Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

Glass Nails

Monday, July 25, 2016





I posted my last manicure on Instagram and got a couple comments about what this shiny stuff on my nails was. While booking my last nail appointment at Emme Nail Spa I noticed their website advertised that they now offer glass nails. I had never heard of glass nails before so I took to Instagram to find out. Surprisingly, my hashtag search did not turn up much. But once I Googled glass nails I found several articles on the new nail art trend. I was immediately captivated. Here is a good article from InStyle on the details of how this crazy idea came about. But basically, you get shellac polish and after your color is applied they put teeny tiny strips of cellophane in various patterns on top of your nail. Then they seal it with your clear top coat. The final product leaves your nails looking textured and shiny, something I've never seen anything like. Picture mini disco balls on all of your fingers. I wanted them like yesterday!

So turns out the process is a little more tedious than the article explained, but Emme Spa was so great about accommodating me. I felt so bad because they called in another girl to make sure they were done correctly by her but without taking three hours to do. The pieces are not pre-cut and they have to make sure they are small enough so that they don't hang off your nail. My manicurist skillfully placed all the pieces on my nails in abstract patterns. What I did not expect was she had to apply a top coat, dry, file, repeat, about a million times. Although it took a while I appreciated her perfectionist habits in the end because my nails are smooth. If she had only done a couple coats they would of been bumpy and I would of picked at them or snagged on something. Another lady did my pedicure at the same time and y'all I was out of there in an hour and a half!

Sidenote: if you live in SA I cannot recommend them enough. You book online in advance or you can call, but I have never once had to wait once I arrived with an appointment. Every other salon I've been too has made me feel awkward or like I'm bothering them when I ask them to fix something. Emme is not like that at all. I have had multiple different employees work on me and every single one was equally friendly and talented.


When I was finished everyone was ooing and ahhing over how beautiful they turned out. They had only done them on neutral colors and I chose a bright pink. The color turned out really flattering with the iridescent cellophane. So I am now two weeks out from this appointment and my shellac is still on great. No chipping or peeling. I have gotten loads of compliments on them, and I am still completely hypnotized/distracted by my finger nails! I would call your salon ahead to make sure they offer this nail art since it is fairly new in the U.S.

They can do patterns or stack them on in layers or sporadically like mine for an abstract look. You can put them over any color. These pictures make my nails look tangerine but the color was actually more of a hot pink. The cellophane over the pink made it a really girly Barbie look, which I love. But the look can completely change with the color. I think a neutral white or light mauve would make this a really classy and cleaner look, while a black or dark blue underneath would make for a bold statement nail. Personally, I love my bright pink and I think these make for the perfect summer nails! I have constantly been stopped and asked at the grocery check out and my work what I had on my nails. Send me pictures if you decide to try it out, or comment or email if you have any questions!





Summer Essentials

Friday, July 22, 2016

Happy Friday! It's the most wonderful timeeeee of the yearrrrrrrrrrr. No, not Christmas, SUMMER. My absolute favorite season. I love the heat. I love the sun. I love being near the water. And I love being tan.

Now I know all too well the risks of skin cancer, trust me I am cautious, but you can't spend your life indoors or outside covered from head to toe. Sun exposure is going to happen so just be smart about it and always wear SPF! Especially on your face (hello, wrinkles) and sensitive ears. If you're completely anti-sun or fair skinned, worry not! I will be linking some self tanners as well.


