Friday, February 12, 2016

Shampoo Everyday, Because I Said So...

Please, don't be mistaken, I'm no hair guru, I'm just a girl who happens to love her hair! My mom would tell me to wash my hair every night. Yup, AND she only bought shampoos chalked full of sulfates, parabens, and other yucky-ness that we now know shouldn't be near our hair. Sooo, I wound up with an oil slick, frizzy, tangled, split-end, itchy, dandruff mess! Even when I could buy better products the theory of washing my hair every night had been so ingrained in my routine that I contributed my oily scalp to genetic. It never occurred to me that my scalp needed a rest.

Once motherhood and exhaustion hit I didn't have time to wash my hair everyday, and found the oil began to gradually get better. It wasn't until years later that I would understand why this happened. I was okay with it- hey I was doing good to shower once a day, lets be thankful for the little things! As time went on and my time was a commodity to be traded like a hot stock, I was finally able to invest some in myself, I actually hit the computer to research the ins-and-outs of hair care. I looked at why my scalp was dry and flaky, my ends were slightly split and damaged, my roots were somewhat oily and greasy, and what I could do to change it all. 

This is what I found out, and what follows is what works for me: the over production of oil was a defense mechanism from having been repeatedly stripped of all its natural protection, either through too frequent shampoos or too harsh products. The dandruff was a reaction from the harsh products, once I cut out all those irritants the flakes were gone. The split ends and damage were a combination of harsh products, too frequent shampoos, and not protecting my hair before using a blow dryer or flat iron.

Well, I had already cut back on how often I was washing. Initially I tried every other day, now I've found I'm able to go three days between shampoos. Although sometimes I do need to wash my hair every other day, when I've had a hard workout or something going on, it's not rocket science. If I feel like I need to add an extra wash in I just do.

Then it came to the process Now every time I wash my hair it gets conditioned, no questions! My full routine is this: As soon as I get in the shower I'll wash my hair, rinse well, blot with a towel, condition, and clip it up loosely until I'm through with the rest of my shower. This usually gives my hair about 10 to 15 minutes of conditioning treatment.

The products: My hair needed hydration and more protein, in a very delicate balance. So I started with Nexxus EmergencĂ©e Shampoo and Conditioner every other shampoo, alternating with Biolage by Matrix Ultra Hydrasource Shampoo and Conditioning Balm. Your hair is probably different from mine, and you'll need to start with determining the type, texture and density of your hair. Then it's time to determine if your hair is craving moisture or protein. Most need to balance protein with moisture. Check when your hair is wet, you'll want to do this test on several different areas over your head. Pull a strand slightly between your fingers. If it snaps without stretching, then you need moisture. If it stretches a lot without snapping, or has a hard time pulling back to it's original state, then you need protein. Often times color treated, bleached, and heat/ chemically damaged hair responds better to protein treatments. I can tell you after all I have read most people just need a good balance of both. Unless you have been using products that say wheat, whey, silk, keratin, collagen, or protein and have caused a protein overload. In which case your hair will feel dry, brittle, straw-like, and break very easily. If this is what you have then a few good deep moisturizing treatments spaced apart, and alternated with both hydration and protein shampoos and conditioners should get you back on track. If you've been using products that brag about hydrating, moisture, or if your hair feels soft, sticky, and mushy then you probably have too much moisture. Just like protein this can be a bad thing too, but its remedied in much the same way with a couple good deep protein treatments spaced apart, and alternated with both hydration and protein shampoos and conditioners should get you back on track.





Now, lets look at your water, uh- yup, it can play a factor in the health of your scalp and hair. If you have hard water (heavy deposits left on your shower and sink that are difficult to remove) you should invest in a good shower head filter, this will benefit your whole body, not just your hair.

Finally look at your follow up routine, and products. Some of them probably do double duty. Check out their ingredients as well, these can also contain bad-for-your-locks chemicals that you'll want to stray from. Also, some of them I didn't even need once I realized what my main problem really was! The main thing about these is using the right amounts of each, between a pea sized and nickle sized amount is the most you'll ever need. Now I apply a pea sized amount of Suave Natural Infustion Awapuhi Ginger Strengthening Light Leave-In Cream, then a dime sized amount of Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner, followed by one drop of Nexxus Oil Infinite Nourishing Hair Oil. I usually wait about 15-20 minutes then apply Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist, then blow dry my hair with medium heat. I follow up by quickly run a flat iron set at approximately 200 degrees, (mine goes up to 400 degrees) without causing split ends or fear of damage, after every wash.








After all my mistakes I think I'm finally onto something. I follow this routine religiously, and in August I took a huge leap and cut off 16" of hair. It devastated me, but I realized it was the right thing to do. My tresses need a reset, a fresh start. You don't NEED to shampoo everyday, but you DO need to condition EVERY TIME you shampoo, and please use a heat spray anytime you go near your hair with a heated tool!



