2012 Chairty of the Year!

Seasons Greetings Post #2!

Hello again my beloved Shine and Sparkle Report readers!

It is the holiday season. People are rushing around frantically acquiring gifts for their loved ones. They are primping and preening in front of mirrors for holiday parties, shopping trips, and other festivities. While lots of beauty bloggers and enthusiasts are telling you about the latest trends attacked by the glitter gods, I want to take this time to draw some attention to those less fortunate.

I think part of being a beautiful person is appreciating what you have. The holidays in the Western world seem to emphasize consumerism. Thus, I will try and off set this with a little plug for the Shine and Sparkle Report: Charity of The Year (I think I will continue to do this every year around the holidays.)

I would now like to introduce to you, PROJECT PEANUT BUTTER!

Click Here! For an awesome video about Project Peanut Butter, as well as how to donate.

So, why Project Peanut Butter? (The following was quoted from Project Peanut Butter's Official Organization Statement)

Mission
Project Peanut Butter (PPB) seeks to advance the treatment of childhood malnutrition, the greatest contributor to child mortality in the world today, using effective, locally produced ready-to-use therapeutic foods.This corporation is formed to provide needed nutritional and medical support to children and adults suffering from severe malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Programs and Activities
Project Peanut Butter was formed to treat moderately and severely malnourished children and adults in sub-Saharan Africa, and other countries as needed. We provide locally reduced RUTF (Ready-To-Use-Therpeutic Food), and improve distribution through education and training of local clinical offices and health providers. Project Peanut Butter has facilities in Malawi, Sierra Leone, and a new start-up program in Mali. We have a partnership with clinics in Payatas, Philippines. They serve as the the advisor to several small programs and orphanages that produce or distribute RUTF for use in their programs. Also, Project Peanut Butter continues to contribute to the irradication of malnutrition through improved formulas for treatment of target groups, such as HIV+ Adults. Since the use of RUTF began in the treatment of malnutrition, recovery rates have skyrocket from 25-40% to 90-95%. We strive to improve this rate through improved recipes and improved distribution compliance.

Shine and Sparkle readers, if this is not convincing enough to get you to consider a donation to Project Peanut butter, only 1.5% of your donation is used for administrative costs. Also, for just $25, a child's life is saved! How rad is that? If you don't have the means to donate, that is ok. Just tell someone about PPB. They spend no money on advertising or soliciting donations, so if you just mention PPB to someone, you are helping a ton!

S+SR Giving Challenge!
Did you know that just by reading this post, you could save a child through PPB? Here is how it works:

1. Share this post! Either on Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, Email,...anything else you can think of.
2. Comment on this post about where you shared it (honor system guys) as well as any other charities you think I should look into (possibly for next year's SSR Charity of the Year?) 
3. If we reach over 25 comments on this post, I will personally donate an extra $25 to PPB on behalf of the Shine and Sparkle Report! 

Thank you so much Shine and Sparkle Report readers! Together we can give the world a little extra shine and sparkle!


Shine & Sparkle! 

A last note, I'm in no way affiliated with PPB. I came across them completely by chance and I have been a huge fan ever sense.

Online Beauty Subscription Service Reviews

Seasons Greetings Shine and Sparklers!

Welcome to the S+SR special online beauty subscription holiday shopping edition! As the holidays approach, gifts are on everyone's minds.  I wanted to break down the most popular online beauty/fashion online subscription services for you guys.  No matter if it is a subscription gift for another person, a way to divide up the things you get to give as gifts, test products to give as gifts, or simply do a whole lot of gifting to yourself; this guide should help you decide what kind of subscription service would work best for you.

Mountains of Products for Less?  Yes Please! As usual, like my last stock image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

What is an Online Beauty Subscription Service?
I'm glad you asked dear reader!  In a nutshell, for a monthly fee, you get products.  The beauty subscriptions allow you to try new products at a fraction of the cost. Fashion ones allow you to get the latest trends for a fraction of the typical cost.  Most services have you take a quiz so they can customize what you get to better fit your complexion, needs, and style.

Each site has their own types of products and systems so it can get really confusing.  That is what I'm here for!

Other Than My Beloved S+SR, where can I See Examples of the Things Typically in the Subscription?
Their website!  =P Or, if you YouTube the name of the service, there are tons of people who do "unboxing" videos of their subscriptions.  They will often describe or review what they got as well.  Not to mention you can find codes for introductory deals if you sign up.  Go.  Spend your life on youtube.  Check out "No No Cat" while you are at it.

S+SR Recommended (and not) Beauty Subscription Services:

Ipsy (Formerly Glam Bag):

• Price: $10/month.  Discounts for buying multiple months at a time.
• Types of Product: Once a month you get a different little make up bag.  In the bag are 4-5 deluxe sample or full size beauty products (primarily make-up, skin, hair, and nails). 
• How it Works: Sign Up.  Pay Monthly.  Get stuff in the mail.  So simple right?
• Skipping a month: Ipsy does not let you skip a month.  You must cancel before the end of the month to not be charged for your next bag.
• Rewards program: Nope.  You get what you get.  There is no advantage to being a member or encouraging your friends to sign up.
• S+SR Approved?  YES! Simple, elegant, cheap.  I have received 2 months of Ipsy and I am very pleased.  The make-up cases have bee good quality and cute.  The products have been high end and I have been happy with most of the items I have gotten.  The fey I have not like were because they were not right for my skin tone--despite the quiz. I gave them to my fair skinned BFF so it's a win win.
• Where You Sign Up: www.ipsy.com 

Beauty Subsciption Like Ipsy but are NOT Recommended:

• Glossy Box:  While almost identical in concept to Ipsy, it is $21.  Yes, it has much prettier packaging, but the samples appear to be smaller (not just deluxe and full size items) and I just have not seen many products that I have been excited about in any of the numerous "unboxing" videos I have looked at.  If you are still interested in a Glossy Box, their link is www.glossybox.com
• Birch Box:  Also identical in process to Ipsy, it is also $10 like Ipsy.  You do not get a cool make up bag, you just get a brown box.  Another difference is they include "Lifestyle" items.  This can include band-aids, food samples, stain solution, fashion tape, tooth paste....you get the idea.  I mostly did not chose this box because I rather get a cute make up bag and not get tooth paste.  Maybe you really feel passionately about trying new toothpaste.  I dont.  If you are really into getting granola bars with your beauty products, check it out at www.birchbox.com
• Beauty Fix: $50?! (don't get fooled by that $49.99 is cheaper stuff).  So for more money you get 8 deluxe or full size items.  You also get to pick which ones you want from a gallery of items that their experts pick for you. Maybe the concept of more choice and more products is worth an extra $30-$40 to you.  It isn't to me.  If this service speaks to you (or you are simply more affluent than Ms. Sparkles) check it out at www.beautyfix.com

Other Cool Subscription Service Sites:
Now that you are super interested in subscribing to a beauty service, I wanted to quickly point out a few more sites that have really cool concepts.  I have personally tried them all and will give you a quick review.

