Tag: beauty

The At-Home Mani (on the cheap!)

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November 2, 2014

I love a good manicure and pedicure and I love the nail salon near our house in Newton, Massachusetts. It’s always nice to treat yourself to these often not only because  of the stress relief and beauty benefits but because you don’t want things like overgrown cuticles (which keep your nails healthy and prevent infection), callasuses, and in grown nails out of control. That said, time and financial reasons don’t always allow for us to do these regularly but with a little work you can do your own manicure at home. It might take a little practice if you’re just starting out but be patient and take your time. The more you do it, the better you will get-trust me.

Step 1: Soak hands. Soak both hands in a little bit of warm, soapy water for a few minutes. This gets your cuticles ready for grooming.

Step 2: Removing cuticles. Apply a cuticle remover (see link below for options from Sally Hansen) rub in to cuticles for a few seconds. Next, take a push back tool (this will be one of the most expensive items you will purchase in this post) and push back your cuticles. You have two types of cuticles, the ones you want to get rid of (the thin later right on your nail that you can hardly see) and the thicker part that you either leave or trim back in the next step.

Step 3: Trimming cuticles. This is up to you on how much you want to do here as you may not feel comfortable trimming your cuticles and hang nails. If you do feel comfortable, you want to purchase cuticle scissors and I suggest not purchasing cheap ones and go with some by Revlon. You will have these forever and they really make a difference. Cheaper ones are dull which makes it more difficult to snip and get a clean line. Make sure these are clean before you use and gently trim your outer cuticles, hang nails and excess skin. My fiance could tell you this is one of my favorite tools- I’m often snipping away at random hang nails as any excess drives me crazy. Remember to clean your metal and stainless steel tools with soap and really hot water you are done with everything. Repeat Step 2 and 3 on the other side once completed.

Step 4: Oil up. Next rub some nail oil into your nails and cuticles. If you don’t have any at home you can use olive,  coconut or grape seed oil instead. You just need a few drops, so go easy.

Step 5: Filing nails. Your shape is up to you but I usually do something  in the squoval (combination of square and oval) range so they are not super severe either way. You don’t need an expensive or heavy-duty nail file (unless you have artificial nails) so your best bet is to get the cheap, tan cardboard kind that are sold in the drug store. These are gentler on your nails than other files. If you don’t want to use these make sure you pick a file that says its specific for natural nails or else you will file down your nails until there is nothing very easily.

Step 6: Buffing nails. This is your choice as the shinier the nail, the harder it is for nail polish to adhere to the natural nail but I enjoy doing this because it gets ride of ridges and smooths out the nail bed. I use buffers that are four-sided and have numbers on each side so you know which step to do in which order.

Step 6: Exfoliation (optional). This is not necessary but its nice step that adds a little luxury to your standard manicure. Don’t have an exfoliating rub? No problem. Mix 2 tablespoons of either sugar or salt with a little bit of oil (again your choice) and rub over your hands, wrists and lower arms. Rinse under warm water and pat dry.

Step 7: Moisturize. You can use any lotion you like. Make sure you rub into nails and into cuticles. After, take a cotton round and wipe nails off with nail polish remove (preferably acetone free since acetone can dry our your nails and skin).

Step 8: Prep. This is not mandatory but its a nice step and if you are using a dark or bright color you should make sure to include this into your manicure regimen. If not, when you go to remove your color days or a week later your nails will be stained and most likely a dark pink. Choose your base coat by your need: trying to grow your nails? Choose a growth treatment. Weak nail problems? Choose a formula with strength. When all else fails just choose clear since something is better than nothing. Often times this is where my manicure will end since just having groomed nails and cuticles is good enough for me. If I have the extra time and patience I will continue on to the steps below for color.

Step 9: Color. Choose your color. I love dark and bright colors on short nails and soft pinks  on nails with a little length. How many coats is up to you but the standard is two coats. Your application should be as follows: one stroke down the middle of the nail, and then one stock on each side. Nervous? Go lightly on the polish for the first coat since it sets the base for your color. You can always apply more color if needed.  Remove any excess polish that got on your skin with orange sticks from the drugstore (I LOVE these things). If you don’t get it perfect that’s ok. Remember that polish doesn’t stay on the skin for long, so it should come off in your shower or when you wash your hands.

My favorites colors? Essie’s Ballet Slippers, Mademoiselle, Vanity Fairest and Figi. I know, I know. All light pinks – notice a trend?