There are a few other things I do to keep my hair healthy, but this post is already getting looong so we'll save my the treatments and tips for another day. If you have any questions please feel free to comment or email me!

The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not compensated in anyway for the above post. Each item mentioned was purchased with my own money, by me. The products mentioned may or may not work for you, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Results may vary. So you could break out in a rash and turn blue! - Naw, just kidding. Seriously, you should check the ingredients on all new products BEFORE you purchase just to be sure.  XO, Jen

ELF Cosmetics Lip Kiss Balm Review with Swatch

ELF Cosmetics Lip Kiss Balm in Smoochy Spice, retail price $2.00
They describe this as a tinted lip balm, however I beg to differ. When I think of tinted lip balm I think of a wash of color, this imparted an opaque color. I wasn't unhappy with it, just unprepared for the actual color payoff. I have this in Smoochy Spice, as shown below. ELF says it should provide a sheer tint of coverage, you can see for yourself by the swatch that it's not what you'll be getting. I did find it to be hydrating, and soothing throughout the day. I've worn it four or five different days since purchasing it and do plan to go back and pick up a few of the other colors. It's not sticky or greasy like other lip balms can be. The minty-ness is a nice touch. It has no glitter or sparkle, which I feel is a huge plus. The description says it contains Vitamin A & E, Grape Seed Oil, and Jojoba Oil which we all know are great for our skin.
Overall I'd give this a A, as I was happy with the product's performance and do plan to buy other colors.


The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not compensated in anyway for the above post. Each item mentioned was purchased with my own money, by me. The products mentioned may or may not work for you, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Results may vary. So you could break out in a rash and turn blue! - Naw, just kidding. Seriously, you should check the ingredients on all new products BEFORE you purchase just to be sure.  XO, Jen



Thursday, February 11, 2016

Quick Tip for Dull, Dry Skin

My quick tip for dull skin: about 10-15 minutes before I apply my weekly mask or glycolic treatment I apply Aloe Vera gel, a kind of pre-mask. With my glycolic treatment I rinse the Aloe Vera well, tone with witch hazel then follow the directions for my treatment. When using my mud mask I rinse well, apply my mask, and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes, rinse again, tone with witch hazel and follow up with my regular routine. If I'm noticing dryness in my skin I'll pre-moisturize my skin in the mornings, after applying my serum I'll apply Aloe Vera gel, wait about 5-10 minutes then apply my CeraVe Am moisturizer.






In extreme weather conditions dull and dry skin plague most of us. I know I can't get away from it. The following has been my go-to for years. If a windburn or sunburn is what's bothering me, and it's often inevitable one of the two will occur, I mix up Aloe Vera gel and plain yogurt in a 1:1 ratio, I find it helps to soothe and nourish my skin. Depending on how large a surface area I'm covering I'll use anywhere from a tablespoon up to an 1/8 cup of each. I use this recipe year round: on my daughter's back, after staying in the direct sun during tennis with sunscreen that fails to provide enough protection. On my face and arms due to work. On my outdoor loving sons, and husband. It has yet to let us down when we need relief. *If you think you have experienced sun poisoning, or have redness and blistering accompanied by swelling, tingling, headache, fever, chills, nausea, and dizziness please call or visit your doctor, or an urgent care clinic. Do not apply anything without first seeking consultation. ** I always choose Aloe Vera gel that has no added color, alcohol, or perfumes, and I also choose all natural, plain, no sugar added yogurt.


Aloe Vera is between 96-98% water. It's believed that it can act as a protective layer on the skin to help replenish its moisture. Many think because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties aloe aids the skin in healing quicker. Some of those antioxidants are: beta carotene, vitamin C and E, it's thought my many that when applied they can help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated. Aloe contains a protein which has 18 of the 20 amino acids found in the body as well as, Vitamin A, B, C and E. It has over 75 different nutrients including, minerals, enzymes, sugars, amino acids and salicylic acid. I love it as a nongreasy moisturizer, like a pre-moisturizer, in the winter and summer.
When we are using our HVAC more to heat and cool our homes it draws moisture from the air and our skin suffers for it. Aloe Vera is inexpensive, readily available, and easy to use.

The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not compensated in anyway for the above post. Each item mentioned was purchased with my own money, by me. The products mentioned may or may not work for you, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Results may vary. So you could break out in a rash and turn blue! - Naw, just kidding. Seriously, you should check the ingredients on all new products BEFORE you purchase just to be sure.  XO, Jen

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

ELF Cosmetics Stepping Up Their Brush Game

ELF Cosmetics has made some major strides in their duo fiber brush line, today I'm going to review the Contouring Brush, Ultimate Blending Brush, and the Beautifully Bare Blending Brush.


