Tag Archives: Beauty

One of my major pet peeves is having a shiny/greasy face. I wash my face at least twice a day and constantly put powder on through the day – especially in the summertime. My skin is extremely oily in the T-zone, and normally my cheeks are normal. However, over the past few years I’ve found my cheeks and around my mouth has been getting extremely dry in cold weather – so dry that it hurts to wash my face.

One of my coworkers suggested that I check out The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann. She loaned me her copy to look over. The book is pretty interesting – Dr. Baumann discusses different skin types, and through a series of questions, you find out your skin type. Then, read over the chapter on your type to find out what works and what doesn’t with your skin, and she even lists her recommended products – cleansers, moisturizers, serums, even cosmetics – for each type. When I discovered my type (OSNW – Oily, Sensitive, Non-Pigmented, and Wrinkled), I found out that the reason my face had been stinging and burning was because I was using a foundation that contained avobenzone – one of the wrong things to put on my sensitive skin! Another great thing about this book is that she recommends products in all price points – from drugstore to department store. You can even sign up on her website to take the quiz and get updated recommendations on products.

Since I changed my products and makeup, my face has felt so much better. It is really helping to keep down the redness and sensitivity, while still helping with the oiliness and breakouts in my T-zone. Here are my fave products that I’ve been using!

Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser – This is one of the nicest washes I’ve ever used. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or taut, just soft and smooth. Also, it really helps tone down the redness in my cheeks and chin (stupid rosacea, grr). However, I do find that my T-zone is slightly oilier than usual after an hour, so I started alternating with the following wash.

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash – I love Neutrogena. I’ve been washing with their stuff for years…started with the trusty old clear amber bar (see below) and I’m currently alternating this with the Aveeno cleanser. Since my skin is oily, I need to stick with this to prevent breakouts. This really gets rid of all that gunk and oil on my face. I use it in the evening to really get the grime of the day off!

Aveeno Ultra Calming Moisturizer SPF 15 – I admit, I’m terrible with moisturizers. I never started using them until I was in my 30s, and even then, I didn’t really use them since I felt like they made my oiliness worse, not better. However, I’m going into my mid-30s now and I really need to start using SOMETHING. This moisturizer was recommended in the book, and I really like it! It’s light, not greasy and heavy, and it has sun protection, which is really important for my fair skin.

How do you keep things clean and smooth? Share it in the comments!

Hi, I’m Karen, and I’m a lippie addict.

No, seriously. I HAVE to have something on my lips at all times. (For those who started snickering because that sounded dirty, get your minds out of the gutter. That includes myself.) I can’t go two seconds without some kind of lipstick or lip balm. If I find that I left my lip stuff at home, I will promptly make my way to a store to get more. I’m dead serious.

I used to spend a ton of money on lipsticks. I have quite a few MAC colors, a Chanel color, and I had two Stila lip stains that I ADORED. However, my recent faves are drugstore purchases – one of which I came across purely on chance!

Here’s my fave lip picks:

Smith’s Rosebud Salve is my absolute favorite balm, hands down. This goes on like BUTTAH and stays on forever, keeping my lips soft and smooth. I layer it over lipsticks for high-gloss shine, I slick it on before I go to bed at night to keep my lips moist, I wear it by itself when I don’t feel like wearing lipstick. For being so glossy, it is surprisingly non-sticky! I love that it comes in a pot or tube – I keep a tube in my purse and a pot in my makeup case. I also use this stuff as impromptu cuticle cream or hand lotion when my hands are especially dry in the winter, and I’ve rubbed it on dry elbows as well. Every time I pop into Sephora I pick up some of this stuff. I can’t go without it. No, really. I will go into fits if I run out.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain and Balm in Gothic has become my favorite new red lip color. When I apply red lipstick, my routine goes like this:
1. Apply lip balm to lips, leave on for 5 minutes. Wipe off with a tissue.
2. Line lips with neutral or red liner, then fill in with liner.
3. Apply red lipstick with lip brush.
4. Blot with one sheet of tissue.
5. Lightly line the lips with powder.

The main reason that I go through all this process is because I have a ton of teensy fine lines around my mouth and if I don’t do all this, my lipstick ends up bleeding into those lines and I look awful. Now, with the Revlon stain, my routine has turned into this:
1. Apply balm to lips, wipe off.
2. Fill in lips with stain. If a darker color is desired, apply more stain.
3. Apply balm over stain.

DONE! The stain doesn’t bleed, and the balm helps keep my lips nice and soft! I’ve also applied this on bare lips and THEN applied red lipstick over it, to really last through a day or night!

Jordana EasyShine Lip Color has become my absolute favorite everyday lipstick. Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog referred to these as “the Two-Buck Chuck of the hybrid gloss/lipstick world”, and boy is she right. I found these at Walgreens purely by chance while I was poking around the makeup section. (Slightly off topic – does anyone else spend more time than they should in the drugstore makeup aisles? I can waste 30 minutes just in the makeup and hair aisles alone. I don’t see anyone else doing it, so sometimes I wonder if I am crazy.) They have a sheer to medium coverage color-wise, which is really nice if you don’t want to spend all day on your makeup. My fave colors so far are Sweet Strawberry (a sheer red) and Sugar Plum (a wine/berry color). I also have Berry Colada, which is a pretty pink with some golden shimmer in it. I admit, they don;t wear long, so I do have to touch up a few times during the day. The best part about them is that they cost $1.99. TWO BUCK LIPPIES? YES.

What’s your cheap lip remedy? Share it in the comments!

Next week on Frugal Friday – Keeping It Clean!

What is it about thick, dark, long, luxurious eyelashes? Women all over the world spend tons of money on mascaras and false eyelashes so we can have those enviable eyes. There’s even a prescription serum to help lashes grow! Today on Frugal Friday, I talk about my favorite mascara picks to give you those luscious lashes without spending your savings account.

I admit, my lashes are fairly normal. I don’t suffer from sparse or thin lashes…but they aren’t long or luxurious by any means! So I rely on mascaras to plump them up and make them look great. However, I stick with drugstore or inexpensive brands because I’m a stickler for hygiene, and I don’t want to spend a ton of money on mascara three or four times a year.

HEALTH NOTE: Did you know that mascaras are supposed to last just a few months? Most have an antibacterial agent added to them…but the agent is only supposed to last from six weeks to four months. A great rule of thumb is that if your mascara’s texture or smell starts to change, THROW IT OUT.

Here are some of my lash picks:

Wet n’ Wild has been my go-to mascara brand for years. My favorites are Mega Length (the blue tube) and Mega Plump (the red tube). These two versions constantly have a home in my makeup case. Mega Length does exactly what it implies – it makes your lashes long and lean. Mega Plump thickens them up. Depending on the look, I use one or the other – but when both length and volume are called for, I use the Mega Length first, let it dry for a few minutes, then top with Mega Plump. Instant false lashes with none of that messy glue.

Mega Length has a thinner formula, but it glides on smoothly and I never had a problem with clumping. Mega Plump has a thicker texture, and can clump if too much is put on the eyelashes. They do not flake or run during an average day – however, if tears or rain is in your future, invest in the waterproof option.

Do you have an inexpensive mascara that you adore? Share it with me in the comments!

Next week on Frugal Friday – Those Lips Are Made for Kissing!