Step 10: Top coat. Any basic clear does the job but if you want the creme of the crop choose Seche Vite. It dries your nails quickly and deposits a glass-like shine. This is a must-have and really ups your manicure at home. Also, one bottle lasts forever.

Step 11: Wait! After all that work, wait it out at least a good 15 minutes. Watch tv, work on the computer (slowly) or just relax. A trick my mother (a former hairdresser who had to take manicure classes during beauty school) taught me to check if your nails are dry is to take your thumb and lightly rub it against the skin under your nose, above your lip. If the nail is ready and dry, there will be no stickiness and the nail will feel like glass against the skin. If it doesn’t, you need to wait a bit more.

Some of my favorite manicure must have tools:

Revlon Cuticle Nippers

 

Cuticle Pusher

 

Orange Sticks

 

Seche Vite

 

Enjoy!

Maureen

Product Review: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel formula

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October 29, 2014

Well my friends, this will be my first unsatisfactory product review. I don’t like doing this and feel bad giving a product an unfavorable report but I want you to trust my opinion and in order for this to happen I must share with you the good and the bad. After all, I don’t want you spending your money on something that I don’t feel is worth it. And so I bring you Sally Hansen Miracle Gel formula. The product is made up of two separate nail polishes, a color and a clear top coat, which can be sold pre-packaged together in only a handful of colors (which in my opinion were awful choices) or separately with an array of 45 colors. The big to-do about this product is that it is the first at home gel nail product that does not involve the use of an LED light. This is huge for those of you who can do your own nails and love the gel formula. There are other gel formulas on the market for at home use, including two other formulas by Sally herself as well as other companies, but all involve the use of an LED lamp, which is an additional cost and can be pricey.

For those of you who are new to gel formula, the benefit of this type of nail polish application is both the staying power and the glossy finish. Oh and as soon as its applied, you can do anything with minimal waiting time. This is ideal for someone going on vacation or someone who used to like acrylic nails for the color staying power. It is important to note that it is not recommended to do gel nail polish applications back to back, especially since removal involves soaking of the nails in acetone polish remover, which is incredibly drying to both nails, skin and cuticles.

I was really excited to try this (actually really excited is QUITE the understatement). How excited was I? I am almost ashamed to tell you the lengths I went to get this but I will tell you because we are all friends here. I went to not one, but TWO local CVS stores to get it. The first surprisingly didn’t have it at all and the second only sold the top coat in the awful color prepackaged duo sets. So what did I do? I picked the color I wanted separately and looked up on my trusty iPhone if my local Target had the clear top coat in stock (side note if you ever want to see if Target has an item in stock before you travel there, their website has this feature- genius!). So I drive the ten extra minutes to Target, which I can’t stand because its constantly busy and never has parking. I talk myself twice into keep making the trek, get in the door, race over to the nail section only to find NO CLEAR TOPCOAT. Nothing. No colors at all! Did I let this stop me, you ask? Nope. I found a sales associate and told her my plight and waited until she came back out to tell me there was a box of 12 left and if I gave her a few minutes she would bring them out for me. You can imagine my giddiness. Finally, with it in my hand, I paid and rushed home to try this.

Maybe it was the build up of all the great reviews I had read about this product that has me disappointed. My trusty go-to source Allure Magazine had written several great web reviews on it and they have never steered me wrong. One review had given the product a fantastic rating, saying that it outlasted a salon gel application and never budged on the side of the nail. I do not agree. I think this nail polish is ok, not horrible, but not up to the hype and certainly not worth all the effort I put into purchasing it (but then maybe no beauty product is). I don’t find it any different than any regular nail polish application and I certainly don’t think its as glossy as a salon gel application. If you are looking to try an at home gel product and haven’t tried anything yet, I would say go ahead and try it since you don’t need an LED lamp but if you are looking to give up your monthly salon gel appointment for this product, don’t. If you are looking for just a new nail polish and top coat, you have nothing to lose as the price is the same as any of Sally’s, Essie’s or OPI’s nail polishes and it can be removed with regular remover. Bottom line: don’t go out of your way for this product- I already did for both of us 🙂

If you are interested in learning more about the product and where to buy it, click the image below.

