After my waxing fail with Sally Hansen, I went out and looked for another type of wax that could be easier. Veet ready-to-use Wax Strips seemed like the perfect solution. The difference between this wax and other wax kits is that the wax is pre-coated onto the waxing strips. This solves the problem of a messy waxing session.
I got home and tried them right away. It stung a little more than Sally Hansen, but after a while, it didn't hurt too bad. It was much cleaner this time, I didn't make any mess. The only problem - a big problem - was that this waxing kit left quite a few hairs behind. Ugh! Maybe it's the product, maybe it's all waxing kit products, or maybe it's just me being a first-time waxer, but I still have a good amount of hair left on my legs!
So now, I sit here with tingling legs that are still a little hairy, $20 more broke than I was before I ever thought about waxing. I'd say about 50% of my leg hair is gone and the rest of it is a lot shorter than it was before I waxed them. But is that really worth spending more money and feeling more pain? No, it's not. Maybe if I practiced more I'd get it right, but I don't have the time, money, or patience for that. It's time to try Nair creams.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Waxing FAIL!
The other day, I picked up a Sally Hansen wax kit for myself. I finally reached the point this summer where I have become completely sick of shaving! I woke up a few days after showing the night before and felt my legs which had already become prickly, which seems ridiculous to me. At this point, I'm ready to try anything else.
The benefits of waxing are awesome. The more you wax, the slower and thinner your hair is supposed to grow back. And apparently, if you wax your legs enough, the hair stops growing back completely! Sounds like a great deal to me. The only downside I saw was the pain, but it couldn't be that painful, and even if it was, it seemed totally worth it to me.
I went to Target to pick myself up and at-home waxing kit. The first thing that popped out to me was the Sally Hansen brand. I had heard a lot of great things about them. I went for the simple waxing kit that provided extra strength and gave you the flexibility of being able to use this wax on any part of your body.
I definitely had high expectations for waxing. I had already been growing my leg hair out (which is not fun!) for about a week, just reaching a quarter inch (the recommended length for waxing). I read the directions multiple times to make sure I got everything right. I heated up my wax in the microwave and set everything up in my bathroom. Once I started waxing on my right leg, it wasn't working at first. I had to keep pulling off the strips again and again and again until I finally saw hair on the strips. This made me super excited, until I felt my leg expecting pure smoothness, and instead, felt HAIRINESS! I rinsed my sticking right leg and hands, still covered in wax, under water in my bathtub. To my surprise, the wax did not come off at all. I stood there in a sticky mess, with nothing but sore, hairy legs. In other words, it was a total fail.
My thoughts of waxing in general after finally trying it out is still positive, however. It was a little painful, but it really wasn't too bad. I could see myself going to a salon to get my legs waxed. I really never thought that self-waxing at home would be this hard. The thought of having super-smooth legs for two months without shaving at all makes me so happy.
So, where do I go from here? I really don't know. Try again? Buy an easier self-waxing kit? Go to the salon and get a professional waxing there? Give up on waxing and try a cream? Or go back to shaving?!?!
After thinking it over, I'll get back to y'all about whatever I decide to do. Please, leave suggestions if you have any input!
The benefits of waxing are awesome. The more you wax, the slower and thinner your hair is supposed to grow back. And apparently, if you wax your legs enough, the hair stops growing back completely! Sounds like a great deal to me. The only downside I saw was the pain, but it couldn't be that painful, and even if it was, it seemed totally worth it to me.
I went to Target to pick myself up and at-home waxing kit. The first thing that popped out to me was the Sally Hansen brand. I had heard a lot of great things about them. I went for the simple waxing kit that provided extra strength and gave you the flexibility of being able to use this wax on any part of your body.
I definitely had high expectations for waxing. I had already been growing my leg hair out (which is not fun!) for about a week, just reaching a quarter inch (the recommended length for waxing). I read the directions multiple times to make sure I got everything right. I heated up my wax in the microwave and set everything up in my bathroom. Once I started waxing on my right leg, it wasn't working at first. I had to keep pulling off the strips again and again and again until I finally saw hair on the strips. This made me super excited, until I felt my leg expecting pure smoothness, and instead, felt HAIRINESS! I rinsed my sticking right leg and hands, still covered in wax, under water in my bathtub. To my surprise, the wax did not come off at all. I stood there in a sticky mess, with nothing but sore, hairy legs. In other words, it was a total fail.