Little Black Bag (LLB):

• Price: $30 or $50/month. 
• Types of Product: Mostly handbags, accessories, and jewelry.  Some home decor, apparel, and make-up.  There are a ton of brand name designers that participate in this site.  Some things are popular high quality brands (Betsy Johnson, French Connection, Steve Madden, Kenneth Jay Lane, Deux Lux--just to give you a flavor).  However, there are some items that are more cheaply made.  There are also some items that they tell you are worth a certain amount retail, but are on sale else where so the actual cost is less than the rate they say.  That being said, I still love it.
• How it Works: Complicated, time intensive, ADDICTIVE.  In a nutshell, you pay monthly for either a $30 or $50 box.  You get to pick your first item (up to $70% off of retail) from your customized show room.  Then you get to see the other items selected by LLB (or the designers of the surprise items) before purchasing the box.  Now the fun part-- you get to trade online.  You can trade that crappy colored nail polish for one you like.  You can trade 2 earrings you hate for a bag you love, the possibilities are as endless as the number of women trading on the site.  The website is easy to use and facilitates great trades.  The $30 bag gets 3 days of trading, $50 gets 6 days.  By the time I finished with my first $50 box (with extra items due to first time sign up I had saved over $170 off of retail.  I'm still working on trading with my second box, but I'm looking at saving over $120 with fewer items to start with.   
• Skipping a month: Yep!  If you want to skip or cancel you can.  For $10 more you can do this without subscribing at all.
• Rewards program: Yes, you can get extra items in your box by having friends sign up.
• S+SR Approved?  YES! Oh so addictive.  You have to be careful to really think about what you want and what you will actually wear/use because you get really caught up when people send you multiple items for your one item.  The psychology major in me loves trying to predict how I can trade to get more expensive things I want by trading less expensive ones.  Yeah....it's addictive.
• Where You Sign Up: With my referral link if you would be so kind for  www.littleblackbag.com (This is the Sparkles Referral Link)

Julep Maven: $20/month.  I tried this during a "try for a penny" deal and then canceled.  You get 2 Julep Brand nail polishes and one other item (foot cream, nail file etc.)  I tried the polishes.  They were simply ok.  They have nice colors and good ingredients.  But I found that they took a long time to dry and in general, were not worth $20 a month, considering I am satisfied with the nail polish I get for much less.  If you are a nail addict, think this is fun, and want two new colors every month, be my guest at www.julep.com 

Just Fab:  $40 for anything you see on the site.  You have a customized shopping closet but you are free to roam to vast selection of shoes, handbags, jewelry, and other accessories for just $40 per item.  They typically have sales and promotions so you can get things for less.  I have been really happy with the quality of my shoes and clutches I have gotten so far.  You have to skip by the 5th of the month if you do not want to get charged for a $40 credit.  They really have cute stuff that is great for getting the latest trends for less.  If you decide to sign up, I'd love if you used this referral link to www.justfab.com (This is the Sparkles Referral Link).   

Shoe Dazzle: It used to be identical to Just Fab.  Now it has things that are more expensive than $40, have less good deals, and the products just are not as cute.  I would have highly recommend them as well until the recent changes.  If you would basically like a crappier version of Just Fab, check them out at www.shoedazzle.com


I hope that my online shopping obsession has helped you navigate the confusing (yet awesome) world of online beauty/fashion subscription services.  Maybe someone will be getting something from your Little Black Bag Christmas ;D


Shine & Sparkle! 

DIY with the Magical Coconut Oil

Seasons Greetings S+SR Readers!

Two posts in less than a week?!  A miracle, I know.  Much like the presence of this post, the content is about a miracle product.  Coconut Oil!  I really cannot rave enough about coconut oil.  It has so many great applications, from beauty to cooking.  In addition, it is very affordable and natural.  No ingredients you can't pronounce, just coconut oil.

Trader Joe's Coconut Oil ($6) As usual, like my last stock image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit.

The Basics:
Coconut oil is made from extracting the oils out of a coconut.  It is a solid at room temperature, but easily turns into a liquid with just body heat, a hot day, or a zap in the microwave.  Not all coconut oils are created equal, some coconut oil is extracted using high heat, chemicals and even bleach.  This is why I suggest a virgin and organic coconut oil.  Much like the Trader Joe's one shown above.  That huge jar costs around $6 and will last forever! 

Benefits List:
Ms. Sparkles, why should I consider adding coconut oil to my beauty routines?  Well dear reader, I'm glad you asked.

• Antibacterial and Antimicrobial- As a result of the saturated fats in coconut oil, it aids in killing bacteria and fungi (gross but cool right?)  This is great for treating skin conditions such as eczema and dandruff.
•  Low Molecular Weight- Why do you care about this?  Unlike other oils (almond, caster, jojoba, olive, etc) used in beauty applications, coconut oil is very light.  This means that it does the best job at absorbing into the hair shaft.  
• Moisturizing- This oil is great for replacing oils lost in skin, hair, and nails.  Oils are great for locking in moisture right after a bath or shower as well.
• Economical Luxury- Many high end beauty products (especially the more natural ones) often use some derivative of coconut oil.  Why not jump directly to the source?  And hey, it doesn't hurt that it smells like fruity cocktails on the beach right?

Sparkles Tested and Approved Uses:  
Now you have been convinced to get some organic virgin coconut oil, you have this jar and you don't know where to start.  Well here are some of my favorite uses for coconut oil.

