Hair:
I get asked so often about my hair, and what I use on it. (Yes, it's naturally curly). But sometimes I like to straighten it, and that requires a lot of trial and error, and a lot of products...I don't necessarily think you have to buy the more expensive brands in order for your hair to look good, but sometimes the salon brands are truly worth it.
Shampoo: I tried Tressemme' not too long ago, and I was actually impressed! The anti breakage formula really makes my hair stronger. The conditioner is good too. For a more pricey brand, I like Catwalk, or Joico.
Conditioner: Again, Tressemme' is great. But conditioner is something I tend to buy at salons. Curly hair is naturally drier, so I have to make sure I use a good conditioner. My absolute favorite conditioner is K-Pac by Joico. It's a deep conditioner I use once every 2 weeks and I can tell the difference in my hair right away. For an everyday conditioner, I like "Dumb Blonde" by Bedhead. It's not too heavy, and it makes your hair shiny.
Styling:
I absolutely cannot live without Frizz Eaze serum by John Frieda. I've tried a lot of things, but this stuff is great!! Apply it to soaking wet hair, and comb through. I use the lite formula, because I don't want anything to weigh my hair down.
Head Wear Root Boost spray really works better than any volumizer I've tried. If I do my hair straight, it's got a ton of body. If I do it curly, the curls are bouncy and full and really defined.
Joico Brilliantine pomade can be used on dry or damp hair. I usually use this when I'm going curly. The shine is amazing!
Citre Shine straightening balm is the only thing that works to get the curl out of my hair, short of chemical straightening, which I would never do. It gives it a lot of shine too.
Super Skinny serum by John Mitchell is great stuff if you're blow drying your hair, and it's just looking lackluster, and it needs an extra 'something'. Apply it when you're about halfway through blowdrying, and it actually cuts the drying time! Not to mention the incredible shine and softness you'll get. Your hair will feel like silk!
Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play hairspray is sooo cool. It comes in a really big can, so you get your money's worth, and it really adds OOMPH to your hair. It's gotta be my favorite.
Aussie sprunch spray is a good drugstore brand, it's great for curls. (Smells great too!)
I really like the "Sheer Blonde" products, I think they're by John Frieda... The dream creme is wonderful. I use it sometimes the day after shampooing, it just glosses everything.
Makeup:
I tell everyone this. If you can afford it, buy Alexis Vogel cosmetics! They are the best I've ever used. The foundation is amazing. It doesn't look too heavy, yet it stays ALL day long! And it doesn't make me break out either. If you don't want to buy the whole kit, here is what I recommend as "must haves"... The foundation, powder, the chubby eye pencil, the eye shadow, the cake liner, shimmer eye shadow, and the shadow shammy. The other stuff, the blush, the black eyeliner, mascara, brow pencils, sharpener, and case, not really essential. But once you try this stuff, you'll love it. Get the instructional video too. If you don't know how to do your eyes, you will after the video!
I like Sephora cosmetics also. The lip venom is amazing! I don't know if it really makes your lips bigger or not. But when you put it on, you definitely feel like something is happening! It's got this amazing cinnamon taste, and it gives you a kind of tingly burning sensation. It actually feels good. I love the stuff!
For lipstick, I usually just buy whatever. Sometimes I'll go a couple of weeks where all I wear is Bonne Bell because it tastes good. ;) But I do have a soft spot for Clinique "honeybare". It's really pretty. "Raspberry Glace'" is pretty for a little more color. My new favorite is by Neutrogena, it's kind of a glossy color in a tube that goes on with a wand. The color is cute, it's called "coy". It doesn't last long, but it's very pretty. ;)
Skin Care:
For cleansing, I use Loreal visibly clean. It's got these little beads that kind of scrub away stuff.
For toning, I like Loreal "Pure Zone". It really tightens your pores and preps your skin for your moisturizer.
For moisturizer, I'm always trying different things. I like Olay products a lot. I used to have really oily skin that would break out a lot. Now I don't break out so much, but my skin is definitely drier. So I like something that makes it feel soft and hydrated. I also like Clinique "dramatically different" moisturizer, because it's like a drink for your skin. It's great to use when you get that "tight" feeling to your skin. Murad products are great if your skin is kind of acne prone. I've used it, and it makes a big difference in the condition of your skin.
Exfoliation is an extremely important part of skin care. I have a few homemade recipes for body scrubs on the next page, but there's some great store bought ones. I like "Got 2 Be Spa Salt Craving", with sea salt and peppermint, and the Sugar Craving made with sugar. You don't want to use the Salt Craving immediately after shaving or waxing though! But they both are great for sloughing off dead skin, and giving your skin a glow. Also, if you use a self tanner, or go to the salon for a "spray tan", I suggest using a scrub. It makes the tanner go on much smoother.
If you're going to use an at home self tanner, I'll tell you about the ones that I have had experience with. Neutrogena Instant Bronze is good, it gives you a nice color, but it has one drawback. It has a built in bronzer, which is great, but most of the color will wash off in the shower. Loreal Sublime Bronze also has a bronzer, but it stays put after showering. The only drawback I can think of is, it contains vitamin E, which is good for your skin, but it takes a while to dry, and goes on kind of greasy. I would highly recommend trying the new "spray" tans in salons. You undress, put a barrier cream on your feet and hands, and put a shower cap on, walk into this private booth, and these jets spray you with tanner in less than a minute. It's the most even tan you can get without the sun!
See the next page for my personal tips and recipes!!! :)
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