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.

Yes to Cucumbers-"Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes", Revlon-"Colorburst Lip Butter", and Almay- "Clear Complexion Concealer + Treatment Gel" Review

Happy June S+SR Readers!

This is my first official product review report on my lil' Wallgreens* haul.  It is a rainy day in June (what gives!?) and my lunch break consisted of indoor walking around the nearby Wallgreens.  I really think there are some great (and not so great) products out there no matter if they are from a drug store or a fancy boutique.  At Wallgreens, I bought some new items I have been very excited to try.  Not only was I excited to try them, but I was thrilled that they were all pretty good! (unlike Almay: "Oil-Free Make-up remover wipes which are terrible).

This lil' haul included the following items (prices are approximate since I coupon and shop sales):

• Yes to Cucumbers: "Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes" $7-10
• Revlon: "Colorburst Lip Butter" $6-9 each
• Almay: "Clear Complexion Concealer + Treatment Gel" $9-10

Note: All ratings are on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being "I might marry it" and 1 being "you are better off flushing your money down the toilet".

Yes to Cucumbers: "Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes" 
Effectiveness: 10 of 10
Smell: 10 of 10
Packaging: 8 of 10
Economic:  5 of 10
Good for Sensitive Skin**: Yes
Overall Rating: 8

These are by far the best facial wipes I have ever tried.   Most other wipes: can leave a sticky residue; are harsh on skin and eyes (Almay wipes make my eye burn! Not good); or smell like chemicals.  These leave sparkling clean skin with no sticky residue.  They are hypo-allergenic and very soothing on the skin.  The packaging is pretty convenient with not only a locking plastic lid, but a resealable sticker over the hole where you remove the wipe (this is also superior to the Almay wipes that just have a resealable sticker over the opening that leaks...).  This being said, I think that the hole cut under the lid is way too small to remove just one wipe.  I had to rip it open a bit more, thus rendering the sticker useless.  The price is pretty average for make-up removal wipes, nothing particularly good or bad about the pricing.  Lastly, as a sensitive skin person, I give it my stamp of sparkle approval (unlike Almay make-up remover wipes...can you tell I really hate those?!)


Revlon: "Colorburst Lip Butter"

Left to Right: Red Velvet, Sugar Plum, Pink Truffle

 













Effectiveness: 8 of 10
Smell/Taste: 5 of 10
Packaging: 8 of 10
Economic:  7 of 10
Good for Sensitive Skin: Maybe
Overall Rating: 7

These little lip butters are seriously flying off the shelves.  It has been a few months since I have been able to find a fully stocked display case.  The idea is that these wear more comfortably, like a lip balm, but have the same fun color as lipstick.  I have been using the cheaper equivalent "Maybelline: Baby Lips" $3-5 (which are fantastic for the price-only comes in 4 colors), while waiting for these to be more readily available.  Now that I have tried the Revlon version, I get what the hype is about.  The product glides on like a much more expensive one.  They are a better version of "Baby Lips" and come in more colors.  They do not have SPF like Baby Lips, but are very moisturizing and are moderately pigmented (so you don't look over the top with lip color).  They are great to go with a dramatic eye make up look because they are subtle pops of color and last a surprisingly long time (still visible after devouring a slice of pizza, but needed a touch up).  I feel that at the $8-9 range they are not a great deal, but I got them on sale for around $6 which was reasonable.  Compared to some of the $14+ lip products at Sephora, they fare quire well.  They have no particular smell or taste, but are not offensive either.  Lastly, they do not make any special provisions for those with sensitive skin, but I did not experience any issues (Note: I have not historically had any sensitivity to lip products).


Almay: "Clear Complexion Concealer + Treatment Gel" 

Effectiveness: 7 of 10
Smell/Taste: N/A
Packaging: 4 of 10
Economic:  7 of 10
Good for Sensitive Skin: Maybe
Overall Rating: 6

I am not normally a concealer person.  I find that the limited color options mean that you always have to do a full face of make-up and foundation over it for it to not look like you have a weird section of flesh colored goo on your face.  That being said, totally at war with this big blemish on my forehead, I bought this product out of desperation.  To my surprise I didn't hate it!  The treatment gel is active with salicylic acid.  I find this to be one of the weakest acne fighting chemicals but it is better than nothing on the monstrosity that is living on my forehead.  The concealer (in the medium shade) actually blended well into my skin to hide the offending zit so I didn't have to do a full face of make-up (I put some under my eyes with the same results).  The product did not react poorly with my acne.org regime (for more details see my report on fighting acne) which is another bonus.  For an acne product, I'm not thrilled that the application is in stick form.  The bacteria from your face will stay on either side of this product as soon as it touches your face.  You can try to use a clean brush on the concealer side (you will still probably double dip and contaminate, but it is better than directly applying to the skin). The treatment gel stick is inevitably going to collect bacteria.  That can be minimized by making sure you clean your face prior to application. 


I hope you all enjoyed my first product review report!  Feel free to comment with any questions, comments, or suggestions!

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.

How to Effectively Treat Acne

Welcome back S+SR Readers!

Today we are going to be talking about the topic of  Acne.  As someone who has struggled with acne since "teen" was added to my age, I have done extensive research to find out what works and what does not.  I tried prescription products, Proactive, and tons of home remedies (even toothpaste!) Luckily, you readers will not have to spend as much time and money on ineffective solutions (after you read this report)!