1. Make-Up Remover:  This is my #1 make-up remover method.  I simply take a baby wipe (I like all natural, ones like Seventh Generation Free & Clear Baby Wipes)  and run a part of it in the still solid coconut oil.  I use the babywipe + coconut oil (which liquifies upon contact with the warmth of your skin) to remove all traces of eye/face make-up in a jiffy.  The antimicrobial properties help reduce the chances of a break out and add moisture to my skin as it takes away even the most waterproof mascaras.  Win all around!  If you don't have a baby wipe, any cotton pad + coconut oil will work as well.  I just like the extra cleaning power/surface area that comes with the baby wipe.  Warning: Try not to get it IN your eye, it isn't pleasant but it is not as bad as some of those super chemically products out there (which don't work nearly as well if you ask me).
2. Eyelash Growth/Eye-Brightening Serum: I have puny eyelashes.  I have found that taking a really tiny bit of coconut oil on a Q-tip and running along my eyelash line and lightly coating my lashes has really helped them grow fuller.  I have also noticed that if I simply run a cotton pad with a small amount the oil over my whole eye area before bed, they look much brighter the next day (2 results for the price of 1 action!)  I am not sure how this works on wrinkles, but hey it is way more economical than eye creams and is worth a try.  If you have more fine lines/wrinkles and try this, let me know how it goes!  Being all natural, I'm sure you could also use coconut oil in conjunction with your favorite eye creams.
3. Cuticle Oil/Nail Conditioner:  Obsessive nail painting can leave nails and cuticles dry.  My favorite thing to do when I'm wearing my natural nails (to give them a break) is to apply coconut oil to my nails and cuticles before bed.  Hey, while you are at it, might as well put some on your whole hands as a hand moisturizer too.
4. Rough Patch/All Over Skin Moisturizer:  If you are planning on going out, I would just use this on your rough patches (knees, elbows etc.) to avoid looking greasy.  If you have having an at home spa day, go ahead and put a light coat of this on your whole body after you get out of the shower.  You wont regret it.
5. Hair Oil/Dandruff Treatment : I find it easiest to warm a tablespoon or two of the oil in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.  Brush/comb out any hair tangles.   Then I use my fingers to rub the oil into my scalp in sections.  Lastly I run my hands through my ends with any remaining oil.  I put on a shower cap (or plastic bag) and sit around for as long as I can stand (or over night if you are more tolerant of things on your head than me).  Shampoo out the oil (you will probably have to shampoo twice to make sure your hair is not greasy).  I like to use a very light conditioner afterwards, but this is not necessary.  I do this once every 2 weeks but if you have severely dry, damaged, or frizzy hair, once a week is fine too.  Though this may seem labor intensive, if you have dry or damaged hair, you will be shocked at how amazing the results are.  Oh the smoothness!
6. Hair Shine Serum:  Not feeling the heavy silicone shine products in your hair?  I can understand.  Silicone is one of the most debated beauty ingredients (let me know if you are interested in a post about the great silicone debates).  A great alternative is a TINY amount of coconut oil.  Either before or after drying, take 1/2 a dime sized amount and emulsify it in your hands. Apply to hair and let the magic happen. 

Hope this helped inspire you to consider using coconut oil.  I really love all the uses for it (there are even more but I haven't tried them).  I also love the affordability and overall effectiveness of this oil.  When it comes to beauty, I often feel that less is more--this is certainly true of coconut oil!

Shine & Sparkle! 

Venture into Sulfate Free Shampoo Reviews

I'm so sorry Shine and Sparkle Report fans!

I have been quite a busy bee.  I have also been trying to test a lot of Sulfate-Free, Paraben-Free, and Natural shampoos for you all!  Below is a picture of the three shampoos I have tried so far.  I have tried each of them for at least 2 weeks each.

From left to right: Yes To Cucumbers: Color Care Shampoo, Matrix Biolage: Delicate Care Shampoo, and Burts Bees: More Moisture Shampoo.

Now, I'm sure you are wondering why you should bother with sulfate and paraben free and natural shampoos in the first place right?  While I know that a lot of studies are done all the time with questionable methodologies, I tend to think "why risk it if I don't have to."  In addition, I know (for me) reducing sulfates, parabens, and trying more natural  products has really helped with my sensitive/acne prone skin.

Sulfates:
Many sulfates, including SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) and ALS (ammonium laureth sulfate) are cheap options for companies to make their product suds up and foam.
 Unfortunately, sulfates irritate skin and hair cells. Sulfates may have harmful effects on the environment and health.  For example, sulfates can be absorbed by the liver and mimic the effect of the hormone estrogen in the body. Also, sulfates can contain 1.4-dioxane, this is considered a possible carcinogen by the EPA.  A lot of consumers are starting to take a "better safe than sorry" approach to sulfates in beauty products.

In shampoos, sulfates also strip your hair of natural oils and will actually increase your scalps oil production.  Since using sulfate free shampoos, I can go much longer without washing my hair (I do shower every day! I just let the water run through my hair and distribute the oils evenly rather than shampooing.)

Parabens:
According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Parabens are used to prevent the growth of microbes in cosmetic products and can be absorbed through the skin, blood and digestive system (i). They have been found in biopsies from breast tumors (ii) at concentrations similar to those found in consumer products (iii). Parabens are found in nearly all urine samples from U.S. adults of a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds."

Natural:
While "Natural" is a label that has quite a bit of controversy surrounding it, I generally tend to think natural products at least have fewer irritants, dyes, preservatives, fragrances, and other things that could potentially be bad for you.  

The Products:
 The key areas I have been looking at for shampoos have been:
1) How clean my hair feels
2) Lather
3) Affordability

I did lots of research and came up with these three brands I really wanted to try.  There are 1 or 2 more I want to also compare.  However, I'm going to wait until I use up some products before getting anymore.

Burts Bees: More Moisture Shampoo--Despite great reviews, this shampoo (I also tried the conditioner) Gets a big fat 0 of 10.   By far the worst that I got, this shampoo simply made my hair dirtier.  It also did not lather very well.  The only good thing about it is that it was affordable at around $8 a 10oz bottle.

Matrix Biolage: Delicate Care Shampoo-- I actually really like this shampoo, I would give it a 7 of 10.  It has a satisfying lather.  I definitely felt that this shampoo is very gentle on your hair.  If you are trying to get a lot of hairspray or other products out of your hair, it might not clean too effective.  For daily use, it is great. The biggest downfall of this shampoo is that it is a salon priced shampoo and is more pricey at around $18-20 for a 10.1oz bottle.

Yes to Cucumbers: Color Care Shampoo--  Of the three shampoos I tried, I would give this one a 9 of 10.  It has a great lather and an amazing sweet cucumber scent.  If you don't like cucumber you might not like it, but I find it luxurious and refreshing.  It is also surprisingly effective at cleaning.  One wash will get light amounts of products out with ease.  Double washing gets out even the most stubborn hairsprays or gels. I also tried the conditioner.  It has one questionable last ingredient (sodium hydroxide) which I'm not too big a fan of.  That being said, I still use it on days I want stick straight and totally tamed hair without much (if any) styling.  This shampoo is also very very affordable at $8-10 for 16.9oz!  I know they have recently upgraded their formula.  The sodium hydroxide is gone from the conditioner and there are slightly different ingredients in the shampoo as well.  When I finish the bottles I have I will do an updated review.