They are $6.00 each, however when I compared them to my ELF Studio and Professional brushes the quality justifies the additional cost. Each of these brushes are soft, gentle on the skin, dense, yet flexible, great for blending and buffing, and easy to clean. These new brushes are much needed in ELF's makeup brush collection, and deserved a shout out because they are stepping up their game. Keep a look out for future posts on the other new ELF brushes (yes, I have bought the newest, but wanted to give them equal testing time before making my conclusions).


The Contouring Brush


This brush is not a newbie, I feel like it was one of ELF's first attempts at a luxury quality brush, and they hit the mark. It's wide and flat with short, soft, densely, packed bristles. It worked well with creams, pressed powders, and liquids to truly contour my face. After using this brush for several months I can say that it didn't shed. It allowed for buidable coverage, and didn't absorb product. The bristles pick up product well, I found this brush cleaned up easily, no matter which product type I used. This has become my Holy Grail of contouring brushes!



The Ultimate Blending Brush 
Also, not a brand new brush but another of their first attempts at a higher end brush line. It had a domed shaped tip, with soft, densely, packed bristles. This brush worked fantastically with pressed and loose powders, liquids, creams, and thicker mousse foundations. I've not had a problem with it absorbing products, due to its fibers. It allows for buildable coverage and blending harsh lines. I've also been testing this brush for a few months and have no complaints about shedding, and cleanup has been fast as well. I love the way this blends out all of my foundations, I can't say it's my hg but its pretty high up there.



The Beautifully Bare Blending Brush 
Again, this is not a new brush but falls right in line with ELF's other successes at a higher end brush line. This brush had a rounded center thats pinched in to give it a fanned, tapered shape. It had soft, flexible, densely packed bristles. I used this brush for highlighting, and blending my contour and bronzer, as well as with my setting powders. It worked with both loose and pressed powders, and creams. I had no problems with it absorbing too much product, and it worked with me for buildable coverage, blending harsh lines, and blending out contouring. This brush has been in my roll for a bit now and I can't complain about shedding or cleanup either. This has become my Holy Grail of highlighting brushes!



Want to know what I'm thinking of the new Selfie Ready and the Flawless Face Brushes? Check out my upcoming review on those bad boys!

The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not compensated in anyway for the above post. Each item mentioned was purchased with my own money, by me. The products mentioned may or may not work for you, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Results may vary. So you could break out in a rash and turn blue! - Naw, just kidding. Seriously, you should check the ingredients on all new products BEFORE you purchase just to be sure.  XO, Jen

Thursday, February 4, 2016

What She Told Me About Skin Care...

I remember using body soap for the longest time to wash my face. As I grew up, I don't specifically recall how old I was, probably 12 or 13, I asked if I should be using something different to cleanse my face with. She told me that body soap was fine, just wash your face before you go to sleep at night.
Needless to say I had issues! My skin was red, irritated, dry, and flaky.
I used my allowance, and started reading teen magazines. I learned why body soap wasn't suitable. I bought my first jar of Noxema and some random moisturizer with sunscreen.
Since then I've used so many different products I've lost count, it's been a long journey from Dial Bar soap! Now, I only use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Witch Hazel for toning, and CeraVe AM and PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.
I've added RoC Retinol Deep Wrinkle Night Cream to combat aging at night, Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum for daytime aging treatment, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for my eyes, L'oreal Age Perfect Facial Oil, and Say Yes to Carrots lip butter. Once a week I will steam my face in the morning for 10 minutes, then apply the Deep Down Detox Mud Mask (I'm not able to get my former fave The Stripper Dtox Mud by Posh, which was free of harsh chemicals, perfumes, parabens, and chemical preservatives). On Sunday's I use a mild glycolic peel, right now my favorite is Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Smooth & Flawless, of course I skip the retinol on Saturday nights. There are a few other little things here and there that I do, swiping Stridex pads across my face in the mornings around my trouble spots when I feel a breakout coming on, using my PMD twice a week, and I'm seriously looking at adding the NuFACE Trinity to my routine.
What I've learned from all this is: it's absolutely important to cleanse your face every night, and every morning. It only works if you are using the right cleansers, and a good routine. Remove that makeup, tone, treat those areas of concern, and moisturize morning and night. Don't forget your eyes and lips.

So, what did your mom's teach you and what did you learn along the way?





The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not compensated in anyway for the above post. Each item mentioned was purchased with my own money, by me. The products mentioned may or may not work for you, but I'd love to hear your opinions! Results may vary. So you could break out in a rash and turn blue! - Naw, just kidding. Seriously, you should check the ingredients on all new products BEFORE you purchase just to be sure.  XO, Jen



Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Welcome

Welcome to my little world...
I hope you find it enlightening and as entertaining as I do.
This started about a year ago when I would have a thought pop into my head... something my mom never told me about that I couldn't remember if I had told my daughter. We began to make a running joke of it, and the idea for Things My Mom Never Told Me was born. My hope is to maybe help others from making the mistakes I made, and laugh along the way. Yes, you will get to hear embarrassing stories- that's what makes all this fun! "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt