SpaRitual Multi-Tasker Base And Topcoat in One

$15 at www.skinstore.com (they are having a 20% off everything sale right now)

I LOOOVE products that do more than one thing. This is a great clear polish that can be used as a base coat to help the nail polish you are using adhere to the nail and make the color brighter and then again as a top coat to make it shinier and make it last longer. The first thing I noticed (and loved ) about this base and top coat was the applicator. It has a nice thick handle that is rubber and has texturized grippies to help make the application easier. This is more money than I maybe would normally spend on a top coat or base coat but since it was both I figured it was worth it. This went on really well and dried quickly. I didn’t notice that it made the color much brighter but it certainly made it shinier. I also like that this is natural and free of chemicals so even you want to use a polish that isn’t free of chemicals it will create a barrier between your nail and the polish. It works very well to make your nail polish last much longer. I’m super happy with it and will definitely purchase it again as well as some of their nail laquers.

Emani Minerals Foundation Primer and Hydrating Serum- BeautyArmy December

$28 for 0.84 oz at beautyarmy.com

This primer promises to absorb oils, minimize pores and fine lines, and moisturize skin. For someone with oily skin (such as I ) I could see this replacing moisturizer. It goes on velvety and silky and just a little bit goes a long way. It almost turned into a powder when its spread on. I didn’t notice much difference when applying foundation but I do think it helped it last longer. It also helped with my oil around my nose. If this wasn’t so expensive I would almost think of using it as just a moisturizer. Especially in the summer. It has just the right amount of moisture and helps control shine. The price seems to be about on par with other high-end primers but it still seems awfully expensive to me. I don’t use make-up that often so if I did get this it would last me forever so I guess that is something. I might buy it if I find it on sale.

Note: A few days after I had written this I decided to look online and find some. Even if I’m not wearing make-up this is great to put around my nose to control that oil. And I need such a small amount for that that I can justify paying extra money for it. I was going to try something cheaper but you know what they say…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. So I found some on ebay for $22. Not as on sale as I was hoping but still not too bad.

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara

$30 at www.sephora.com

I got this as a GWP from Sephora. And then promptly regretted it after I decided it was wonderful and looked up the price. This mascara makes my lashes look wonderful, never clumps, has a light little perfume-y smell, and doesn’t flake or smudge. Some people may not like the perfuminess (such as people with allergies) but I think its nice and it doesn’t seem to last once the mascara has dried. It also contains Pro-vitamin B5 to moisturize lashes. I actually think my lashes look a little fuller and healthier after using it a few times but maybe that’s just my imagination. I love it but I can’t justify spending so much for mascara. My little tiny tube will probably last me a few weeks anyway.

Fiafini Delicate Cleansing Emulsion-BeautyArmy December

$28 for 4 oz at beatuyarmy.com (I found this as low as $11 at amazon.com)

This cleanser is a cream colored pearlescent cleanser that looks and smells kind of like the hand soap in a public bathroom. I was a little skeptical about putting public bathroom hand soap on my face but it seemed to clean well and left my face feeling soft. It doesn’t foam up very much but it didn’t dry my skin out. There was only enough in the packet for about three washes but from what I can tell its seems to be a good cleanser. I think this would be something I would be interested in trying out for longer.

Heartland Fragrance Co. White Ginger Bath Salts- December Glossybox

Sample was 5.5 oz (which it says is good for one bath)
Full-sized- $10 for 30 oz or $19.99 for 66 oz at www.heartlandfragrance.com

These bath salts smell heavenly. I don’t really smell any ginger in them but they just smell very light and flowery. The bath salts dissolved really easily in the water (which seems like a no brainer but don’t tell me you’ve never had that grittiness underneath you in the bath tub). Supposedly this particular scent is supposed to energize, renew, and restore. I don’t know about that. I felt relaxed after I got out of the bath I just wanted to go to bed. I was so happy with how soft my skin felt after I towel dried myself. It did not however do much for the really dry spots like my elbows, knees, or feet. Overall I did like the bath salts but for my baths I usually prefer bubble bath. However if I was in the market for bath salts I would definitely buy these.

Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer

$10 for 12 oz at most drugstores

I know gold bond has kind of an icky connotation for being but powder for people with yeasty, smelly problems (is that just me?) but I discovered their lotion a while ago. As far as inexpensive hand and body lotions go I love it. I have graduated to more expensive hand lotions that work better but since I use a lot of it I still use their body lotion. I think I’ve mentioned this but I work at an assisted living facility and wash my hands a lot. In between washing my hands I use the hand sanitizer thingys they have on the wall everywhere at work. They used to have Purell dispensers but they switched to some cheaper brand that is yucky. I don’t like it. I used it once and then was picking at my lip and then licked my lips and got this nasty bitter taste in my mouth that I couldn’t get rid of. Now, I know you shouldn’t eat hand sanitizer, I am fully aware of that. But I bite my fingernails, I pick at my lips, and I do eat with my fingers and I don’t want nasty bitter hand sanitizer  going in my mouth. So I decided to buy this gold bond hand sanitizer and see how it worked.

I like it, but it could be better. I was expecting just really moisturizing hand sanitizer but its actually lotion with hand sanitizer in it. Just FYI, whole pump is waaaay too much. Even half a pump is a little too much. The lotion has a light, clean smell but is quite greasy. I haven’t experienced that from other gold bond lotions so it must be the hand sanitizer in it. As often as I use hand sanitizer, to keep reapplying lotion that often is a little ridiculous and is way too much lotion. I’m using up the rest of the bottle (actually I’ve left it on the nurses station at work for anyone to use hoping it will go quicker) but when that’s gone I don’t think I’ll be purchasing it again. I’ll buy a bottle of Purell and bring some hand lotion to work with me.

Happy New Year!!!

I know New Year's resolutions were meant to be broken but we always make them anyway. Here are some of my (beauty) New Year's resolutions.


Eat Better
This may not seem like a beauty resolution but it totally is. There have been so many studies that have proven that if you eat healthy, natural foods your skin will show the benefits and greasy unhealthy food can manifest as acne. As an added reason for this resolution I am engaged and while the wedding isn’t for almost two years, I want to get a head start on looking awesome in my wedding dress.

Try Harder to Find Products That Will Make My Skin Look Better (Even If That Means Spending More Money)
I have really already started that. I am done with just coping with my skin and accepting that I have acne. There has got to be something out there that will get rid of my acne. I have already found a couple things that help clear up the pimples quicker but have yet to find something that will actually prevent the pimples from forming. I also think I need to move away from drug store brands. Some of them are fine but in a lot of cases, you get what you pay for.

Get Better At Applying Make-Up
I have never been much for wearing make-up but I have recently started trying to be more adventurous with my make-up application. I already have purchased some primers, new eyeliner, setting powder, and some make-up brushes. I have yet to try a lot of it but I am determined to learn how to apply make-up flawlessly.

Find A Good Sulfate-Free Shampoo
I am relatively new to sulfate-free shampoo and I’m not sure yet how I feel about it but I know its better for you hair. After I finish up my supply of sulfate-full shampoo I’m going to experiment with some sulfate-free shampoos and hopefully find one I like.

Start Using Dry Shampoo
Going along with finding a good shampoo that is healthier for my hair, I’m hoping to find a good dry shampoo to start using a couple times a week. I know its not really good for your hair to shampoo it every day but it gets so greasy. Hopefully I can find a good dry shampoo that will make my hair look freshly shampooed.