Where to buy

Where do you typically shop for your beauty purchases? Do you use rewards programs? I listed various retailers that carry beauty items and their rewards programs, if applicable, below.

Ulta 

• Carries drugstore brands and higher end beauty brands including NYX, Urban Decay, Stila, Redken, OPI, etc.
• Offers 2 rewards programs based on your city
• ULTAmate Rewards - Earn points from your transactions to receive money off your purchases 
• The Club at Ulta - Qualify for levels based on your spending. and get quarterly certificates for free products or services

Sephora 

• Carries high-end beauty brands such as NARS, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Philosophy, YSL, etc.
• Offers Beauty Insider rewards program - For every dollar you spend you earn one point. Redeem your points for specific rewards. Also get a free gift on your birthday.

Department Stores

• Large stores at the mall including stores like Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Dillards, etc.
• Offer high end expensive brands

CVS

• Drugstore brands
• Offers ExtraCare Beauty Club - Earn $5 ExtraBucks rewards for every $50 spent on qualifying beauty purchases 

RiteAid

• Drugstore brands
• Does not offer a specific beauty reward program but does have a Beauty Guarantee that you may return any opened or used beauty product of any brand name for a full refund as long as you present your receipt

Target/Walmart

• Carry drugstore brands as well as some exclusive brands
• Discount retailers - you'll generally find prices lower here than other stores.

Other places to buy beauty products

-Online retailers such as Amazon.com - you can find some good deals here
-Mall stores or free-standing stores - these can be specific to one brand like M.A.C. or Bare Escentuals
-Outlet stores - if you're lucky enough to have a discounted beauty store at your outlet mall you can find high end brands for a cheaper price. They each have different inventory and brands/products may vary.
-eBay - you might be surprised to know that many people buy beauty items from eBay. You should be careful if you go this route though as there are people on eBay selling fakes (and they may look like exact replicas!)


I'm pretty sure I covered most of the bases when it comes to types of stores you can buy your beauty products from. I obviously didn't list out every store or site - that list would be never ending! So where do you make your beauty purchases from? In-store or online? Where do you think you get the best rewards or deals?


**No affiliate links were used in this post. Not a sponsored post

Hair update

In May 2011 I gave myself a challenge to take steps towards getting my hair to a healthier state. My hair was unmanageable, dull, and somewhat frizzy at times. To get my hair into shape I wanted to wash my hair less often, eliminate one of the hot tools I was using, trim my hair more regularly, and use a heat protectant before styling with hot tools.

You can see the original post here:
Hair Repair (Part 1)

In July 2011 I posted an update about the differences I've noticed:
Hair Repair (Part2)

Now I think it's time to revisit the topic and discuss the changes I've made.

I let my hair dry naturally everyday. The only times I use a hair dryer is if I have to get ready quickly and run out somewhere, so it hardly ever leaves the drawer.

I trim my own hair. I never got my hair trimmed because I was never happy with the results (i.e. too many layers, hair too short, etc) I knew it needed to be trimmed to maintain healthiness and since I had specific goals in mind for the length I learned to do it myself. (And hello - it saves money!)

I don't wash my hair everyday. It's a hard transition to go from washing your hair daily to only doing it a few times a week. It can be frustrating and I still struggle with it at times but I know it's a lot healthier for my hair.  I try to find different hairstyles and products to use for those 'unwashed' days. Tip: Curling hair works great on these days. 

I use products that repair and nourish my hair. Earlier this month I wrote about different Hair Oil Treatments and their benefits. I apply these a few times a week to my ends and they seem to keep my hair hydrated and healthy looking. 


I try to use a heat protectant regularly. Notice I said "try" - it doesn't always happen but I'm working on this one!

The Results
My hair has grown so much and has actually gotten thicker (this may also be a result of drinking more water and eating more healthy - which are other changes I've made in the past year). I notice less dry, split ends and my hair feels stronger. I see more shine throughout my hair and it's incredibly soft. I'm finally really starting to love my hair.

As you know it hasn't been an easy road to get the results I wanted. It took a lot of discipline and patience to get to the point I'm at now and I still have more goals to reach. It's definitely a process but so worth it. If you're unhappy with your hair, I challenge you to make a few changes in your routine (that you'll be willing to stick to!) and set some goals. I bet you'll notice some differences pretty soon.

Defined Eyes

For my makeup today I decided to play up my lashes. I used a nude shadow on my lids and a slightly darker shadow to accentuate my crease and create some depth. My eyebrows are filled in and I used a highlight color underneath them to bring a more awake look to my eye area. I applied gel liner close to my lashes and smudged it with an angled brush to create a softer look. I swiped on 2 coats of volumizing mascara.

For my face I kept a natural look with a dusty pink blush and applied a light pink lipstick to my lips.

This is my favorite look to do. I hardly wear false lashes but I'm sure my eyes would stand out even more if I had some on. For this look I find it's best to keep lots of volume in my hair and maybe even some big bouncy curls.