Maureen

The best makeup tool you will ever get for under $5

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October 28, 2014

If you read any of my previous posts you know by now that I love spending time and money on eye makeup, so the fact that my favorite little tool is a mascara aid should come to no one’s surprise. I can’t take credit for finding this but I do want to spread the word about this fantastic little device (that I could only find online). It is a GAME CHANGER for your mascara. If you’re like me (impatient, heavy handed with mascara) you end up getting half of your application on your top lid or a lovely raccoon smudge marks below your bottom lashes. Both are very attractive looks :). The bigger the brush (and you know by now I love me some big brush action) the less control you have over exactly where that mascara is going. This does not stop me from using it but it does create the need for the little mascara guide below. It is small plastic wand that you place right behind the lashes so that when you apply your mascara, it catches all the excess formula leaving your lids and under eyes clean. Genius! Yes, it does look complicated but it completely makes sense. Each end is specified for the top or bottom lashes and holds your lashes in place while you apply your mascara. The best part? Its super cheap! The most expensive I found was five bucks, with the cheapest being about 2. This is really the best thing you will ever purchase for this little money for your eyes – you will definitely thank me later! Click on the image below to purchase and let me know what you think!

Maureen

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The Power of Saying No… and Return policies if you just can’t

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October 25, 2014

How many of us have had this situation happen? You’re at the makeup counter, you’re not loving what the sales person has put on you but you smile and say “Oh, yes, you’re right, that looks pretty” or “Yes, I see the change in xyz” and are thinking the entire time “This is not for me, get it off my face now, please”. But the person is so nice and you are afraid of hurting their feelings so the next thing you know you have purchased it? Sound familiar? No? Well then bless your heart you are a stronger person than I am. I have fallen victim to this situation I don’t know how many times. I come home and say “Why did I buy this?”. I feel bad because 1. I think that person is the expert and 2. they have often spent so much time with me I feel that I need to purchase something. Friends, learn from my mistakes. This only leads to a sad bag of unused, resentful makeup you look at everyday and say “Why?” and become angry every time you see it. Or maybe that’s just me.

Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to say what you’re really feeling as long as it is polite. Saying something like “I want to see how it looks in different lights” or “let me think about it” is a perfectly good thing to say someone. Yes, sometimes these people are pushy (they might work on commission) but remember that it is your money, not theirs that is being taken into consideration. Don’t get into the mindset     “its only x dollars, so I won’t worry about it” because you could have saved that or purchased something you were really happy with. Remember, we work too darn hard to purchase things we are only half-hearted about it. When you have this experience, walk away or be polite and say no.

For those of you who just can’t, I understand. That’s why return policies are for! I would rather have you return something you hate than keep something that will be unused and wasted. Remember this: You can return almost anything. That’s right. Not sure? Ask what the store’s return policy is. Most department stores will have policies like you need to return unopened with the receipt. Sephora has an amazing return policy. Even if you don’t have the receipt you can return it (used or unused) for store credit, how great is that? When I worked there, we never even questioned a return – it would just get thrown into a box of half-used products. Also something I want you to think about – department stores are not the only ones who have great policies – CVS, Target, Walmart and Walgreens are right there with them. I know what you ‘re thinking- things are so cheap why would you return it. Well, prices are going up at big box and drug stores. Mascara is up to $15 with foundation at the same price. Lipstick is $9 as well as nail polish. That’s no chump change, at least not to me. Bought the wrong color or hate the product? You can return it, as long as you have kept the receipt. Don’t be afraid – those stores offer lower prices than the department and specialty stores but you are unable to try out the products so you have to make the best guess you can.

My point to all this is I want you to be happy with what you have purchased. Whichever option is right for you is fine, just please don’t keep the product. Remember I’m there with you – either saying no thank you or driving across town to avoid the seeing the original sales person who sold you the product so you don’t hurt their feelings when you return it 🙂

Happy Returns!

Maureen

Batten down the lashes – another mascara post

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October 14, 2014

When I was mascara shopping with my mother this weekend at Sephora I realized I forgot to write about two breakthrough mascaras that have come across my path and should not be ignored. I can’t believe I forgot to mention these, especially since I use one every day. See below 🙂

Lash Genius by Anastasia Makeup

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat

Anastasia Beverly Hills – Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat

 

Honestly, I don’t remember how I found out about this mascara but it has made daily mascara use easy now. This is a makeup line known for its eye brow products and you can use this product on your brows as well (as long as you don’t have any black mascara on it). This is a great clear, waterproof mascara that I put on after my black mascara has dried. Why do I do this? Because as I have mentioned before I have watery eyes and if I don’t put this on I have raccoon eyes by noon. Waterproof mascaras of the versions I like don’t work for me and they are very hard to remove. I like something that will come off easily with water (plus I don’t want to lose any lashes I already have!) and this does. Also, this allows me to wear whatever mascara I want without having to worry if there is a waterproof version available. Great product and great find!