Just so you know, I still use my Paul Mitchell: Lemon Sage Thickening Shampoo/Conditioner once a week as a clarifying and scalp stimulating measure.  I truly feel that trying to be as healthy as possible is good, but at the same time moderation is the key.  Overall, mainly using sulfate/paraben free and natural shampoos have really increased the moisture, health and shine of my hair.  I still like having some thickening ingredients in my beauty regimen.  If you want to see more on my healthy hair care tips, check out my past post on Healthy Hair.


Shine & Sparkle!

Make-Up 101: Lip Products

Greetings S+SR Readers!

Sorry for the delay in September, but I have been working on some really great posts for you guys!  Read to the bottom for a sneak peak at some up coming posts!

The possibilities are endless! Also, like my last stock image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit

Recently, I was looking at my make up collection and realized just how many types of lip products I have.  I was able to make a fairly large pile of different colored tubes, pots, and wands.  I also realized that not that long ago, "lip product' meant a tube of chapstick that inevitably got lost, melted in the dyer, or was kinda unappealing because of the lint stuck to it.  I thought I would give you the 101on lip products to help you chose what is right for you (and what ever situation you are getting yourself into now *wink*).

The Basics:

Lip products go on your lips.  Tada! I'm helpful!  Typically, lip products have some or all of the following properties-

• Moisturize- These products prevent/heal cracked or dry lips.
• Sun Protection- Many products contain SPF.
• Color-This can range from adding just a bit to enhance your natural lips to making your lips a totally different shade.
• Shine and Sparkle- Some lip products have glitter.  The size and color of the glitter depends on the product.
• Smell/Flavor-Some lip products are down right delicious to smell and taste.

In addition, there are many different ways of applying many of the same kinds of lip products.  Here are the most common ways lip products are packaged:

• Classic Bullet-You twist the bottom and a bullet of product comes out and is directly applied to the lips. 
• Pot-This is simply a little container of product.  Twist off the cap and you apply it with a finger or a lip brush.
• Squeeze Tube- A plastic squeezy tube with a small hole which allows you to directly apply what you squeeze out 
• Built-in Brush or Sponge- Typically, this is a squeezy tube or a twisting mechanism which releases product on to a built-in brush or sponge. 
• Wand with Brush or Sponge- This is a magic wand from a fairy that changes your lip color with pixie dust.  Haha.  No.  This is a product where the cap has a wand attached to it.  You pull out the wand and use the brush or sponge on the end to put the product on your lips.

Now for the products themselves.  I have divided them up so you can chose a product based on amount of color you want on your lips.  Note that any of them can come with any combination of properties and any packaging listed above.  Below I speak to typical properties, but manufacturers are always coming up with new combinations and creative packaging.  Also, taste and smell are hard to pin to a specific type of product.  

Colorless Lip Products

• Colorless Chap-Stick/Lip Balm-Typically waxier in texture, these usually offer good moisturizing properties and moisture without any color, shine, or sparkle.  Great for my men out there!
• Clear Lip Gloss- No sparkle but is great for those who want some shine to their natural lip color.  It is also great to put on top of your favorite lipstick to make it really pop.  

Warning: Most lip gloss products do not have SPF and can even magnify the sun's rays on your lips.  Try and use an SPF chapstick or other product containing SPF before using lipgloss if you are going to be in the sun!

Natural Color Enhancing Lip Products

• Stains-Typically watery in texture, stains act just like the sound--like stains.  They will add a subtle pop of color with no shine or sparkle.  Once they absorb, it is like you are wearing nothing at all on your lips.  Imagine if you sat around with cherry juice on your lips for a while.  Same thing.  

Fun Fact: Stains can double as a really natural blush as well!

• Tinted Chap-Stick/Lip Balm- Much like Colorless Chap-Stick/Lip Balm but they add sheer amounts of color.  A few even have some sparkle.  The shine factor is still low.
• Tinted Lip Gloss- Like clear lip gloss, but they add color.  They often add sparkles as well.  You can still see a bit of your natural color under the product.

Complete Color Change Lip Products

• Classic Lipstick-Classic lipstick is quite waxy.  It has traditionally come in a bullet form.  It also gives you full color change to your lips.  Every variation in color, shine and sparkle can be found in a classic lipstick.  Some have SPF.  Some are moisturizing.  You just need to try different formulas until you like one.
• Highly Pigmented Lip Balms/Butters-Much like a classic lipstick, but it contains more moisture and can be more comfortable to wear.  They are also more likely to have SPF.
• Highly pigmented Lip Gloss-There are some lip glosses with heavy pigmentation that will completely change the color of your lips.  Be careful about using them since the more liquid texture is easier to smear.  They are also harder to find and I suggest talking to someone at your local makeup stores for one that meets your needs.
• Extended Wear Lipsticks-These are amazing!  They typically come with a color part and a moisture part.  You apply the color, wait for it to dry, then apply the moisture part.  The color doesn't smear, smudge, or fade.  The only downside is that these can be drying to the lips (even with the moisture layer).  It can also be challenging to remove later.  That being said, this is the way to go for long special events where you don't want to always be touching up your lips!

Sideshow Lip Products

• Lip Primers-These are typically lip balm texture.  They prime the lips to help prevent lipsticks from smudging or creasing.  Honestly, I have yet to find one I love.  If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment below!
• Lip Liners-Best used with classic lipsticks, you line your lips (optional to fill the lips in) and the pencil helps prevent the lipstick from smudging or creasing.  You can use a nude/matching color pencil to not affect the lipstick color.  You can also use a different pencil color to create custom shades.
• Cosmetic Glitter/Caviar-There are bold trends that have loose glitter or "Caviar" sized beads that you kiss after applying lipstick or gloss.  This creates a very bold sparkle or textured effect on the lips.  Kits are available for purchase.  If you are interested in a DIY on these bold looks (maybe for Halloween?)  let me know!
• Temporary Lip Tattoos-Much like the temporary tattoos you got in your cracker jacks (or stole from your friends), these are applied to the lips for a wide range of fun effects.

So, as you can see, there are a bigillion lip products out there.  Enjoy experimenting with whatever lip products suit your fancy!

As promised, I wanted to give you a little taste of what posts to expect in the near future.  I'm currently testing a number of sulfate/paraben/all natural shampoo options.  I'm also going to be doing a post on healthy mascaras.  I'm also going to be talking about some GIVE AWAY opportunities!  How exciting right?! So keep reading these reports! Tell your friends to read, and subscribe!

 As always,

Shine & Sparkle!

Life Of A Working Girl

Shine & Sparkle!

Get Salon Perfect Nails At Home

Welcome to "Second August Post" S+SR Readers!