 

Favorite Tanning Lotions

  1. Maui Babe Browning Lotion $13
  2.  Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil Spray Sunscreen, SPF 4 $9 
  3. Bain de Soleil Mega Tan Sunscreen with Self Tanner Lotion on sale for $8 right now
  4. Hawaiian Tropic Lotion Sunscreen, SPF 8  $9 
Some of the tanning lotions I'm linking have zero SPF so make sure you always add sunscreen!
I want to make a note about the Maui Babe Browning lotion. So this is one I found a few years ago at Target and tried it without knowing anything about it. It worked so good but then I couldn't find it anywhere and forgot about it. I ended up finding it at Ulta this summer and the reviews were so good.  It's a thick, dark brown and WILL stain your bikini. However, it is literally the fastest working tanning lotion I have ever, EVER, used. I always warn my friends to be careful not to stay out in the sun too long wearing this because you will end up with a sunburn. I would not stay out any longer than an hour max. This is the lotion I will use if I just want to lay out and read by my apartment pool for a little while. That way I can shower immediately after. Do not use this if you are going to be exposed to the sun longer than an hour. I would also recommend applying a sunscreen in addition to this tanning lotion since it has no SPF.

 Favorite Self Tanners

  1. Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in Dark $35 
  2. St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse $32
When using self tanners make sure you always shave and exfoliate before application. One thing you do not want to skip when applying a self tanner is using a mitt. OMG OMG OMG USE A MITT. Or you will end up with stained alien hands and looks like a fool. Trust me I have done it MANY times and you will get teased haha. I will never understand people who make fun of spray tans or self tanners. Sorry I want to look like a bronzed goddess but not damage my skin?? Loving Tan sells one and so does St. Tropez! I preferred the St. Tropez Mitt and it's a lot cheaper.


Hats are a must because nobody likes a sunburnt scalp!

  1. Women's Oversized Floppy Straw Hat
  2. Women's Floppy Straw Hat
  3. Women's Hat White Packable Panama
  4. Women's Hat Mint Color Block Panama
  5. Women's Floppy Straw Hat Black and White Stripe
I linked all my favorite sunhats from Target. All are less than $20!

 

 


 











  1. Charlie Southern Lake Babe Hat
  2. Charlie Southern Retro State Hat- TX in Coral
  3. Charlie Southern Retro State Hat- TX in Blue
I love faded baseball caps. Here are some I'm really digging from Riff Raff.

 

Sunglasses

  1. 'Sugar and Spice' 50mm Cat Eye Sunglasses
  2. 'Invader' 50mm Cat Eye Sunglasses 
  3. 'Cheshire' 50mm Round Sunglasses 
  4. 'Dream of Me' Cat Eye Sunglasses 
Funky sunglasses are really big this summer! These are on my wishlist. I never thought I would want giant bug eyed sunglasses after the Paris Hilton phase died, but everything always makes a come back!


Floaties

  1. Pineapple 
  2. Donut 
  3. Pizza 
  4. Gummy Bear
  5. Flamingo 
  6. Cactus Cupholder
  7. Flamingo Cupholders
My boyfriend probably thinks I have serious issues because I freaked out at every cool float we saw in Destin. I mean popsicles, pineapples, giant swans that can fit an entire adult? Where were these when we were kids?! Then again, as he pointed out, our parents would of never spent over $20 on a pool float and some of those bad boys run upwards of $70. Nevertheless, it's still fun to look at them! Here are my faves that are less pricey. Not to mention the baby flamingo floating cupholders are the cutest things I've ever seen! I linked the flamingos where I found them online, BUT if you live anywhere near a Five Below store try there first. That's where we found them on the way to Destin and the big float was only $5 and the babies came in packs of 3 for $3. Unfortunately, they don't sell online.






What is the craziest pool float you have seen? Have any of your own self tanner mishaps? Let me know in the comments or email me on the sidebar.
I hope you are enjoying your summer!






Hair Product Roundup

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

I rounded up my favorite hair products for y'all! These are the products I always keep stocked and  recommend to all my girlfriends. I linked almost all through Ulta, but you can find them other places! Target  and Walgreens carry a lot of these products. Take a gander so you can have hair so big it's full of secrets like Gretchen Weiners.

For reference my hair is long, thin & fine, and I get it balayaged blonde. My root color is a medium to dark brown! My biggest battle with my hair is keeping it healthy from all the blonde and heat that I inflict upon it.