Available at Sephora.

Also noteworthy is (yet another) Too Faced Better than False Lashes Nylon Extension System

Too Faced - Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System

Too Faced – Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System

 

So this is a little high maintenance and takes a bit of time, so if that is not for you, I completely understand. What you get though is really long lashes that go up to your eyebrow. To me, that is worth the $35 for the set. You start with the black mascara and then put the white mascara (which isn’t actually mascara, its little white nylon lashes that attach to your lashes and the mascara) and then reapply the black mascara. I’m telling you, the difference is very noticeable and your lashes really do look fake. I did a side by side test and the line’s Better Than Sex was almost as good, plus it was a little more black and glossy. Either way I don’t think you can go wrong here. Proving again, Too Faced has some great mascaras!

Available at Sephora.

Happy Fluttering,

Maureen

Bang, Bang

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October 13, 2014

Two weeks ago, I made an important decision. It was time to go back to bangs. As many of my coworkers, girlfriends and poor fiance know, I am growing my hair out for my wedding in June of 2015. I’m taking hair and nail vitamins, deep conditioning and ACTUALLY getting regular trims (I can’t remember the last time I did this religiously). I’m trying as hard as I can to get any extra length I can so that I can wear my hair down in luscious waves on the big day. I love when I see brides with their hair down- its so feminine and youthful.

That being said, up until now the only thing I could change to my hair has been the color. And boy have I changed it. Last year I went from blonde (with bangs) to growing them out and parting down the middle to red to brown to my last update- ombre (which I did myself, thank you very much). As I was getting tired of the ombre I started toying around with the idea of bangs again. I loved the last time I had them for a few reasons. 1. Your hair always looks “done”. Even when you have your hair up in a messy bun and you put no effort into it, when you have bangs, your hair looks a little more polished and put together. 2. It draws attention to the eyes (and if you have read my previous posts you know I love the eyes and lashes). 3. You can wear a little less make up and it covers forehead imperfections. Have a pimple or an oily forehead? No worries – bangs hide them! As excited as I was, I did consult some special loved ones who I knew would tell me the truth, not just want I wanted to hear (you know who you are). So two weeks ago I went for the big cut and I am so glad I did. I even came up with a new, more relaxed style that I like for my wedding day (see Jennifer Garner below). Even my mother gave me thumbs up when she saw me this weekend and I know if I get Kathy’s approval, we are good to go 🙂

Thinking about taking the plunge? If my words didn’t encourage you above, please see the gorgeous reasons below as to why you should. And remember, its only hair – if you want a change, go for it. It will always grow back.

Maureen

Wedding Inspiration – look how gorgeous this hair is! I can’t stand it!

Sleek and smooth – how cool is this ombre straight and sleek style?

Long Straight Brown Ombre Hairstyle with Blunt Bangs

Super-thick with tousled waves – Rose looks so much better with bangs.

lob with bangs - Google Search

Bangs with an updo – check out those lashes!

Hannah Simone at the 2014 SAG Awards: http://beautyeditor.ca/2014/01/20/sag-awards-2014/

And last but not least…. no, she doesn’t have bangs but since we’re talking about hair can we all hale to the queen of hair? If you know me, you know how crazy I am about this woman and her hair. I love her, I love her, I love her.

Jennifer Aniston

bareMinerals bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

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October 5, 2014

Get this. Immediately.

When I saw ads for this I couldn’t WAIT to try it. I love the original powder foundation but was very interested to see how the company who has built it’s empire on mineral powder products would develop a liquid foundation. Let me tell you – its wonderful! The bottle is smaller than expected and yes you do have to  apply it with the special brush that has hollowed out section where you input the foundation. Here is the thing though – you only use two drops of foundation for every use! That’s it! Totally worth it. You shake the bottle, drop two drops into the brush and then buff into your skin and you’re done. The result is a dewy sheen with medium coverage. I still apply primer and under eye concealer before as well. As far as the feel, its not heavy at all, much like their powder foundation. I still use the line’s Mineral Veil after my blush to soften the edges and have my look appear my air brushed and less make up-y. I would say if you like the line’s original powder foundation or if you use liquid foundation and are looking for a change – definitely try this out. I really think you will be pleased. Also – remember if you purchase at Sephora and you end up hating it, you can always bring it back, receipt or no receipt. If you have tried it, let me know what you think!

Maureen