So Summer is ending....  But mani/pedis are a year round affair right?  But if you were at all like me, I had no idea how to do this myself.  Most of my initial attempts involved paint everywhere, bending into strange positions, and a small amount of choice words.  But at $30 a mani/pedi (at best), from a salon, what are you supposed to do?!  Never fear, Susan Sparkles has solutions to make your nails shine and sparkle like a pro!  Please bear with this longer than usual report.** 
Side Note: If you are unfamiliar with the tools involved, I suggest Googling them.  You can also often buy mani/pedi tool kits that have all the necessary tools for quite a reasonable price. 

Susan Sparkles-Nail Model.  Normally nail models are holding flowers or zen rocks.  I am holding a "Moofia" figure by Tokidoki.  Got a problem with that?!

The Basic Manicure/Pedicure:
This is basics of what the salon people do before they actually paint your nails.  While this part is great before those special beach days or romantic vacations, I personally do not find this to be a time effective step for my day to day life (I normally I paint after I get out of the shower and moisturize after all the paint is dry.)  But for you gals (and guys) that want to look fresh out of the salon, here is a quick run down:

1. Remove Old Polish-  I suggest using any 100% acetone nail care product and a cotton ball.  It is cheap and much faster and more effective than your standard nail polish remover.  It is a bit harsher on your skin, but it is why the salon takes 30 seconds to remove polish and you are at home scrubbing forever.
2. Trim/File/Buff- At this stage I trim long nails with a nail clipper and use a nail file to shape the nail the way I want it.  Next is use a nail buffing tool (basically a block with different grades of sand paper) to buff the whole nail to create a smooth surface.  Always start with the roughest part of the buff and work your way to using the smoothest.  Some salons use cuticle oil (I just use jojoba oil and it works just fine) on the cuticle and nail before buffing.  I do not find this necessary, but maybe you do.
3. Soak Hands/Feet-  Fill an appropriate container with warm water.  Add Epsom Salt in amounts for "foot/hand soaking" according to the directions on the package. You can buy this in bulk at any drug store or mega store (Costco*, Target, Etc...)  You can get smaller amounts that have essential oils that smell good for a higher price, but the base of all bath soaks is Epsom Salt.  I go the cheap route.  If I'm feeling special I add some essential oil but it is not necessary.  After soaking, use a towel to dry hands/feet.  I also take this moment to clean under my nails.  You can use a specific nail cleaning tool...or a tooth pick.
4. TrimPush-Back Cuticles-  There are many cuticle tools available for cheap on the market.  Always use them when your cuticles are soft.  Only cut parts that are excess and "dead" looking, if you cut healthy cuticle it will come back with more dead parts than before.  I honestly prefer to just push back my cuticles to avoid possibly cutting myself or damaging my nails.  You can do this with a specific cuticle pushing tool or just with the thumb nail of your opposite hand.
5. Moisturize- Have you noticed that moisture is a huge part of all Shine and Sparkle Report articles? Anyway, salons moisturize with lotion at this point to lock moisture into the skin after the soak.  You can use whatever moisturizer you want, specific hand/foot lotions exist, but unless you have extreme need for them, I prefer to stick with whatever I have on hand (no pun intended.)  Salons then spray the nails with rubbing alcohol to remove lotion residue and start painting with a clean surface.  I personally like to moisturize after all my nail polish is dry to avoid another step.  You might want to do it by the books.

That was a laborious processes I know.  I tend to do the whole mani/pedi and painting process while watching a marathon of my favorite shows.  I also know a lot of people like to do the Mani/Pedi one night and paint the next.  Honestly, it's all about what you are willing to do. 

On to painting those nails! I'm going to detail two options.  Option 1 is a little more expensive in the long run but is fool-proof & saves time.  Option 2 is most cost effective but takes some time and practice.  There are 3 basic stages to painting nails: Base Coat, Color Coat(s), Top Coat.

Painting Nails Option 1: Nail Strips-

What are these nail strips you say?  They are real nail polish (base coat, color coat, and top coat) that have been 95% dried in nail shaped strips then vacuum sealed.  You peel them from the backing and place the appropriate sized on directly on a clean nail then remove the excess.  They dry in 1 minute and then you can carry on with your life!  So easy!  They come in colors, french tips, and patterns.  The idea has been adopted by all sorts of drug store brands (like Sally Hansen) but I have found INCOCO Nail Strips to be the very best I have come across.  The site has tons of "How To" videos, FAQs, and so many fun options.  Read through their "Lean" section and you will be a nail strip pro!  The sets (for both hands and feet) range between $7-15.  This is more expensive than a bottle of nail polish but for perfect patterns and french tips, I couldn't ask for anything more.  

Painting Nails Option 2: Traditional Polish-
When I'm not doing anything fancy enough to warrant using one of my beloved nail strips, I paint my nails in the traditional fashion. I am not going to get into nail art or anything fancy in this post, but leave a comment if you are interested in such a post!  

You will need: Base Coat, Color Coat, and Top Coat.  As for brands of base and color coats, a lot of Salons use O.P.I or Essie (around $8 a bottle).  I have had equally good experiences with cheap drug store brands.  I like Wet n' Wild-Mega Last and Sinful Colors Professional  both under $3 and lots of trendy and classic colors.  FYI, both of these paint quite thick so you might only need one coat.  I like to do 2 coats of this and achieve a more shellac nail look-I have seriously had nail salon professionals start trying to take off my polish like you have to for shellac and I had to tell them it was just regular polish!  

Once you have practiced the technique of painting your nails, it will just come down to what consistency & price point you prefer. That being said, I have found Seche -Dry Fast Top Coat to out shine and sparkle any other top coat on the market.  I feel that it is a worth while investment.

1. Basic Idea:  1 coat of base coat (let it dry completely).  2 coats of color-1 coat of color for thicker polishes, unless you want a more shellac look. (let each coat dry completely). 1 coat of top coat (let dry completely).

• Mini Tip: Time for coats to dry is time consuming! Be patient!  To avoid finger marks, you can tap two nails together and if it is still tacky, you need to wait longer.  If you don't wait in between layers the top layers will dry but the inner layers will be wet.  Then when you touch something, the polish will shift and wrinkle.  This is something that nail salons never do.  It is frustrating to pay for a mani/pedi then wrinkle or chip your polish right after leaving the salon...
  