 

Let's Talk Volume 

In Texas our motto is the higher the hair the closer to God. And we mean it. I know the middle part with flat hair and messy ends is in but I just can'ttttt get with it. I've been teasing my hair since my middle school cheers days and that's never going to change. Shout out to Mom for teaching me how to get the ultimate "bump". I used to make fun of her for it, but the older I got the more volume I desired. She is also who showed me two of my favorite hair products that I always keep in my drawer: Osis+ Dust It and Matrix hairspray*.

*Osis+ Dust It $24
Big Sexy Hair Powder Play  $11
If you've never used a powder to tease your hair this one is going to be really weird for you at first. Don't freak out at the cost for such a tiny bottle because you only need a tiny bit. You sprinkle it at the roots of your crown or wherever you're trying to get volume and tease! It's going to feel weird and make your hair feel almost stiff but it has the best hold out of any product I have ever used! You can sweat and still have perfectly teased locks! I was so afraid of this stuff when my mom would use it. Finally in college I asked my friend how she got her hair so perfect and it turned out this was one of the things she used. I let her work her magic on my hair with it and never looked back. So many of my friends use it now!

Not Your Mother's Plump For Joy Thickening Hair Lifter $6
I love this brand and you can get their line at the drugstore. The thickening hair lifter works great for adding volume to limp hair. It works better in the body of your hair rather than the roots. You can use it on wet or dry hair. It will be sticky on your hands but won't make your hair that way. 

*Matrix Total Results High Amplify Proforma Firm Hold Hairspray $16
Use this hairspray and you will never be satisfied with any other! It's amazing. My mom has been using this for YEARS and now every time she stocks up I beg her to grab me a few bottles. This is a firm hold hair spray and will keep your hair in place all day or night. I would like to personally apologize to the environment for all the hair spray fumes we have contributed to the atmosphere from this hairspray. When I was in college my friends and roommates would always come steal it while we got ready together. They would take turns in my bathroom for me to tease and spray their hair and then I would have them do my eyeshadow. (*sigh* the good ole days!) 

Redken Windblown $19
My hairdresser used this on me to tease my crown and I fell in love. It's a lighter hairspray that works good for adding volume or if you prefer a lighter hairspray. I feel like the name Windblown is completely appropriate because a good spray of this gives you that messy bed-head look. Oh and it smells incredible.

Keepin' It Clean


Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo $6-7
I am a big fan of making things easy and that's exactly what dry shampoo was invented for! I try not to use it too much because it's not the best for your hair, but sometimes you are oily and crunched for time. A little trick if you are ever out of dry shampoo --a dash of baby powder does the same thing. Just don't overdo it or you will end up looking like you're roots are going gray. 


Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo $6
Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Conditioner $6
I love this shampoo and conditioner by Not Your Mother's. It makes your hair ridiculously, incredibly soft and smells like a slice of heaven. My only con is I use too much and go through it pretty fast.

It's A 10 Miracle Daily Conditioner $20-40
It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo $20-40
If you don't mind shelling out a little extra for your shampoo and conditioner, then this is my favorite. These come in pumps and will last you a super long time. I only try to wash my hair about two to three times a week, but during summer that is a lot harder to manage. This is nourishing to my hair and won't dry it out if I have to wash it more. It's A 10 also makes a Keratin shampoo and conditioner. It works really well but I have such fine hair that if I use it too much it can cause buildup and make my hair sticky. My sister has thick, curly hair and it works great on hers for daily use.

Heat Protectant + Styling

Kenra Professional Platinum Blow-Dry Spray $22
This spray promises to reduce blow-dry time by 50%. I had my doubts, but I can really see a difference. It also is a heat protector, smooths, and fights frizz and humidity.

Kenra Professional Platinum Hot Spray $20
This is my favorite heat protectant! 

It's A 10 Potion 10 Miracle Styling Potion $20
I love this styling potion for smoothing frizzies and taming hair before I style it. This is a great product for people with curly hair. A little goes a long way. 