My thoughts of waxing in general after finally trying it out is still positive, however. It was a little painful, but it really wasn't too bad. I could see myself going to a salon to get my legs waxed. I really never thought that self-waxing at home would be this hard. The thought of having super-smooth legs for two months without shaving at all makes me so happy.
So, where do I go from here? I really don't know. Try again? Buy an easier self-waxing kit? Go to the salon and get a professional waxing there? Give up on waxing and try a cream? Or go back to shaving?!?!
After thinking it over, I'll get back to y'all about whatever I decide to do. Please, leave suggestions if you have any input!
My Thoughts on Face Wash
Face wash... where do I start? There are so many different brands, different types, different scents, different goals, it's almost overwhelming! But lets rule out those super-strong acne treatments such as Proactiv. I'm not here to talk about the best treatment for people with big acne problems. I'm just an average girl with occasional bad breakouts here and there, looking for the best way to take care of my face.
In the past, I have mostly used Neutrogena when it comes to washing my face. It seems like a good, trustworthy brand. I like Neutrogena because even their makeup products focus on achieving and maintaining clear skin. This brand is all about good skin. I especially like their face wash that also removes makeup, since I basically wear makeup every day and mostly use face wash at the very end of the day.
However, recently I switched up my face wash routine. I have heard amazing things about skin exfoliators, like how effective it is and how good it is for your skin. Exfoliators should only be used on your face three to four times a week, so each time I take a shower (every other day), I use it. On the other nights, I simply just remove my makeup and give my skin a break from face product. The best exfoliating face wash out there in my opinion is St. Ive's. They are a natural, trusting brand that is cruelty-free!
When it comes to your face, and really anything else, I believe that the simpler the better. You should not be using a million different products on your face. In my opinion, every girl should own a makeup remover, a face wash, and a moisturizer for the face - at most. In fact, I've heard that simply splashing water on your face each night is just as good, if not better, for your face as apposed to using an actual face wash. In the past, I have used special, gimmicky products such as Clearasil Overnight Acne Defense Gel which cause me to breakout even more. -Not to mention the mess it left on my pillow. Even Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser left my face feeling quite soft and smooth, but a simple exfoliator will do the same thing. In the end, it's all about personal preference. But the less product you use and the longer you stick with the same thing, the better your skin will look/feel.
Tips for choosing the right face wash:
In the past, I have mostly used Neutrogena when it comes to washing my face. It seems like a good, trustworthy brand. I like Neutrogena because even their makeup products focus on achieving and maintaining clear skin. This brand is all about good skin. I especially like their face wash that also removes makeup, since I basically wear makeup every day and mostly use face wash at the very end of the day.
However, recently I switched up my face wash routine. I have heard amazing things about skin exfoliators, like how effective it is and how good it is for your skin. Exfoliators should only be used on your face three to four times a week, so each time I take a shower (every other day), I use it. On the other nights, I simply just remove my makeup and give my skin a break from face product. The best exfoliating face wash out there in my opinion is St. Ive's. They are a natural, trusting brand that is cruelty-free!
When it comes to your face, and really anything else, I believe that the simpler the better. You should not be using a million different products on your face. In my opinion, every girl should own a makeup remover, a face wash, and a moisturizer for the face - at most. In fact, I've heard that simply splashing water on your face each night is just as good, if not better, for your face as apposed to using an actual face wash. In the past, I have used special, gimmicky products such as Clearasil Overnight Acne Defense Gel which cause me to breakout even more. -Not to mention the mess it left on my pillow. Even Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser left my face feeling quite soft and smooth, but a simple exfoliator will do the same thing. In the end, it's all about personal preference. But the less product you use and the longer you stick with the same thing, the better your skin will look/feel.
Tips for choosing the right face wash:
- Know your skin. Is your skin oily, dry, or combination? How sensitive is your skin? What's your problem? Do you have black heads, white heads, etc.? Or are you just looking for something to simply clean your skin? Look for products that target these specific details.
- Find the right brand. Each brand of face wash will have its own reputation. They are all known for different things. Some are more natural than others while some are much stronger than others. Do a little research.
- Have patience. Acne-fighting face washes can take weeks to start working on your skin. Give it time before you claim it doesn't work. Also realize that after quite a while, your skin will get used to this product and once again, you'll have to make another switch. (Aw man!)
