makeup

Weekly Therapy: a change will do you good is SO cliche, but SO true.

- Mel

the week:
YAY, new hair! No joke, it’s been somewhere between 8-10 months since I’ve had my hair cut OR colored. Embarrassing. Also why you’ve been likely to see me sporting a pony tail for the last 6 months. I needed a new stylist too, and finally… FINALLY I found one that I love! It only took me two canceled appointments and waiting for the end of derby season for me to see her. I swear if she moves, I will hunt her down for trims and touch-ups.

weekend:
I’m running a race on Saturday morning. What was I thinking?! Oh, yeah… apple crisp.

Sunday, work. Then… DERBY! THAT I’M NOT PLAYING! It’s our home teams season opener, and to be honest, I’m excited about being on the spectator side.

52 Books in 52 Weeks:
Did I tell you that I lost my Kindle charger? Yeah… this is three things in the last three months that have left me perplexed. Luckily, a helpful twitter person told me that an Android charger would work. We didn’t have any of those things around the house, but found a random charger with a Microsoft-looking logo on it (maybe it’s a Blackberry, I don’t know). The hell, IT WORKED!

seven things, seven days:
1. Alladin’s falafel wrap: my last meal, please.
2. The Pirates run has ended — but OH, what a season! Looking forward to see what this team can do next year. GO BUCS!
3. Naked 2 eyeshadow palette now in my possession! (after a much-needed old makeup dump)
4. I also did another closet dump too.
5. And then I moved around my entire dining room BY MYSELF. Because, no derby season means BOREDOM, apparently. But also: living spaces as inspired by Pinterest.
6. Has anyone local tried Pittsburgh Fresh? I’m SERIOUSLY considering the service, especially that it’s paleo-friendly and locally-sourced meals. I have a problem when it comes to healthy lunches.
7. Which of the four “romantic archetypes” define you (and what do men find attractive about each type)? {via PyschCentral}

Every 30-something needs: a skin care routine

- Mel

Cleansing and moisturizing, twice per day, is IMPERATIVE for women our age. But this is only part of what’s required as part of a healthy skin care routine for 30-somethings. As my esthetician likes to repeat: plan NOW for the face you want in 10 years. Her skin looks fantastic, by the way; I’m envious. I wasn’t too good to my skin (or my body) in my 20s and pay for those mistakes in my 30s: smoking, heavy drinking, tanning. Ugh.
The Trifecta of Early Aging.

But I was also guilty of not getting a lot of sleep — and sleeping in my makeup when I finally did find my bed — and not using any sort of anti-aging product, especially eye cream (whomp!).


{ Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex / Murad Renewing Eye Cream / Clarisonic PLUS / Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads / Vichy Eye Makeup Remover }

At the very basic level, a daily skin care routine for 30-somethings should include:

  • make-up remover — better for your eye area than the rubbing that comes with cleansing.
  • cleansing — be sure to get it all off! Might I recommend a Clarisonic?
  • treatments/troubleshooters — anti-aging, acne, spot removal, rosacea, eczema & other sensitive skin issues
  • moisturizer — day lotions are different than night lotions!
  • eye cream — this is different than your lotion.
  • water — and by water, I mean, you should be drinking it. A lot.
  • sunscreen — no exceptions; my dermatologist says that SPF in lotions and makeup is NOT enough. Sunscreen should its own separate layer before moisturizing.

Sounds much more intense than “basic,” right? But trust me, once you get into a regular habit of doing these steps, it won’t seem so taxing.

Side note: Some women also like to tone, but I only typically do this step for a little “mid-afternoon skin pick-me-up” on those days when I don’t wear make-up.

Additional regular treatments for your face should also include:

  • professional facials — I opt for seasonal.
  • exfoliation — gently! At least once a week; more, if you have hormonal congestion on your chin and cheeks.
  • peels or masks — I’m highly recommend: the Rejuvenating Treatment Masque from Exuviance.

End note: ALWAYS remember to wash your makeup brushes weekly!
I recommend these two products from Sephora: a daily disinfectant spray and weekly purifying shampoo.

What’s your skin care routine? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

MAKEUP BINGE: LORAC, BareEscentuals and more!

- Mel

I’m on a total makeup binge right now. Mostly because I seemed to run out of ALL MY PRODUCTS at the same time (OK, perhaps just a few of the essentials). I have a few items left to replace, but before I spend more money online, I’m waiting to see the contents of a “winning” Sephora gift pack from a silent auction a couple weeks ago (it seems that the night of the charity event, I wasn’t the top bidder… but that somehow changed. Perhaps the winning bidder never came forward or declined? No matter. I’LL TAKE IT!).

Regardless (or because of) ALL THAT, I’m trying to be better about my makeup. I still need to invest in a brush cleaner because I am the worst of that. And it probably has something to do with my face being Breakout City. Plus, my face is just not looking the same anymore with makeup (as I’m sure many of you 30-somethings can empathize). 

While I still need to purchase a tinted moisturizer, I picked up a new bottle of my “winter” foundation: Breakthrough Performance Foundation from LORAC. That purchase came with a special gift from Sephora: the Flawless Foundation Gift Pack. Um, do you SEE how many samples of awesome are in that bag? I have gone to sample heaven. Bonus: there was a step-by-step card on the series of steps for a flawless face. Unsurprisingly, I’ve been doing some steps in the wrong order, so this card now has a permanent placement above my dressing room vanity (on my inspiration board).

Also, in the move, I realized how old some of my eye shadows were.

I thought the colors in the bareMinerals eyeshadow kit were part of my everyday comprehensive colors and included a few “fun” shades for contouring. The price at first freaked me out (and then once again when I received the item, forgetting I put it in my cart). But, I’m glad I made such a splurge-worthy purchase. And I’ve always liked the formula of bM eyeshadow (plus bareEscentuals’ Well Rested is my favorite eye product ever — and I’m actually kind of freaking out right now that I can’t find it on their website).

But check out how cute that compact is!

Cheers to makeup, indeed!

Birchbox: an underwhelming month of beauty

- Mel


November Birchbox time! 

And that’s about all the exclamation points I’m going to type about that. Again, I’m kind of underwhelmed with the sum of my monthly box, but there are a couple “treats” that make the monthly subscription still worthy.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules – eh. unless this is some magic serum… oh, it seems that it is. Thanks, Internet!
Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial – Meh. Bored with perfume samples. Would have liked something more “luxurious.” Like, some Secret de Purete makeup remover. *wink*
Thymes Eucalyptus Body Lotion & Kimono Rose Body Lotion – already had a sample of this from a hotel I’ve stayed in, in the last year or two. Love the smell; perfect for my guest bath. Looking at the ingredients, I don’t think I can use it (eczema).
Zoya nail polish in Sooki – in natural light, the formula appears more orange-red than the better-matched blue-red that I can pull off, but I’m eager to try just because I LOVE NAIL POLISH!
TREAT: Two Paper Dolls Ampersand Coasters – cute. They’ll look much better on my vanity desk than my beer coasters.

Interested in Birchbox? Check out the awesomeness.