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!
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!
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.
Hello beauties, I know it's been forever. I've had some really personal things going on in my life, and I've been trying to make everything work for me.
I just dropped in again to say that I am thankful for all of you reading my blog, you've made my dreams come true! To have a beauty blog where people listen to the advice? That's an absolutely incredible feeling. Thank you all so much for being here, and reading what I have to say.
So with that, I would like to say something else:
Because I have been going through these personal issues, I have been doing a lot of self-exploring, and I realized a lot of things that I would like to share with all of you, because I've been giving myself lots of advice lately, and I think there are some things that everyone should hear.
1) You are beautiful. I promise. I know this has been a big theme on many websites, like tumblr and peoples' blogs and youtube videos and everything like that, but you are. It's not a joke, it's not a lie, it is 100% true and I mean it in every way, shape and form. You are beautiful inside and out, even on the days that you look in the mirror and say "is that even me" or "how did I get like this". We've all been there: the feeling of hopelessness, feeling like the world is crashing down around us and we're alone to face it. That brings us to the next one.
2) YOU ARE NOT ALONE, beautiful person. There is always someone here going through something as tough, something as hard, and even if they aren't, there is someone out there to listen. It will feel like it's only you, and it will feel like nothing is going to help. But you have at least one person here: you! Believe, believe, believe, and you can do just about anything.
3) You are worth more than you give yourself credit for. I think just about everyone has this issue. People say how worthless they are, how no one cares, how they are completely alone in this world. Well, I would like you to know that I'm here, I care, and you are not by any means worthless. You are incredible and deserve to be so, so happy.
4) You are loved. Someone, somewhere loves you. Don't doubt that.
Those are just a few things I've been living by. That, and the new tattoo I got that says "Wake up strong" from the song Inner Glow by Blue October, my favorite band in the world.
I want all of you to think about this very carefully: you are loved, you are important, I love you, and you can do this.
With or without makeup, you are gorgeous. With or without all of the foundation and concealer and chemical peels or microdermabrasion or haircuts and colors, without all of the eyeshadow and lipstick and eyeliner. Those can contribute to your beauty. But no matter what, know that there are people out there that think you're beautiful, even when you're not feeling it so much for yourself.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I'll get back to my normal posting soon. I love you all very much.
Hello beauties! I am so, so terribly sorry I haven't been here recently. With the hurricane that hit New York (where I live on Long Island), I had no power for quite a while, and then I had to get back to doing the whole college thing. After that, some personal issues came up, and I came home just to get away for a while. I wasn't feeling much like myself, and I didn't want that to come across in my posts, but I'm much better now so here I am to post for all of you again!
This is a semi-tutorial for a look that I thought was really cool: a smokey eye using just two products: an eyeliner and a mascara. You can also use primer and whatever else you'd like to throw in, but for those of you that don't have much time, this is a quick, easy look to make you look like you spent hours on your makeup!
Let's get glowing :)
So to begin, take a black (or whatever color you prefer) eyeliner. I believe a pencil works best, because they're easily blendable. Of course, you can use a gel or a liquid, however if you're trying to achieve the smokey look, the liquid will definitely not blend, and gel dries very quickly, making it harder to work with.
Have your eyeliner? Good! Now, messily color the outer 1/3rd of your eye, around the outer corner. Don't go too far into the crease, and do not take it past half of your eyelid. Take a smudge brush, and smudge out the edges of the eyeliner until there are fewer harsh edges, and blend the eyeliner to about halfway across your eyelid.
Then, take a fluffy brush, and blend in circular motions around the edges until you get the smoked look you're looking for.
Optional: take that black eyeliner and run it across your upper lash line all the way from corner to corner for more definition.
Take your mascara (after curling your lashes, of course) and slather it all over those suckers. Make 'em dramatic!
That's it, you're done! Keeping the black from extending all the way into the inner corner of your eye will open them up, making it look like you're wearing more colors. The ombre effect across the lid will look sophisticated, and like you used more products than you actually did. The mascara will emphasize the smokey look, and it only takes about 5 minutes total! Good luck everyone!
I noticed a lot of you liked my tags, so I found another one for all of you! I found this on frmheadtotoe.com :)
Let's get glowing!
1) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks,
and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
...This is so hard. I might have to say palettes and eyeshadows just because eyeliners can be pretty great makeshift shadows if you blend, and you can't fake mascara very easily.
2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
Chop it all off! At least it'll grow back!
3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
Pink, coral makes me look like my face is dirty because I'm really, really pale.
4.) If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
Sadly, makeup. If you gave me $10,000 I would have the same answer. I could shop in a makeup store for hours and hours and days and days if someone would let me.
5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?
Eyeliner as lipstick! I've done it before with black and red, actually. They have better staying power than if you were to use a lipstick as an eyeliner, especially if they're waterproof.
6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
This is really tough for me...but I think I'm going to go with Sephora just because you can get literally everything there. They have Urban Decay, Sephora brand, Kat Von D...plus all of the skincare and haircare you'll ever need so if you have a breakout or a bad hair day, it's easier to go to Sephora and find the solution instead of MAC where they have mostly makeup products.
7.) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?
One lip color. A nude lip works forever!
8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
Uhhhh this also really hard...I guess summer clothes in winter because you can always put a blanket on over the clothes, and you can't really take anything off in the summer once you're dressed. Unless you're good with going all nude but I'm not. But if you are that's your thing!
9.) Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?
Dark! I'll paint my nails black every day! Burgundy is also a big color for me. Don't care what time of year it is, I'll do it all year 'round.
10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?
In terms of lipstick or eyeshadow: I'll give up lipstick. But my favorite lip product is currently a balm, and I'd have really chapped lips without it, so I'll say eye product.
11.) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?
Ponytail, it's sophisticated, but casual.
12.) Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?
Never use lipgloss...I don't use much gloss to begin with, actually.
13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?
Oh wow, uh...I guess Sharpie them, I don't like how I look with no eyebrows.
14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
NAIL POLISH.
That was an easy one ;)
I tag all of you! Happy reading, beauties!
I know, no one wants to get rid of their stash even if you only use it sometimes. Throwing out an almost untouched makeup product is kind of like having a goldfish die; it happens way too often and it makes you really depressed to see it go. But! Life goes on, I pinky promise.
Really though, it's not too great for the health of your skin or your eyes if you're not paying attention to how long these things last. I only found these time spans out recently, and I figured I would share the shelf lives of all our favorite makeup products with all of you.
Let's get glowing!
Your makeup brushes:
You don't have to dispose of these regularly, unless all of the hair is falling out. This doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with them, it's just that eventually you won't have any brush hairs left.
Concealer:
Lasts up to one year. It's nothing too drastic if you don't throw it out right after those 12 months, however it may lead to a decline in the quality of the product. You probably loved it when you got it and by the time it gets to around a year old, it starts looking a little iffy. That's probably from so much use; a liquid concealer will dry as its used, making it look cakey on the skin.
Powder foundation:
Up to 2 years, make sure you wash your brushes regularly though! It would be the brushes that contaminate the foundation more than anything; if you have some kind of infection that the brush gets into and you use it continuously on your face, it's probably going to lead to an infection there too. I don't think anyone wants that.
Sponges:
Meant to be discarded after use, unless you're washing them with a brush cleaner or a mixture of dish soap and olive oil.
Mascara:
4 months. If you're using a mascara after the 4 month period, it's probably pretty dried out. Not only that, but when you take the wand out of the tube, every time, you're exposing it to potentially dirty air that can contaminate the formula inside. This can lead to eye infections, sensitivity, and styes.
Pencil eyeliners:
3 years, as long as you sharpen it regularly! Every time you sharpen it, you're taking off that top layer of already-used pencil, basically disinfecting it every time you use it.
Eyeshadows:
Also 3 years, and that's a good thing because it gives you time to hit pan and buy a new one! Honestly, I've never owned an eyeshadow for 3 years that I haven't finished, and even after those 3 years, there isn't much wrong with the product. Powder eyeshadows don't have a change in the formulation by the 3-year mark as far as I've seen.
And last but not least:
Lipstick:
1-2 years, but if it smells, it's too old and needs to be thrown out! Putting it in the fridge might save it for a little while longer, but the basic rule is if it smells, get rid of it because it's probably gone rancid.
Hope this was helpful everyone, happy reading!