      2. Some Professional Tips:

•  Scrape off excess polish about 1 side of the polish brush and .5 of the other side on the edge of the bottle before beginning painting (just 1 side for big nails.)  Too much polish on the bush means globs coming off when painting and resulting in a mess.
• Steady your hands on a flat, well lit surface to paint.  Painting up in the air is a lot trickier!
• Start painting in the center of your nail.  For each coat, carefully push the brush down towards the cuticle but don't touch the cuticle!  Then, use small strokes to bring the color to the tip (you will have nice stripe down the middle of your nail.)  Then repeat this process shifted slightly to one side then the other.  You are basically using small strokes to create a nail shape of polish on your nail as close to the cuticle as possible without touching it.  The second color coat and top coat will go much faster because you have your fist color coat as an outline.
• Seal the polish during the Top Coat stage. This means dragging the paint across the edge of your nail (the part exposed when you cut/file your nails.)  This prevents water from getting under your beautiful paint job and causing chips as fast.  The edge will wear away first and extend the life of your manicure.
• Clean up any polish that gets on your skin.  I have two little tricks for doing this.  1) When the mess up is still wet take something thin and hard (like a thin coin, edge of a paperclip, fake plastic nail, etc.) to remove.  This is essentially what the salon professionals do when they clean any messes up with their own nails.  This is best for mess ups that touch the newly painted portion of your nail.  2) If they are really small mistakes that do not touch the actual painted part of the nail then I let that mess up dry.  I either take it off with acetone on a q-tip or scrape it off in the shower after my skin has been soaking for a while (make sure your mani/pedi is REALLY dry before attempting this touch up.

Last point of this very long report:  Practice makes perfect!  No matter what, you are your harshest critic.  Most people wont notice an imperfection or two as you learn.  No matter if you are a pro yet or not, I hope you found this helpful to make you...

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

Alternative Menstrual Products Review

Hi S+SR Ladies and Curious Men (Who I encourage to share this with any appropriate people!)

Welcome to August! Today I am here to sing the gospel of alternative menstrual products.  I thought it was about time to have another reminder that Shine and Sparking also means taking care of what is inside of you.  If you are overly sensitive or squeamish I might stop reading.  That being said, I plan to write this as professionally as possible as to try and educate rather than make people uncomfortable.

That being said, I feel that this is a really important subject for us ladies. As hush-hush we try to be about this subject, it is a reality for just about every woman at some point in her life.  A wonderful friend of mine introduced me to this concept while we were roomies in college.  It was revolutionary.  You might be thinking "Hey Ms. Sparkles, take your hippie notions somewhere else."  While this might sound kinda granola, it is actually common sense.

Diva Cups* and Luna Pads are great alternative products to revolutionize your life!

Reasons to use Alternative Product for "That Time of the Month":

1) Health**:

In a nutshell, disposable menstrual products use chemicals.  If it is bleach to make the materials white or some strange substance that absorbs tons of liquid due to science.  They often have chemicals with (I think strange) fragrances as well.  None of these things should be in such a sensitive area in my opinion.  There are disposable menstrual products without bleach or fragrance. If you HAVE to have something disposable, you might want to look for these.  They do tend to cost a bit more.  In addition, lets just say anything with small fibers that goes into your body, inevitably leaves some of those fibers in you.  While it's worse if these fibers have chemicals, I just don't like the idea of stuff that [insert deity of choice] didn't intend to be in there....being in there.... Don't tell me that Toxic Shock Syndrome thing doesn't worry you juuuuust a little.  I will testify that after cutting out the disposable products, I had a significant decrease in the things that you take Midol for. What isn't to love about that?!  Now, I know there are people who think this is baloney, but hey, I'm not alone in this view, here is a link about menstrual products and health considerations.

2) Environmental Impact:
Here is the granola bit.  Pretty much think about every woman on earth.  Think about how they each use disposable menstrual products once a month.  Think about how you never see a "recycle" or "compost" bin in a women's public bathroom stall.  It is always "trash."  You do the math.  Mother earth would totally prefer you use a sustainable/environ-friendly menstrual product.  If you want a more detailed look at environmental impact, look at this link.

3) Cost Savings:Whether it is chemical free or not, you can't deny that menstrual products seem like a necessary item in a woman's budget.  Nope. Some alternative products last for pretty much life.  Some last for a few years.  No matter how "cheap" a disposable menstrual products are, you have to keep buying them for a large portion of your life.  That is a lot of money.  I will refer you to this great Cost Savings Analysis, which should convince you to go alternative....even if you hate being healthy and the environment.

So, if this all intrigued you, I have two product companies I highly recommend.  They both have amazing FAQ sections, educational blogs, and answers to any other questions you might have about this subject.

Places to Get Alternative Products that Shine and Sparkle:

Just so you know, I have used both of these companies and find the quality and effectiveness of their products to be superb.  There are lots of other brands with the same concepts, but these are my favorites!

1) Luna Pads:

Luna pads sells by far the best pad replacements on the market.  They are reusable   They also come in tons of fun colors and patterns for the fashionista to enjoy.  Their site will tell you anything you need to know about logistics and answer all of the questions that this blog post probably made you wonder.  I suggest looking at their sales if you want to be extra thrifty!  I also know if you subscribe to their email, they often have free shipping and other great discount codes.
Mini Tip-Luna Pads Coupon Code: For the month of August 2012: Get $10 off orders over $75 with the promo code: 10BUX OR bump your order up to $100+ and save $20 with the promo code: 20BUX

2) Diva Cup: 
While it is totally convenient and possible to buy your Diva Cup from their website or from Luna Pads, I bought my most recent one from Amazon for only $26!  That being said, I encourage you to look at their site and educate your self about their AMAZING product.  This is really the one that revolutionized my life.  It is also adorably packaged for all you divas out there.  
  
So I hope I have gotten you thinking about alternatives to your current routine!  Have you used alternative menstrual product before?  Let me know what you think in the comments!  And as always,

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

Green Tea in Products and DIY

Greetings Lovely S+SR Readers!

I'm an indecisive person and thus I'm doing a combo-style blog post.  Who doesn't like combos?  Combo meals, combo washers/driers, video game combo attacks, the combos are endless!  Well in this post I will be combo-ing a product review and DIY skin care solution.  Heck, it's even guy friendly so it's a triple combo! Whoo! Getting crazy up in here. Anyway, most combos need a theme, Like food, clothes washing, or video games.  So the theme of this combo is "Green Tea."

If you are just jumping into...well the world...you should know green tea is praised for having lots of anti-oxidants which (in a nutshell) are good.  They are good inside your body and outside.  That is why it is a combo theme.  If you want a lot of good research and ridiculous nonsense about benefits of green tea, Google "Green Tea Benefits."  If I get a request for sorting out what is real and what is not, I will do a post on that.  I can assure you that green tea can help you shine and sparkle (and who doesn't want that?!)