The things I use to effectively treat acne!  Soap and Olive Oil for Cleaning Brushes, Acne.org products, Olay Sensitive Skin Daily Moisturizer with SPF, BB Creme and Mineral Make-Up.

#1: Acne.org*-
Acne.org is the biggest tip I can give anyone**.  This guy really has it figured out.  He posts all the science behind his method.  I really suggest reading through his Regimen. Then looking at his guide to finding the right products.  Any other questions can be answered by exploring the website. This worked so well for me that I really have to pass it along.  I went from trying to hide my acne to getting complements on what great skin I have!  I had no idea that could happen to me before acne.org.  

• Mini Tip: If you are wondering about why I like acne.org over other acne systems (proactive, simple, burtsbees etc.) It is because many of those systems have things that will cause irritation (such as exfoliating beads).  I also think they have lots of added things that you don't need (tea tree oil, scented oils, sulfur, toners, etc).  I also think none of those systems are as cost effective as acne.org.    

#2: See a Dermatologist-
If you have acne and despite months of commitment to topical products, nothing is working, I suggest seeing a dermatologist.  They can direct you to the best course of action.  They could simply adjust your current topical treatment.  They could also prescribe oral medications, topical medication, or surgical solutions.  Dermatologists can deal with issues such as major hormone imbalances that or other internal issues that might contribute to your acne.  While seeing a dermatologist a great thing to do no matter what, I had such success with acne.org, I really suggest educating yourself and trying that method first.  When I was on prescription acne topical medications it was very harsh on my skin and was not nearly as effective.

#3: Love Yourself, Acne and All-
No matter what your age and diet, acne can effect you.  Acne is often something that people become very insecure about and will go to great lengths to hide.  Acne can make people feel alone, outcast, and depressed.  While there are great things such as acne.org that can start your way to recovery, it is important to know that you are not alone.  You shine and sparkle no matter what the condition of your skin.  Those who are truly there for you will look past the acne and love you for all the greatness you are!  Most strangers are too wrapped up in their own heads and insecurities to worry about your acne.  So go out there and don't let acne stop you from shining (and sparkling)!!!!

"All that is well and good Ms. Sparkles, but I have acne NOW and I have somewhere to go and look fabulous.  What do I do?!"  I totally understand your predicament.  While not wearing any make-up is best for treating acne, there are sometimes when we really want to shine and sparkle on the outside.  Here are my tips for instant shine and sparkle that wont thwart your mitigation efforts.

Covering Up (while still mitigating) Acne:

• Use mineral based face products until your acne is under control. If you can't afford all make up products to be mineral based, focus on getting them in your foundation, blush, concealer, setting powder, and bronzer.  Make sure that the mineral products are fragrance free, oil free, and paraben free.  This means you are not using anything that will irritate your skin.  Some more expensive brands I suggest are: Bare Minerals and HourGlass. Some great drugstore brand alternatives are Almay (select products) and Physician's Formula-Mineral Wear.
• Wash your brushes often.  I know this sounds intuitive, but I know sometimes I get lazy and sometimes wait a few applications before washing my make-up brushes (I'm sure you do too).  In a nutshell, this is a terrible idea if you have acne (and in general).  You are letting bacteria grow in the brushes and then reapply the bacteria to your face. Ew right?!  

• Mini Tip: The best and cheapest way to wash your brushes is to put 1/2 olive oil, 1/2 anti bacterial dish soap on a plate.  Wet your brushes in warm water then swirl around in this cleansing and moisturizing mix.  Work the mix through the brush then rinse in warm water.  Dry the brush with the brush side lower than the handle (I roll up half a towel and rest the brushes at an angle to dry).  This prevents excess water from sitting in the glue that holds the brush and handle together and shortening the lifespan of your brushes.

• Use products with sanitary dispense methods.  Pumps, sprays, shakers and squeeze tubes are your friends. Open pots?  Not so much.  This goes back to the contamination with bacteria issue.  When you are constantly dipping fingers into something or constantly using an attached application method on your skin, you are inviting bacteria to grow and break you out.
• Green Concealer.  Concealer is probably already one of your best friends, but you might want to try one that is green. The green color cancels the bright red of an pimple.  This is absolutely a "must" make-up tip to cancel any redness you might have and make you photo ready!
• Tinted Moisturizer/BB Creme. Guys, don't feel like just because you are male that you can't cover-up your acne.  While you might not be comfortable applying a full face of make-up, tinted moisturizers (light coverage) and BB Cremes (Light-medium coverage) are one step that you can simply apply with clean fingers.  As far as tinted moisturizers go I think anything that is fragrance, oil, paraben free, and matches your skin tone will work.  I highly recommend Skin79 BB Cremes (look on amazon for cheaper prices-though beware of counterfeit products!) .  I use the Skin79 "gold label" after my benzoyl peroxide treatment is completely dry since it has more moisture (and I'm too lazy to do a full foundation routine).  I have tried the "hot pink" line as well.  I think this line is better if you have oily skin since it controls oil production.  I have not tried the Skin79 men's line, but that is also an option!
• Paperbag.  Because you might suffocate with plastic.  Just kidding. Don't do that!  You shine and sparkle with or without these tips! 

  *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. 

Shine & Sparkle!