November Favorites

Hello lovelies!

My favorites this month will be short and sweet. A lot of these products I want to do more in depth reviews on, so I won't talk about them too much here. There's also not a lot of makeup this month. Shocker! I know. I've been really focused on my skin care. I've been slacking and my face is letting me know. :) Let's get started.

First is the Noxema Ultimate Clear Anti-Blemish pads. They're around $5 for 90 pads. I have been using these since high school so for at least ten years. They're presoaked in a solution of 2% salicylic acid and take the place of a toner. I use one in the morning after washing my face and one at night after washing. They work so well. I hardly ever even get hormonal pimples. My skin is also incredibly soft. The only con to these is the smell. It is so strong and can make your eyes burn if you get to close. That's not enough to deter me, however.

Next I have the Maybelline Flash Clean Makeup Removing Lotion ($5). I'm not entirely sure why I bought this. I'm a huge fan of their makeup removing wipes, but the last few times I've been to Ulta, they were sold out. This product you massage on to your face like a cleanser, then wipe it clean with a cotton pad. It doesn't remove all of the makeup, but it does a decent job and leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized. I usually use it after I've washed and used a makeup wipe already. I'll most likely be repurchasing.

I strayed from my beloved Olay products (that I've also been using for ten-ish years) and purchased the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for combination skin. Again, I'm not sure what drew me to this product instead of repurchasing my usual moisturizer, but I'm very glad I did. It says "clinically proven to normalizing combination skin by moisturizing dry areas while controlling shine in oily areas." You guys. I haven't had to set my t-zone with a powder or use a primer since switching to this stuff. It is amazing. If I had one negative thing to say, I would say it's not as moisturizing as I'd like it to be, but to fix that I've bumped up my night cream to something a little heavier. Big fan.

I'm also been obsessed with thickening my hair. I have an in depth review of the Nick Chavez Plump N' Thick line coming so all I'm going to say here is WOW!

Batiste Dry Shampoo is another must have. I have a review here: http://havemascarawt.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-batiste-dry-shampoo.html
Check it out


Now on to the makeup!

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue ($4.29). I've always been a fan of the Baby Lips, but the new line with menthol and eucalyptus for hydration and soothing are amazing. They feel so good on the lips. They do have a strong scent which may turn some people off but I find it relaxing. The tints are nice and neutral for a pretty wash of color. I've been loving Pink Pout the most.

Benefit Eye Bright Pencil ($20)
This is meant to be used as an under eye brightener, but I find it's a little too cool and pink toned for me. It looks unnatural. However, as a brow sculpter and highlighter it's amazing. It brightens up the area and gives it a nice lift while defining and cleaning up any mistakes you've made. It also looks nice in the inner corner of the eye.

My new favorite way to fill in my brows is with the Benefit Brow Zings ($30). It is a wax/powder duo that fills in and sets for an all day natural look. I don't like the little mini brushes that come in the kit. They're too stiff, but the mini tweezers are adorable and function well. I have a more in depth review of this come as well so stay tuned.

I also have a new favorite mascara which I think is a great drugstore dupe for one of my high end favorites. It's the Rimmel Glam Eyes ($6.29). It's everything I want in a mascara. More in depth review coming for this as well.

Clearly I need to get to bloggin'! Thanks for reading, loves. If I don't get another post up before, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Much love XoXo

Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo

Hello lovelies!

In the last six months or so I have become completely addicted to dry shampoo. Once I gave up washing my hair every day, my fine lifeless hair needed something to give it a boost between washings. I have tried so many different brands from drug store to high end, but nothing is as amazing as Batiste.

It retails for $7.99 at Ulta. There are a wide range of scents from nothing to Wild which is what I'm currently using. It also comes in tinted formulas for light and dark hair. The packaging is fun and crazy. It definitely makes you want to reach for it. The smell can be a bit overwhelming. I'd probably consider a different one next time.

The mist from the aerosol can is super fine but it comes out very powerful. It may be easy to use a bit too much. However, after I spray this around the crown and rub it all in my hair seriously looks freshly washed. The dry shampoo soaks up the oil quickly without leaving a nasty powdery white residue. It also really pumps up my roots. I've tried Tressemee, several types by Suave, Big Sexy Hair, Garnier, Bed Head, and a few others and this is by far the best.

What's your favorite dry shampoo?

Five Things You Are Doing To Damage Your Hair

Hello lovlies!

Is your hair uncooperative? Does it seem like no matter what you do you always have split ends? Frizz? Curls that fall minutes after putting them in? Here's a few of the biggest culprits that are damaging your hair and what you can try to do to minimize it.

1. Washing too frequently.
    When hair gets wet, it absorbs the water and becomes heavier. This causes it to stretch and break easier under the pressure. Frequent washing also strips the hair of the natural oils it needs for a healthy balanced appearance.
    Try washing twice a week. I know you girls with oily hair are freaking out at me right now, but trust me, I used to be one of you. Your hair is most likely so oily from overwashing. Your scalp is producing extra oil to compensate for what has been stripped away by harsh shampoos. It will naturally adjust over time. I'm actually down to washing once a week depending on what products I've used. Use a dry shampoo for those days inbetween washes to touch up excess oil and add some volume and life back to the roots. If you must wash, focus only on the roots and stay away from shampoos that say deep cleansing or clarifying.

2. Brushing wet hair.
    Remember when I set wet hair gets stretchier and easier to break? Attacking it with a normal hairbrush fresh out of the shower or even over brushing dry hair causes strands to tangle and snap.
    Try using a detangling spray and combing through wet strands with your fingers. Start at the back of your head on the bottom and work your way up. A wide tooth comb is another gentler alternative to a hairbrush. Just remember to start at the ends of the hair and detangle upwards. This prevents more tangles from occurring and the need to brush hard.

3. Heat Styling
    This is no surprise to anyone I'm sure. Blow drying causes the quick evaporation of all water both on the surface and inside the hair. This causes the hair to become dry and brittle. Then we go back to brushing this extremely hot, dry, brittle hair. I bet you can guess what happens next.
    For some of us (me especially!) blow drying is a necessity. My hair will not behave without it. Always, always, always use a heat protectant or leave in conditioner! This will help to lock in more moisture. Use the lowest setting of heat available on your dryer and if you can help it, wait until your hair is cooled before brushing it.

4. Tight Pony Tails and Braids
    I love a high pony. It makes me feel sassy and free. However, the act of pulling that hair up tightly at the crown of my head is hard on hair follicles. Wrapping the hair band around the hair tightly causes breakage at the crown instead of the ends. Suddenly you find yourself with these short baby hairs that cannot be tamed.
    Be gentle with your hair. Tugging too tightly can not only break the shaft mid down, over time it can pull the follicles right out of your scalp. Opt for looser styles and don't sleep with your hair up. I'm guilty of this because I get so hot at night.

5. Towel Drying
     The texture of a towel is just not good for your hair. Rubbing wet hair with a towel roughs up the cuticle, causing damage and frizz.
     I wish I could take full credit for this method, but I actually learned of it through a group of friends. It is called the t-shirt drying method. Now, I'm not saying you should throw out all your standard bath towels. Who doesn't love a warm fluffy one right from the dryer? However, the smooth texture of something like a t-shirt is gentler on the hair strands. Softly squeeze and pat the hair instead of going crazy rubbing. The t-shirt soaks up the water much faster than a towel in my opinion. Since I've been doing this I've had virtually no frizz and can tell a difference in the way my hair styles.

That's all from me today. I hope life is treating you all well. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you next time.

Xoxo