells. However, it has been found to almost clear age spots, in certain cases.
Then we hear of those firming and plumping ingredients:
Emollients/Humectants: what these do is actually what a moisturizer should be doing. Moisture on the skin's surface will be drawn further into the layers of the skin, creating a plumped effect because the skin is being plumped with this moisture. Very good for your skin!
Alpha Hydroxy Acids: We hear of these acids in things like glycolic peels. They are typically used to slough away dead skin cells and make room for new ones without clogging pores. They essentially dissolve the dead ones! According to a study done at the University of Maryland that I found on the livestrong.com website, alpha hydroxy acids were found to actually promote the production of collagen and elasticity in the skin which in the long run, helps firm it.
Hyaluronic Acid: This stuff can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water! Can you imagine the plumping effect that has on the skin?! Not only that, but your cells are being saturated with moisture that they were lacking, which can end up helping them out in the long-run. These have been specifically recommended for the eye area, however it can be used everywhere.
Peptides: Many of us have heard of these in those anti-wrinkle products. That's because they aid in the production of collagen, which makes the skin appear firmer and more taut. With extended use, these can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, or just make your skin look tighter and not so "saggy" (even though no matter what, your skin is beautiful!)
So with that, should we young people use these products before we even start seeing any of these symptoms of "aging"?
(I say "aging" because no matter what, there are things that are going to happen to the skin that are unavoidable, and these things can happen at any time and at any age. I do not necessarily like the idea that the industry of anti-aging products making it seem like these products are only for "older" women, everyone has concerns!)
The good news is that if you would like to, there's no reason not to! These are more of a "cure" and not so much being pro-active rather than reactive, but the moisture content in many of these products is actually wonderful for the skin, especially around the very, very delicate eye area. The more moisture in your skin, the better! It's the largest organ you have, and if your insides need to be hydrated, why wouldn't you hydrate the external parts too, right?
Alright, beauties! I hope this was helpful for those of you that would like to "fix" those "imperfections" (because we're all fabulous no matter what age, how we look...), or just prevent them! See you next time, and thank you for reading!
But for those of us that feel that we don't have these problems with our skin (yet, at least), should we start using these products to prevent said things from happening all together?
Let's get glowing!
The good thing about these anti-aging products is that they usually contain many anti-oxidants that promote cell-turnover. What happens during cell turnover? It's the replacement of old cells with brand new ones. Therefore, the product you're slathering all over your face aids in the production of new and improved skin cells. These cells make you look younger, because they themselves are younger!
Some ingredients that aid in cell turnover include: vitamin C (you can take a gel capsule and break it open and put it directly on the skin. They also sell vitamin C sticks in most drug/beauty stores for relatively inexpensive prices), alpha lipoic acid, and retinoid. Retinoid is a strong ingredient found in many anti-aging products (we hear things like retinol or retin-A, etc.). The issue with retinol, is you need to limit your sun exposure while it is on your skin, or it can damage skin cells. However, it has been found to almost clear age spots, in certain cases.
Then we hear of those firming and plumping ingredients:
Emollients/Humectants: what these do is actually what a moisturizer should be doing. Moisture on the skin's surface will be drawn further into the layers of the skin, creating a plumped effect because the skin is being plumped with this moisture. Very good for your skin!
Alpha Hydroxy Acids: We hear of these acids in things like glycolic peels. They are typically used to slough away dead skin cells and make room for new ones without clogging pores. They essentially dissolve the dead ones! According to a study done at the University of Maryland that I found on the livestrong.com website, alpha hydroxy acids were found to actually promote the production of collagen and elasticity in the skin which in the long run, helps firm it.
Hyaluronic Acid: This stuff can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water! Can you imagine the plumping effect that has on the skin?! Not only that, but your cells are being saturated with moisture that they were lacking, which can end up helping them out in the long-run. These have been specifically recommended for the eye area, however it can be used everywhere.
Peptides: Many of us have heard of these in those anti-wrinkle products. That's because they aid in the production of collagen, which makes the skin appear firmer and more taut. With extended use, these can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, or just make your skin look tighter and not so "saggy" (even though no matter what, your skin is beautiful!)
So with that, should we young people use these products before we even start seeing any of these symptoms of "aging"?