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray $6-7
This spray is perfect for wavy beach hair. BUT if you have dry hair, stay away. It will dry your hair out more and that's never bueno. If you've got oily hair spray away girlfriend! Spritz it all over and softly scrunch.

Damage Control 

It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product $18
It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin $20
It's A 10 Silk Express Miracle Leave-In $21
I use all of these after I shower and leave them in my hair to air dry. I alternate between the three each time so I don't get build up from the Keratin. Or if my hair is feeling really damaged I may use a couple at once. Focus on your ends with these products. 


Carrington Farms 100% Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Call me simple, but rather than blowing money on expensive hair masks, my go-to mask is good old Coconut Oil! Seriously, is there anything coconut oil can't be used for? I linked my favorite brand but any will do so long as it is unrefined, cold-pressed, extra virgin. It's a solid but will melt with just the heat of your hands. Be sure to always use a spoon to get some out so that you aren't contaminating the jar. Scoop out a spoonful and heat it in a microwave safe container for like ten seconds. Cover your hair is the messy goodness, especially on those dry ends. Cover with a shower cap, or if you are winging it then saran wrap your hair (it looks silly but it works). Leave it on for as long as you like. I always have to wash my hair twice to get out all of the oil.


For My Blondes

Redken Blonde Idol Custom Tone Violet Conditioner $32
My hair dresser gets my hair the absolute perfect shade of icy blonde. I picked up this product from Ulta in a desperate attempt to keep my cool tones from turning brassy over time from washing with hard water. One side has the purple toner and one side is the conditioner and you dial the pump to get your desired combination. I use it once a week all the way up on 6. And use it every time I wash dialed to 2. (I wash my hair about three times a week) After shampooing, I let this sit on my hair as long as I possibly can. Shave your legs, soak in a bubble bath, or if you have a shower cap you can just go about your business as usual. Depending on your hair type you may or may not want to still use conditioner. Now this may leave you with a grey or violet tint after leaving it on for an extremely long time, but I mean BARELY noticeable and will fade after your next wash.This is a product for any blondes who want to banish gold, yellow, and brassiness from your blonde. So if you prefer a golden or yellow blonde this is not something you want to use. I let this sit on my extensions for a good 30+ minutes and these were my results. At first I was terrified I ruined them because they looked DARK GREY while I was rinsing them, but once they dried I was so pleased with the color.
Left is before and right is after!




L'Oreal EverPure Blonde Shade Reviving Treatment $9
This is a drugstore product used to help boost your blonde. Similar to the RedKen conditioner but not as intense. I've been through a couple of bottles of this and have seen good results, but it is not nearly as effective as the RedKen.

Tools 

For Big/Loose Curls
Hot Tools NanoCermanic 1.25" Flipperless Curling Wand $50

For Tight Curls
NanoCeramic Tapered Iron $60

Favorite Flat Iron
Paul Mitchell Protools Express Ion Smooth + Flat Iron 1.25" $115

And you can never go wrong with CHI!
Chi Ceramic 1" Hairstyling Iron



Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? Or are there any you are interested in me testing? Let me know in the comments! 

Drugstore Dupes Part 2

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Originally I had all of these included in my first post, if you missed it you can find it here but I got so excited writing this I may have gotten a tad carried away with the length. I really wanted to go more into detail on these products, so I decided to break the post into two parts. Part one was all makeup and part two includes cleansers, makeup removers, brushes and sponges. I have suffered with breakouts and Rosacea on and off my whole life. As a result, I have tried nearly every face product on the market.So after much trial and error here are the Lindsey approved products and tools. 

Enjoy!

Cleanser

Instead of Tula Purifying Face Cleanser  try CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Price Difference: Tula $28 

CeraVe $10-12

PLUS I found a coupon for $2 off CeraVe products!

This cleanser was recommended by my dermatologist and I have been using it for years now. Like I said earlier, my skin is very sensitive. Young Linds thought I needed to strip my face of all oils to get rid of any acne. I would use harsh scrubs, three different acne cleansers, a toner, AND a spot treatment and my skin would end up SO irritated. CeraVe has never caused any sort of irritation or dryness and is gentle on all skin types. It takes off all the makeup, dirt, and excess oil but without totally stripping the skin of all the good oils the face needs.

From CeraVe's website:

Its unique, patented MVE formulation releases ceramides and other essential ingredients throughout the day, so they penetrate deep into skin to hydrate and nourish. While hyaluronic acid (a humectant) attracts moisture to the top layer of the skin, ensuring skin remains hydrated after washing.
  • Ideal for use on the face and body
  • Ceramides help repair the skin barrier
  • Hyaluronic acid attracts needed moisture
  • Emollients moisturize and soften very dry skin
It's inexpensive, the bottle will last me for months, AND it's great for your skin. I recommend this cleanser to all my friends and family. 

Clinique $39 

Garnier $7

When my mom decided I was finally allowed to wear makeup, after endless begging, she took me straight to the Clinique coutner in Dillards and had me matched for base, powder, and blush. If you've ever shopped with Clinique then you probably know about their amazing bonus gifts. If you spend a certain amount, you get an adorable makeup bag filled with a variety of samples. One of the samples is almost always a moisturizer and this is how I discovered the holy grail that is Clinique Moisture Surge. I don't wear Clinique makeup anymore but I am a big fan of their skincare line. However, $40 for 1.7 oz of product did NOT fit a college budget. So I scoured the Internet for a dupe and came across Garnier's Moisture Rescue Gel. Y'ALL. This is probably the best copycat I have ever come across. At around $7 for the same amount this moisturizer gives me the exact results I loved from Clinique. So far the only difference I can tell is it's blue instead of pink, ha! It's a gel so I just scoop out a little bit and it covers my whole face and neck. It dries fast so you aren't left feeling greasy, yet it keeps my skin moisturized the whole day. I use it for both day and night. When I put it on my face feels so FRESH. I love that this comes in a screw on jar, because you can just every. last. drop. No fighting a squeeze tube! And maybe I'm just weird but I really like the smell of it.

 I also love Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Night Creme $15

This moisturizer costs a little more, but I wanted to include it for anyone who also suffers from Rosacea. This is a super thick night cream that really calms my skin.It helps soothe any redness and that burning feeling that can happen in your cheeks. I especially love this cream because I know that it wont cause me to break out.

Makeup Removers

Instead of Simple Micellar Cleansing Water try e.l.f. Studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

Micellar Water $6

e.l.f. Cleansing Cloths $3

So for makeup removers, I won't be comparing any products. But I really wanted to include these two in the post because the world needs to know about their greatness!
First off, Micellar Cleansing Water. When I first heard about micellar water I didn't fully understand what it did. It's basically made of teeny tiny balls of oil and water, and these tiny balls attract all the nasty gunk off your skin. Technically micellar water can be used as a makeup remover, cleanser, AND moisturizer.  Like not possible right? Well it actually is! (I included it in this section because I use it as a remover for any leftover makeup) Since I am fairly new to this product I still feel like I need to wash my face the old fashion way to really get clean. So what my nightly routine consists of right now is remove majority of makeup with e.l.f. makeup wipes, wash my face with CeraVe, and pat dry. Then I take a cotton pad and soak it with micellar water. I used this to make sure I really get all the stubborn eye makeup off and then rub my whole face with it. Now here is the crazy part to me. After you use it all over your face, your skin will dry to normal. No oily residue left over, no tight dry skin that most toners leave  you with. Your face feels clean and moisturized. If you have dry or normal skin and don't wear heavy makeup you can honestly skip my routine and go straight to the micellar water. But those with oily skin or those who coat mascara on thick like me will need a little extra help removing everything. I can see this being most useful if you need a quick way to clean your face after the gym, while you're traveling outdoors, or if you just want a fresh face before you reapply your makeup.