This is everything that I have to say about face wash for now. Keep checking back for more!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Review: Pond's & Other Face Wipes
Personally, I love face wipes. It takes less time and mess than any other makeup remover or face wash. It's so simple - you just take a wipe, rub it all over your face, and poof! Your makeup is off and your face is clean! I have come across a few different types of face wash and let me start out with telling you that nothing compares to Pond's. But I'm going to go ahead and compare them anyway ;)
Pond's was the first set of face wipes I got for myself. I went for the original Pond's face wipes. I was very pleased with the results. It left my face feeling clean, refreshed, and completely makeup-free.
Pond's original face wipes are great, but I was so excited to see that Pond's carries other types of face wipes as well! I went ahead and bought myself Pond's Wet Cleansing Evening Sooth with Chamomile & White Tea. These wipes are perfect to use at night. Something about it is so soothing and will make you feel more relaxed along with the feeling of clean, refreshed, and completely makeup-free.
I also could not resist buying myself Pond's Morning Refresh with Citrus & Cucumber. These wipe are perfect to use, obviously, in the morning! On the towelletes, you will find a bunch of dots. These dots help exfoliate your skin and leave you feeling extra-charged during your groggy mornings. I know it sounds cheesy, but I mean it when I say that these face wipes really woke me up and had me feeling super ready to meet the day!
Once I ran out of Pond's, I went back to the store and decided to give Target's knock-off brand of Pond's a try to save some money. As much as I love Pond's, they are a bit on the pricey side. These "Pond's" face wipes that I used really sucked! They got the job done, but they left my face feeling sticky and muggy. Yuck!
The next brand of face wipes I went for were Say Yes To Cucumbers. In the past, I have been quite pleased with the Say Yes To Carrots brand. I like how they are a natural brand and completely cruelty-free. However, their face wipes were also a big thumbs-down. The towelletes did not carry enough moisture in them and I really had to scrub to get all of my makeup completely off.
And finally, I went for Almay Makeup Remover Towelletes. These face wipes definitely got the job done, removing all my makeup completely. However, it did not leave my face feeling as refreshed as they did with Pond's.
Ratings:
Pond's Original: 5/5 stars
Pond's Evening Sooth: 5/5 stars
Pond's Morning Refresh: 5/5 stars
Knock-off Brand of Pond's: 2/5 stars
Say Yes To Cucumbers Face Wipes: 3/5 stars
Almay Makeup Remover Towelletes: 4/5 stars
Pond's was the first set of face wipes I got for myself. I went for the original Pond's face wipes. I was very pleased with the results. It left my face feeling clean, refreshed, and completely makeup-free.
Pond's original face wipes are great, but I was so excited to see that Pond's carries other types of face wipes as well! I went ahead and bought myself Pond's Wet Cleansing Evening Sooth with Chamomile & White Tea. These wipes are perfect to use at night. Something about it is so soothing and will make you feel more relaxed along with the feeling of clean, refreshed, and completely makeup-free.
I also could not resist buying myself Pond's Morning Refresh with Citrus & Cucumber. These wipe are perfect to use, obviously, in the morning! On the towelletes, you will find a bunch of dots. These dots help exfoliate your skin and leave you feeling extra-charged during your groggy mornings. I know it sounds cheesy, but I mean it when I say that these face wipes really woke me up and had me feeling super ready to meet the day!
Once I ran out of Pond's, I went back to the store and decided to give Target's knock-off brand of Pond's a try to save some money. As much as I love Pond's, they are a bit on the pricey side. These "Pond's" face wipes that I used really sucked! They got the job done, but they left my face feeling sticky and muggy. Yuck!
The next brand of face wipes I went for were Say Yes To Cucumbers. In the past, I have been quite pleased with the Say Yes To Carrots brand. I like how they are a natural brand and completely cruelty-free. However, their face wipes were also a big thumbs-down. The towelletes did not carry enough moisture in them and I really had to scrub to get all of my makeup completely off.
And finally, I went for Almay Makeup Remover Towelletes. These face wipes definitely got the job done, removing all my makeup completely. However, it did not leave my face feeling as refreshed as they did with Pond's.
Ratings:
Pond's Original: 5/5 stars
Pond's Evening Sooth: 5/5 stars
Pond's Morning Refresh: 5/5 stars
Knock-off Brand of Pond's: 2/5 stars
Say Yes To Cucumbers Face Wipes: 3/5 stars
Almay Makeup Remover Towelletes: 4/5 stars
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Review: Maybelline's Fit Me
At first, I was a bit skeptical about investing in "Fit Me" makeup. After seeing an ad for it on TV, it sounded like a super go-natural type of makeup. This had me believing that the makeup would be so focused on looking natural, that it wouldn't offer me any real coverage. However, I went ahead and bought myself Fit Me powder foundation, liquid foundation, and concealer.