(I say "aging" because no matter what, there are things that are going to happen to the skin that are unavoidable, and these things can happen at any time and at any age. I do not necessarily like the idea that the industry of anti-aging products making it seem like these products are only for "older" women, everyone has concerns!)
The good news is that if you would like to, there's no reason not to! These are more of a "cure" and not so much being pro-active rather than reactive, but the moisture content in many of these products is actually wonderful for the skin, especially around the very, very delicate eye area. The more moisture in your skin, the better! It's the largest organ you have, and if your insides need to be hydrated, why wouldn't you hydrate the external parts too, right?
Alright, beauties! I hope this was helpful for those of you that would like to "fix" those "imperfections" (because we're all fabulous no matter what age, how we look...), or just prevent them! See you next time, and thank you for reading!
Monday, December 10, 2012
What's Your Feel-Good Makeup Product?
There are lots of things out there that make people happy. Chocolate, six inch heels, movie-theater popcorn buttered halfway through...(or maybe that's just me!)
But when it comes to looking fabulous, even in the worst of times, everyone has a little tool to pick them up, right?
Let's get glowing!
When I think of "feel-good makeup product", I think of my MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Prolong. It's a true red color, and there's nothing that makes me feel more fabulous than a nice red lip! As long as I apply it in such a way that it doesn't get on my teeth and doesn't feather (that's what lipliner is for, people!), it makes me feel absolutely gorgeous.
Want to know why? Red is a color typically associated with beauty, passion, and danger. This color in our minds, and the minds of men, means the same. When you wear a red lip, your brain flips a switch that basically says "I'm fabulous and I know it."
And with that, you'll probably end up smiling a little more, which is great for you if you're wearing the right red shade! A shade of red lipstick with a blue undertone, it's actually proven to make your teeth look whiter.
It's a confidence boost for sure; that red lip just screams "look at me! I know I'm fabulous, even if I don't feel like it!"
Another makeup product that will make you feel great in an instant: mascara!
One of the most basic makeup products you can have. The right one can actually boost your mood in a similar way to that red lip, just much more subtly.
An eyelash curler is also ideal, however if you're out and can't get your hands on one, that's perfectly fine. All you need to do is swipe on your mascara, and you'll look more awake, your eyes will look more defined, and you're wearing the ultimate no-makeup-makeup! With longer, thicker, more defined lashes, who wouldn't feel good? And all you need is the tube and a compact mirror and you're all set.
Thanks for reading, beauties! I know it's been a while!
Give me some inspiration for what to write about next, I'd love to hear what you'd love to hear about! And leave a comment letting me know what your favorite makeup product is and why, I'd love to do some tests for myself, and we'll see if anyone else has the same answers.
But when it comes to looking fabulous, even in the worst of times, everyone has a little tool to pick them up, right?
Let's get glowing!
When I think of "feel-good makeup product", I think of my MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Prolong. It's a true red color, and there's nothing that makes me feel more fabulous than a nice red lip! As long as I apply it in such a way that it doesn't get on my teeth and doesn't feather (that's what lipliner is for, people!), it makes me feel absolutely gorgeous.
Want to know why? Red is a color typically associated with beauty, passion, and danger. This color in our minds, and the minds of men, means the same. When you wear a red lip, your brain flips a switch that basically says "I'm fabulous and I know it."
And with that, you'll probably end up smiling a little more, which is great for you if you're wearing the right red shade! A shade of red lipstick with a blue undertone, it's actually proven to make your teeth look whiter.
It's a confidence boost for sure; that red lip just screams "look at me! I know I'm fabulous, even if I don't feel like it!"
Another makeup product that will make you feel great in an instant: mascara!
One of the most basic makeup products you can have. The right one can actually boost your mood in a similar way to that red lip, just much more subtly.
An eyelash curler is also ideal, however if you're out and can't get your hands on one, that's perfectly fine. All you need to do is swipe on your mascara, and you'll look more awake, your eyes will look more defined, and you're wearing the ultimate no-makeup-makeup! With longer, thicker, more defined lashes, who wouldn't feel good? And all you need is the tube and a compact mirror and you're all set.
Thanks for reading, beauties! I know it's been a while!
Give me some inspiration for what to write about next, I'd love to hear what you'd love to hear about! And leave a comment letting me know what your favorite makeup product is and why, I'd love to do some tests for myself, and we'll see if anyone else has the same answers.
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