Makeup wipes are, in my opinion, one of the greatest inventions of our time. Too tired to wash your face after a late night? Makeup wipe. Need to do your makeup on the go but still hoarding last nights eyeliner? Makeup wipe. Need to take off your foundation before the gym, but don't dare use the locker room sink? Makeup wipe! I have always used Neutrogena's cleansing clothes to take my makeup off, but I go through them so quick, and they run at normally $6 or $7 a pop! These e.l.f. cleansing cloths work just as well for half the price. I also love that the e.l.f. wipes have a snap shut lid instead of a sticky lid to keep them from drying out. Most Targets carry these, but never have that many. So stock up when you find them!

Que Bella Face Masks

 Que Bella Purifying Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mud Mask 

Que Bella Pore Minimizing Mud Mask

Que Bella Dead Sea Mud Mask

Que Bella Coconut Cream Brightening Facial Treatment Mask

Que Bella Deep Cleansing Aloe Vera Mask

So I found these masks at Target in the section with all the loofas and bath soaks and cute stuff you want, but refrain from buying (usually). Now I am very skeptical of cheap face masks because if they costs next to nothing how can they be good?? If something is going on my face I need to know it's not going to cause a crazy reaction. These babies are only $2. TWOOOO DOLLARS. And they are now my absolute favorite masks. Even better, each packet has enough for two uses. So share it with you girlfriends and have a mask party, your sister, your mom, or ziplock it to keep it from drying out and use it within a couple days. I linked the different types I have tried so far, but there are tons of different ones that each have specific benefits. My favorite is the tea tree oil and witch hazel. I feel like my pores just took a spa vacation and bathed in magic spring waters. These are $2 in store or $10 in bulk online. I also really want to try the Que Bella under eye masks and foot treatment.

Blenders

Instead of Beauty Blender try Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge 

Beauty Blender $20

Real Technique Sponge $6 

Same sponge, different color, but only $6! I am a huge fan of Real Techniques products. Their blender is orange and features a flat side, which makes it easier to get into your under-eye area. Make sure you are always getting the blender wet before using it to get the best results.  

 

Brushes

Instead of Sephora Advanced Airbrush Set try Real Techniques Deluxe Gift Set 

Real Techniques 5 Brush Set $30 

Sephora Advanced Airbrush Set $65

So I will say this, makeup brushes are the one part of your collection I would suggest investing in. They will last so long and the tools you use really do impact how your makeup is applied. With that said, I still have not found the strength within me to splurge on a good brush set. But so far I am perfectly OK with that. Maybe, just maybe I will look into gift sets during Christmas sales. As I said before I am a lover of Real Technique! You can literally swing into a Walgreen's or Target for these bad boys and pick up a killer brush set for under $50. I got the set I linked last Christmas, use them daily, and they are still in great condition.

With both brushes and blenders, be sure you take the time to deep clean them often. I am as guilty as anyone about waiting wayyyy too long between cleanings. You should at the VERY least be cleaning your brushes once a month. As for the beauty blender, I rinse it after every use and try to deep clean it at least once a week. It's a sponge, so it's forever sucking up all your makeup, oil, hairspray, etc. Basically a little ball of bacteria. If you use a blender daily, you should be replacing it with a fresh one every three months. My favorite way to clean my tools is so easy. Just pour equal parts Dawn dish soap and olive oil on a plate or in a cup of water. Swirl around or let soak. Rinse and repeat until water runs clear and then set on a paper towel (or hang if you can) to air dry. And remember NEVER share your beauty products! That's how breakouts, sties, and fever blisters happen.

Keep in mind that everyone's skin may react to products differently. These are what work for me but not all of them may work the best for you. Remember to always do a spot test when trying out a new product. What are your must-have skin care products? Let me know in the comments!

Drugstore Dupes

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

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