Updated Skin and Hair Routine

I've changed my skin/hair routine since my last post on it and I've discovered some really great products that I'd like to share. :)

I'm going to start with hair. I went from using cheap drugstore shampoo to investing a little more money in my haircare and it definitely shows. Right now I am using the Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner. I've gone from my hair being a fuzzy, crackly mess to not even having to straighten it after I blow dry it. Alterna also has some other great products to fit your individual hair needs. I have also started using Jojoba Oil exclusively for my hair. I put just a couple drops in with my conditioner and it makes my hair shiny and soft. I've also found that I have to wash my hair less with this routine. My hair stays clean looking and pretty much oil free for up to 3 days, which I find pretty amazing. Fortunately, I happen to know a hair stylist who can get my Alterna at a discounted price. If you don't know someone, you can get Alterna online as well. I know Ulta does quite a few sales so keep an eye on them for a good deal.

For my face, I start off by cleaning my face with a makeup remover towel. I quite like the Ponds or Bjore ones. Even the generic brands of these are nice as well. Lately I have been using the Dollar General brand dupe of the Ponds which is only $2. I usually do this when I get home from work so that my makeup doesn't sit on my face those extra hours before bed.

At bedtime, I start by rubbing some Grapeseed Oil on my face. I've found that grapeseed oil is lighter than jojoba for the face and feels much better on. I just massage it into my face for about 30-60 seconds. Also it is great for removing eye makeup so make sure to get your lashes in there as well. Then, without removing the oil, I put on my Olay Blackhead Clearing Scrub. I have tried quite a few cleansers, even some high end, and I do not like it as well as my Olay. It has a nice scent, leaves my face soft, and has never broke me out. I then use my Olay Pro X Cleansing Brush to clean my face really well. Then I just take a warm washcloth and wash the scrub and oil off. I miss one night of using my Olay Pro X brush and I can immediately tell the difference. It definitely gets my face cleaner than I could ever get with just a washcloth.

Now, I've had a hard time finding a moisturizer that I like but I think I've finally found my HG (holy grail)! Garnier Moisture Renew Gel Cream is wonderful and it's only around $8! The problem has been that I cannot stand the feel of creams on my face. This is a nice, gel consistency that soaks in and dries in seconds. I like it more than the other gel moisturizer that I tried, the Boscia Black Hydration Gel, that retails for $38. It leaves my face soft and happy and has not given me any breakouts.

That's it! It really is an easy routine (it has to be because I'm really lazy) and my skin has never been better. I still get hormonal breakouts, of course, but other than that I'm thrilled with how my skin looks. I'm so glad that I discovered oil cleansing and I recommend it to everyone. I plan to try some new oils in the future and I'll report back!

New Favorite Find: Sinful Colors Lip Shine and Milani Corallina

I've recently found two drug store products that I'm pretty excited about.

First up is Sinful Colors Lip Shine. Not being into nail polish, I did not realize that Sinful Colors was a popular nail polish brand. I just happened to be wandering around Walgreens one day and spotted an awesome orange lip gloss. I've had a slight obsession with orange this summer so I bought it and I was in love. These lip shines are fantastic. They are very pigmented and thick with awesome staying power. They are a bit sticky but nothing I couldn't handle. The best part is that they are only $2.99! That being said, I've found these little suckers to be quite elusive. I've only been able to find them in one Walgreens in my area and they do not seem to be sold online anywhere. My vote is if you find them, buy them up! The two I own are Love Potion, which is a red with a slight pink undertone, and Orange You Sweet, which is a dark orange. They do seem to come in about 12 colors but again, I have only been able to track down around four of them.

 

Second is Milani Baked Blush in Corallina. This is my second Milani Baked Blush and I love them. They are very pigmented and nice. I picked this up at K-Mart for $6.99. They also sell Milani at Walgreens and CVS that I know of. Corallina is a lovely medium coral color with a little bit of glitter. I'm usually not big on glitter but when you put the blush on, you really can't see it. It didn't look like I had big chunks of glitter on my face and I was pleasantly surprised at how pretty it looked. Milani is an awesome brand and I've been very impressed with the products I've bought from that line so far. I'm sorry I do not have a swatch picture for this blush but it did not photograph well for me. If you need a reference, there are tons of swatch pics on Google. 

Next up, I'll be doing a review of the LORAC Pro Palette and the Urban Decay Skull Palette.