The powder foundation left me feeling pretty satisfied. Like any other powder foundation, it did not offer a great amount of coverage. However, it still did a good job at evening out my skin tone and still looking natural. It came in a simple compact which did not include a mirror. It did not include an applicator either, which I was fine with because I prefer to use my fingers anyway. Overall, I was content with this product, but not super impressed.
The concealer worked wonders for me! It was thick enough to make all of my blemishes invisible, while still looking natural and feeling light. So far, this has been my favorite concealer of all time! It comes in a tube, along with a built-in lipgloss-looking applier.
The liquid foundation was absolutely amazing. It was definitely not what I expected from the "Fit Me" brand because it transformed my uneven skin into a perfect, photoshopped canvas. I expected the liquid foundation to be super sheer and cover up nothing. The best part? It looked super natural! You could not even tell I was wearing makeup. I could not even tell I was wearing makeup myself because I couldn't feel it at all! However, I do have one complaint about it - the bottle it came in. The only way to get the makeup out of the bottle was to turn it upside-down and pour it onto my fingers which caused a huge mess and poured out much more makeup than I needed. If only it had a nozzle of some sort to make the applying process a lot less messier...
Overall, "Fit Me" reached beyond my expectations without going too far. It is definitely a great makeup brand, however it still had its imperfections. I would recommend this to anyone out there looking for natural-looking makeup that offers great coverage. Do not be fooled by its name, "Fit Me" has the power to make your skin look flawless. But then again, there are tons of other makeup brands out there with great coverage that still looks natural.
Ratings:
Powder Foundation: 3/5 stars
Concealer: 5/5 stars
Liquid Foundation: 4/5 stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
The powder foundation left me feeling pretty satisfied. Like any other powder foundation, it did not offer a great amount of coverage. However, it still did a good job at evening out my skin tone and still looking natural. It came in a simple compact which did not include a mirror. It did not include an applicator either, which I was fine with because I prefer to use my fingers anyway. Overall, I was content with this product, but not super impressed.
The concealer worked wonders for me! It was thick enough to make all of my blemishes invisible, while still looking natural and feeling light. So far, this has been my favorite concealer of all time! It comes in a tube, along with a built-in lipgloss-looking applier.
The liquid foundation was absolutely amazing. It was definitely not what I expected from the "Fit Me" brand because it transformed my uneven skin into a perfect, photoshopped canvas. I expected the liquid foundation to be super sheer and cover up nothing. The best part? It looked super natural! You could not even tell I was wearing makeup. I could not even tell I was wearing makeup myself because I couldn't feel it at all! However, I do have one complaint about it - the bottle it came in. The only way to get the makeup out of the bottle was to turn it upside-down and pour it onto my fingers which caused a huge mess and poured out much more makeup than I needed. If only it had a nozzle of some sort to make the applying process a lot less messier...
Overall, "Fit Me" reached beyond my expectations without going too far. It is definitely a great makeup brand, however it still had its imperfections. I would recommend this to anyone out there looking for natural-looking makeup that offers great coverage. Do not be fooled by its name, "Fit Me" has the power to make your skin look flawless. But then again, there are tons of other makeup brands out there with great coverage that still looks natural.
Ratings:
Powder Foundation: 3/5 stars
Concealer: 5/5 stars
Liquid Foundation: 4/5 stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
My Thoughts On Different Makeup Brands
No two people are alike. This also goes for makeup brands as well. Each one is different in it's own, special way. Basically, some really suck while others are freakin' awesome.
Covergirl (4/5 stars) - The first brand of makeup I ever used. I never really had any problem with Covergirl. Covergirl makes great stuff that lasts really long. They offer a very wide range of different types and styles of makeup. Overall, Covergirl is a great makeup brand. My only complaint? Animal testing. It really bugs me when companies test on animals when they really don't have to. Other than that, great brand.
Almay (4/5 stars) - Here's a makeup brand that does NOT test on animals! (Yipeeee!) However, I still can't give it a perfect score. Their makeup is great, they are pretty creative with some of their products, but it's just not perfect. Their concealer is good, but not as thick as I would want it to be. I like their smart shade products, but I'm still to this day skeptical about how well "smart shade" can really figure out your exact skin-tone.
L'Oreal (1/5 stars) - Let me put this gently... L'Oreal makeup SUCKS! Their eyeliner barely shows, their concealer is thick & messy, and don't even get me started on some of their products... a paint roller application for foundation? Last time I checked, my face is not a completely flat wall...
Revlon (5/5 stars) - Almay is a part of the Revlon company. Revlon is simply perfection. Their makeup offers a great amount of coverage without feeling heavy or looking too thick. Revlon offers a brand of makeup called ColorStay - makeup that is completely waterproof. This is perfect for when you're going swimming or just anywhere super hot where you might sweat your makeup off. Their black eyeliner is my favorite. And yes, they do not test on animals! :)
Covergirl (4/5 stars) - The first brand of makeup I ever used. I never really had any problem with Covergirl. Covergirl makes great stuff that lasts really long. They offer a very wide range of different types and styles of makeup. Overall, Covergirl is a great makeup brand. My only complaint? Animal testing. It really bugs me when companies test on animals when they really don't have to. Other than that, great brand.
Almay (4/5 stars) - Here's a makeup brand that does NOT test on animals! (Yipeeee!) However, I still can't give it a perfect score. Their makeup is great, they are pretty creative with some of their products, but it's just not perfect. Their concealer is good, but not as thick as I would want it to be. I like their smart shade products, but I'm still to this day skeptical about how well "smart shade" can really figure out your exact skin-tone.
L'Oreal (1/5 stars) - Let me put this gently... L'Oreal makeup SUCKS! Their eyeliner barely shows, their concealer is thick & messy, and don't even get me started on some of their products... a paint roller application for foundation? Last time I checked, my face is not a completely flat wall...
Revlon (5/5 stars) - Almay is a part of the Revlon company. Revlon is simply perfection. Their makeup offers a great amount of coverage without feeling heavy or looking too thick. Revlon offers a brand of makeup called ColorStay - makeup that is completely waterproof. This is perfect for when you're going swimming or just anywhere super hot where you might sweat your makeup off. Their black eyeliner is my favorite. And yes, they do not test on animals! :)
Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Review
My favorite thing about the brand Almay is that they do not test on animals. That is always a huge plus to me when buying a new beauty product. Knowing this, I went ahead and checked out Almay's selection of foundation once I was sick of my other foundation I had been using (which happens to me very often). I was intrigued when I saw this product called "Smart Shade." They know my skin tone? How can this be?
The "Smart Shade" products do not know EVERYTHING about your skin color. You still have your option of choosing between light, light medium, and medium. However, you do not have to get specific with your number, just know your range. If you're in the 100s, get light. If you're in 200s, get medium-light. It didn't matter that I couldn't remember if I was a 105, 110, or 115. I got myself the light option because I knew I was in the 100s, and that was all that mattered.
I went for "Smart Balance" because I've got super rosy-red cheeks that do not blend in with my skin at all. When you squeeze the makeup out of the tube, you can see little black specks. Then, you simply rub it all over your face to even things out. Once I used enough, my cheeks didn't stand out so much anymore and my face looked pretty even. Overall, I was pleased with the results. However, with all this "smart shade technology" I thought it would look a lot more natural than it actually did. It was still pretty natural though, just not as much as I expected it to be. Also, I still had to use concealer to hide my blemishes, just so you know.
Overall Rating = 4/5 stars.
The "Smart Shade" products do not know EVERYTHING about your skin color. You still have your option of choosing between light, light medium, and medium. However, you do not have to get specific with your number, just know your range. If you're in the 100s, get light. If you're in 200s, get medium-light. It didn't matter that I couldn't remember if I was a 105, 110, or 115. I got myself the light option because I knew I was in the 100s, and that was all that mattered.
I went for "Smart Balance" because I've got super rosy-red cheeks that do not blend in with my skin at all. When you squeeze the makeup out of the tube, you can see little black specks. Then, you simply rub it all over your face to even things out. Once I used enough, my cheeks didn't stand out so much anymore and my face looked pretty even. Overall, I was pleased with the results. However, with all this "smart shade technology" I thought it would look a lot more natural than it actually did. It was still pretty natural though, just not as much as I expected it to be. Also, I still had to use concealer to hide my blemishes, just so you know.
Overall Rating = 4/5 stars.
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