Sunscreen Guide

Let's face it, we don't wear sunscreen as much as we should. Ideally, you should be wearing sunscreen on a daily basis whether it's sunny or not, but I doubt you could name many people who actually do. With Spring here warm sunny weather is on it's way and it's likely you'll be wearing less and spending more time in the sun.

So why is sunscreen so important? It blocks harmful UV rays from damaging your skin. Sunscreen protects against sunburn, prevents early skin aging, and reduced the risk of skin cancer.
It is recommended that you use a sunscreen with at least an SPF rating of 30 and apply liberally 15 minutes before going outside. Reapply every 2 hours.

Pick a sunscreen based on what you'll be more likely to apply and reapply throughout the day.

Types of Sunscreens

• Creams 
• Gels 
• Sticks
• Sprays 

You should also wear sunglasses and consider wearing wide-brimmed hats to further protect from the sun. For more information on sunscreen I found this page very useful: American Academy of Dermatology - Sunscreen

Have some fun in the sun!

**No affiliate links were used and this is not a sponsored post

Spring Nails

Last week I talked about Spring makeup trends so I thought I should also include a post about Spring nail trends. I didn't really get into painting my nails on a regular basis until a year or two ago when I kept seeing videos and blogs about polishes and it sparked an interest in me. So now I find myself scoping out the nail polish area at the store, looking up colors and collections online, and buying polishes more than ever.

This season's colors include bright hues, nudes and pastels. Here are some colors to consider this season.

Pistachio

Butter London | Essie

These two light green shades are perfect pistachio colors. On the left, Butter London Bossy Boots. On the right, Essie Navigate Her.

Tangerine, Coral, and Peach hues

Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect | Laura Mercier | Orly

Above on the left,Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect in Sorbet which is a beautiful soft peach color. In the middle is Laura Mercier Nail Laquer in Cabana - a nice coral. On the left, Orly Truly Tangerine. 

Nudes

Deborah Lippmann | Zoya | OPI

Deborah Lippmann Naked (left), Zoya Anne (middle), and OPI's Samoan Sand are all nice nude shades.

Fuchsia 

Essie | NARS

Above on the left is Tour de Finance by Essie and Schiap by NARS. Both are pretty fuchsia shades for the Spring season.

 Chartreuse 

Revlon | China Glaze | OPI

Chartreuse is a color between green and yellow. Some good examples are Revlon's Zealous (left),  Electric Pineapple by China Glaze (middle), and OPI's Did It On 'Em.


As you can see there are some really fun colors that are hot for the season as well as some softer ones. Which ones will you be trying out?

Current Favorites

I made a compilation of a few of my favorite things at the moment. Some are beauty-related, some are not.

The start the list...
Spring! I took some Spring pictures at my parents house today. This is my favorite of the bunch.

Parting my hair in the middle(ish). I like side-parts but I think I look best with a middle part. It compliments my face shape better - and my hair is finally growing! I'll do a hair update soon.

My UD Naked 2 Palette. I reach for this palette more than anything. Maybe because it's still pretty new, but I sure do love it. Check out my review: Naked 2 Palette

Spring bags. And making Spring Bags! Here are two bags I've made recently. You can see my blog post on them here: New Bags

Pinterest! I've been pinning quite a bit lately. There are so many good ideas and cool things to discover.

Come find me on Pinterest

Just a few favorites to share. Hope everyone is having a great Easter weekend!

La Mer Cleansing Foam

For this review I'm featuring the La Mer Cleansing Foam. This obviously is not going to be my typical review. La Mer is an expensive brand and therefore I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you need to go spend the money on it. However, since I was able to try it out (no this is not a sponsored review) I thought I would give my perspective on the product.

What it does
The product claims to purify, re-mineralize, and calm vulnerable skin.

To Use
I use a small amount and massage it onto damp skin. It comes out green and as it purifies the skin it turns to a white creamy foam.

What I Thought
It felt super soft as it foamed up but my skin didn't feel soft after I rinsed it off.  I noticed it made my skin look brighter and my pores look smaller. My skin looks a little healthier. I think it is way too pricey at $65. You can find similar products for a lot less. This is a lot like the Kiehl's cleanser I reviewed last month and I feel like that cleanser did more for my skin.

If I had the chance I would want to try other products from La Mer just to see what the hype is about. They have so many products and I really can't make a good judgement off of just one. So far my feelings about it are so-so.

What about you? Have you ever tried a product from La Mer? How did  you like it?

Party Pink Nails

For these fun nails I painted my nails with 2 coats of Sure Shot by Essie and then added A Cut Above (sparkly pink glitter) to half of my nails. I like this better than having glitter all over the nail. It looks super pretty and elegant with an element of fun. It would look even better if my nails were longer.

How do you like to wear glitter polish on your nails? On one accent nail? All over your nails? Similar to mine? Let me know in the comments!