GIANT mug of green tea (because I LOVE it.  Happens to also be super healthy. Win-win combo!) and Elf Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets.

Fist for the Product Review!

e.l.f "Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets"*

Effectiveness: 10 of 10
Smell/Taste: N/A
Packaging: 10 of 10
Economic:  10 of 10
Good for Sensitive Skin: Yes **
Overall Rating: 10

I. Love. This. Product.  As noted by the stellar rating of 10, I think this product is perfect for anyone who experiences a little (or a lot) of extra shine on their face throughout the day.  These sheets help absorb oil and shine,  mattify shiny skin, and has green tea extract to help re-texturize, minimize pores and mask imperfections.  I have tried a lot of oil blotting sheets.  They can range from about $4-$10 depending on how fancy they are.  Well these come in at a whopping $1!  Yes.  $1!  You get 50 sheets for $1 which is $0.02 cents a piece! Not only that, but it really works to eliminate shine.  If you blot carefully you wont mess up your make up either.  It has no smell and has a very natural feel (unlike the clean+clear ones that a lot of people use).  It also only has 3 ingredients:
-Microcrystalline wax- Which is a much smaller molecule version of the more familiar paraffin wax (Used in toiletries and cosmetics as a moisturizer or emollient.)
-Caprylic/Capric Triglyceridean- An oily liquid made from coconut oil
-Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract- Is...well...green tea leaf extract.
As far as cosmetic ingredients go, this is a refreshingly short and understandable list.  This makes me quite pleased to highly recommend this affordable, effective, and healthy product for everyone to use!

Now, I bet you are thinking "Green tea leaf extract, in the blotting sheets helps re-texturize skin, minimize pores, and mask imperfections.  Why shouldn't I just go to the source.  Green Tea!"  Ok, well you might not have been thinking that, but I did.  As a result, I have the most simple DIY I have done so far:

DIY Green Tea Toner:

As stated above, this toner will help make your skin toned, oil free, and phuuuurty.  Ideally you would use this on freshly cleansed skin (up to once a day or whenever you feel like it) before your normal product regime.  In reality, I often do it at work (on days when I wear no make up on my skin) after I finish drinking my 3pm green tea...I wait until nobody is near my cube so they don't think I'm a weirdo, though it might be too late for that.

Ingredients:
~ 1 green tea bag (preferably organic)--Side Note:The reasoning behind the organic product in DIYs is to avoid chemicals that might have been part of non-organic processing of the ingredient. 
~ Hot water--Side Note: The amount of water is completely dependent on how much tea you are interested in drinking. So if you are me, that mean a HUGE mug.

Step 1: Brew your bag of green tea.
Step 2: Take out your tea bag and let the tea bag cool a  bit (don't want to burn yourself).  I suggest enjoying your cup of tea while waiting.
Step 3: Take the warm tea bag and run it over your face in upward motions.  The heat will help open your pores to the green tea.
Step 4: Let your face air dry (the cooling associated with the water evaporating will help close up the pores).

Ok your done. So simple right?  Your face will feel really smooth and happy.

Did you like this combo post?  Let me know in the comments!

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

 

Two DIY Facial Masks

Hi S+SR Readers!

For the first July post, I wanted to share two of my favorite DIY facial masks** that are really easy to do at home.  I try to do one or the other once a week.  These masks are great and don't cost the crazy prices ($60-$300) you find at spas!
Quick tip for all facial masks: Avoid putting product on the sensitive eye, nostril, and lip areas.   

Mask Ingredients: Egg.  Honey, Sugar, Olive Oil, Water/Milk

 

Egg Mask

While I'm not the one to invent this mask, it is a really easy mask that is one of my staples in my routine.  It is great because the whites packs a lot of protein, while the yolk provides nutrients and moisture.  This is a face cleansing and skin tightening mask.

Ingredients: 

~1 egg (preferably organic)

~2 small bowls

~1 fork

Step 1: Cleanse your face with you favorite face wash.

Step 2: Separate the white of the egg into one bowl, and the yolk into the other.

Step 3: Beat the whites with a fork until frothy.  Then use the fork to break the yolk and stir until it's a liquid.

Step 4: Apply the foamy whites to your face in a thin layer.  Wait about 10 minutes for it to dry (you will feel it tightening on your skin) then rinse it off with warm water.

Step 5: Apply the yolk to your face in a thin layer.  Wait about 10 minutes for it to dry (you will feel it tightening on your skin) then rinse it off with warm water.

Tada! You're done! Sooooooo easy right?!

Exfoliating Honey Mask/Body scrub

This is a slightly harder (but still easy) mask/body scurb.  All you need to do is increase the amount of product you make to use it as a body scrub in your shower. The honey is really moisturizing and also provides some anti-bacterial benefits for those that are acne prone.  There is also anti-oxidants in honey.  The extra virgin olive oil adds a second level moisture (replacing any natural oil you scrubbed away) while sealing all the good nutrients and moisture in. The optional milk reduces redness/puffyness.

Ingredients (note amounts are approximate): 

~1-4 tablespoons honey (preferably organic, I really like using Trader Joe's raw organic honey* (it is more solid than regular honey but is affordable and works great)

~1/2 -1tbs raw sugar (for a more course scrub) or sea salt (for a more gentle scrub) 

Note: You can eliminate the sugar/salt to just have a mask with no exfoliating action.  

~ 2-4 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil.

~Milk (preferably whole) or Water-Just enough to loosen up the raw honey/oil mix to a thick liquid consistency.  If you are using regular honey, I suggest around a teaspoon.  

~Bowl (for mixing) 

~Fork (for stirring)  

Step 1: Cleanse skin with your favorite facial cleanser.

Step 2: Mix ingredients together in your bowl with a fork (note the amounts are approximate, so add more or less of something if you feel it is necessary, great thing about DIY products is none of it is dangerous since you can eat it!)

Step 3: Use your fingers to apply the product to your face and/or body in circular motions to exfoliate away the dead skin.  I start with my face, wait about 5-10 minutes, get into the shower (bringing my bowl of body scrub).  I cleanse my body (letting the steam help the mask soak in more) then use the body scrub.  

Step 4: Rinse off the scrub from face and/or body (don't use soap after rinsing, you wash off all the benefits of the mask!)

Step 5: Dry off and resume your life.

Hope you enjoy these quick and fun DIY mask recipes!  Leave any comments, questions or concerns in a comment below.  Let me know if you want more DIY masks too, I have quite a few up my sleeve.

Shine & Sparkle!

*I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

Salutations S+SR Readers!

I come to you today with a requested blog post from a dear friend of mine. Today's topic is "Anti-Aging."  Now that all my friends and I are hitting our late 20's and early 30's we are starting to think about this area of beauty products.  So what do we need to know?  I think it is good to remember that we all have different skin with different needs.  Some people might see wrinkles in their 20s, while others don't until they are in their 40's.  No matter what, do what feels right for your skin**!  This being said, I have a few general things first.
 

Seeing as this is more a discussion than about specific products, it seemed like a great opportunity for another silly stock image!  I have a great time looking for these cheesy stock images.  Anyway, like my last stock image, I'll gladly give someone credit for their image or take it down if whoever owns it throws a hissy fit

General Anti-Aging Tips:

• Drink lots of water!
• Wear sunscreen, hats, and generally protect from the sun (though 10-15 minutes of sun a day lets your body produce vitamin D which is a good thing.)
• Eating healthy helps too because it promotes healthy shedding and regeneration of skin cells.
• We are all different!  Genetics plays an important role in aging.  Some skin types are more sensitive to damage from the sun than others. There are also just some people that get really lucky and don't develop wrinkles as easily. While your years of life are a general indicator of steps you might take to prevent aging, make sure you try and adjust for your specific skin type!

"Blah blah blah...drink water, sunscreen,  eat heathy...blah blah blah.  I want to fight wrinkles with an army of products and spend some money!"  I get it, quick fixes are quite appealing, but they are also costly and some don't even work. I'm staying far away from the plastic surgery debates (who really wants to get sliced open anyway?) This is what I have come up with as reasonable steps one can take without spending too much money.

I  broke this out into approximate age ranges so that you can better adjust for your own skin:

Before 25 years old:
Note that the corner stone of anti-aging products is extra moisture and promoting skin renewal.  Before 25 you skin is regenerating quickly and probably is not lacking that much moisture.  Caking on the anti-aging products at this point might actually make your skin worse by making it extra oily or extra dry.

• Prevention is really the key for you.  That water, sunscreen, eating healthy?  Yes, that is you.  You are young and growing.  Your cells are regenerating rapidly as a result.  You are stressing out about love, life, and who you want to be.  You really don't have to add aging to the mix!
• If you insist on doing something to prevent aging at this age, moisturizing is your friend.  Most facial lotions SPF will do just fine, if you want to pay more for that lotion to say "anti-aging" you can, but it most likely is a waste of money.  You can also remember to exfoliate with a scrub or mask to promote skin regeneration.
• Many acne products actually will help prevent aging, so do not feel like you need to double up acne products and aging product.  For Example: "Salicylic Acid," "Glycolic Acid," and "Benzoyl Peroxide" are all ingredients that promote skin peeling.  These chemicals increase skin turnover to clearing pores, reducing bacterial count, and are anti-microbial.  This also works to turnover skin cells to prevent aging.  For more information see my report on effectively treating acne. Acne can happen at any age, but I figured I'd throw this point here.

 Between 25-35 years:
You can probably start to add some anti-aging products to help ramp up your war against wrinkles.  I would focus on the most at risk areas (eyes and around the mouth).

• There are a host of brands that want to sell you a million products but I suggest just finding one eye cream and one face cream.
• You probably do not need a deep wrinkle/collagen heavy eye cream at this time.  Moisturizing (I like Burt's Bees Queen Bee Jelly Eye Cream*) or ones for fine lines are just fine (no pun intended!) for now.  
• The main difference between day and night creams is that day creams have SPF and less moisture than night creams.  Night creams tend to be so heavy in moisture that they can leave your skin oily.  I suggest that your one face cream be one that is worn during the day.  It will mean that you get extra SPF protection and you can just use your favorite regular moisturizer at night (avoiding the more expensive anti-aging night products)

• A great alternative to anti aging face cream is making your foundation (if you wear it) an anti-aging foundation.  You eliminate a product step in the morning and have one less product you have to buy!  There are many brands that offer "age defying" foundations.  I personally prefer using a BB creme (like ones from Skin79-I use the "Super VIP Gold") that has anti-aging properties.  I love BB cremes because they have so many benefits in one.  Anything to save time!  

After 35-40 years: 
You are now in the market for all the best in anti-aging care and there is a lot to pick from.  There are companies that boast instant solutions and sky high prices for itty bitty jars.  It is really confusing.  The fact of the matter is that with out surgery, you are still dealing with the same corner stones: quickening your natural exfoliation process to generate new skin, and adding extra hydration to try and defy gravity.   Below are some tips to keep in mind when selecting your regimen.

•  Love your skin, first and foremost, while it might be nice to not have wrinkles or fine lines, it is also a result of living life and growing older which is an amazing thing.  Life is about the journey and you should never feel insecure about your skin.  You shine and sparkle from the inside!  Heck, this bullet belongs in all the age categories...
• The above bullet is important because once you have wrinkles, there is no magic cure.  All anti-aging products can do is help reduce their appearance and prevent future skin damage.
• Moisturizing is an easy way to plump up saggy skin cells. Any moisturizer that works well on you earlier in life is still just as valid today.  Moisture is moisture, so I do not think expensive anti-aging moisturizers are necessary as long as you are also using sun screen.
• Active Ingredients:These are normally going to be the things that promote skin renewal.  Pay attention to what they are an in what % concentration.  There is no need to have a million products with the same active ingredients. I would like to direct you to this Mayo Clinic-Guide to Winkle Cream Ingredients. In this article they break down (in easy language) the differences between retinols, hydroxy acids, coenzyme Q10, copper peptides, kinetin, and tea extracts. All the other stuff in XYZ's "Super Ultimate Fantastic Signature  Anti-Aging Cream of The Century" are going to be moisturizers, fillers, anti-oxidants, fragrances, and dyes.  I personally prefer products to be as free of fragrances, dyes, fillers, parabens (basically preservatives) as possible, but no matter what, the active ingredients are what are going to make the biggest (if any) difference.
• As long as you are aware of active ingredients, I suggest trying different products to see which work for you and your budget.  You can either have a few products or a bunch.  If you want to add, experiment, and have fun with your beauty routine, be my guest! There are tons of fun anti-aging masks, washes, foundations, and all manner of things to try if you'd like.  If you are more of simple beauty routine person or a product junkie, you are sure to shine and sparkle! 

So I hope this helped you navigate the wide spectrum of anti-aging products a bit better.  And as always...

Shine & Sparkle!  

 *I am not paid or contacted by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  These are my honest feelings and opinions. 

**Take my advice at your own risk...that being said, I think it's great advice! Consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications or may/are pregnant.  If you don't, "it said so on the internet" is not a great explanation to St. Peter.