After a long vacation from this project of mine I have decided to return. It has been a rather rocky year for me and I just finished school for the semester. My roommate and I have decided to do a "cleanse" until Christmas. I use quotes because we are not exactly doing a no solid food take a bunch of stuff and drink cayenne pepper kind of thing. Here are the basics to our plan...
~ Eliminate Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Processed Sugar, and Caffeine from our diets.
~ This leaves us eating vegetables, fruits, meats, and corn, rice and potatoes in the starch department.
~ Take a daily probiotic and for me a daily Vitamin D supplement.
~ One smoothie a day with a gluten free raw vegetable powder, frozen fruit, water, coconut flakes, and sometimes a little bit of Peanut Butter.
~ Exercise daily, for me this will probably include the elliptical and yoga.
~ Drink lots of water with lemon juice.
~ Try to get used to tea (blech).
As you can see this is NOT going to be easy, and I will probably struggle cry, and fantasize about chocolate while I watch cupcake wars on television. However, both my roommate and I have some food allergies, she cannot eat dairy and I cannot eat gluten. Neither of us are very good about it, so hopefully this will give us some discipline as well as offer us a look into what other foods we may be sensitive to.
After the cleanse, the goal is to add foods back into our diet one at a time so we know what foods we may struggle with. For example it is way easier to know that dairy makes you sick when that is the only not clean food you are eating than when your also eating gluten, and caffeine.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Proactive Review
Yikes! I know I know it goes against everything I stand for, overpaying for all of these chemicals that will probably kill my face but... I am getting desperate. Nothing seems to be controlling my god awful skin lately and school is starting soon. :( So I caved and I am going to try Proactive.
I am currently on day three and got the 30 day trial kit with the refining mask. I am not going to do a complete review right now because I have just started using it. Instead I am going to cover my butt a little bit and tell you all why I caved.
I am a firm believer in putting as few chemicals in on and around you as possible. I think it helps us be healthier and is overall better for us and the quality of our lives. However, I am going to briefly talk about something all us women know and need but far from love. HORMONES. Yes yes, the kind in our bodies andddd the kind in our food. Did you know the foods you eat contain hormone balancers and hormones that can balance or throw off your natural hormone balance. I am sure you knew that your hormones can affect your acne. Well, the foods you eat can affect your hormones. I have recently restarted eating a "clean" diet, full of hormone balancing foods and eliminating the bad. Now naturally, my body will detoxify itself during this process. THIS is why I think my face is running rampant (YUCK), because I think my hormones are trying to sort themselves out in an orderly fashion.
Because of this, I am going to crack and introduce Proactive to my life. My skin is extremely bad right now and needs some chemical assistance to help bring me back to center. This is more than likely not a permanent solution, rather an immediate evacuation of bacteria from my poor skin cells.
Like I said before, I am not going to do a complete review right now, just a few things I have noticed.
First off, it is expensive as hell, you can get the online offer for 20 bucks and if your going to try this stuff that really is the best way. However, after that I believe it goes to 40 dollars a month or something like that. I will get exacts when I make an official review.
Second off, this refining mask everyone raves about. Well like most things I have found, it does not work on pimples that have not broken the skin. However, a pimple that is about to become a big ugly mess. It's True!! Gone overnight. Can't ask for more than that. Although I will say it smells like desitin which is just kind of weird, but the smell does not stay after you rinse it so no worries.
Third off, I have been using it for three days and I have noticed my skin getting a bit smoother, no doubt shedding all the skin cells that have over stayed their welcome. However, my skin is already incredibly dry in certain areas. This is the same problem I run into with most acne product lines. The parts of my face that get dry and flakey are the parts that need the medicine on them. I am still currently using coconut oil after the regimen to moisturize and that has kept it at bay a little bit, but I did notice it's getting worse. I may just be a one a day girl... who knows yet.
Anyway, I am not overly thrilled with my results thus far, but like I said three days only. That being said I am noticing enough changes to make me curious enough to keep going. My thoughts would be proactive once a day and maybe a bentonite clay mask the second time, or something like that. HMM
What do you guys think? Anyone ever tried this stuff. Shoot me an email! :)
I am currently on day three and got the 30 day trial kit with the refining mask. I am not going to do a complete review right now because I have just started using it. Instead I am going to cover my butt a little bit and tell you all why I caved.
I am a firm believer in putting as few chemicals in on and around you as possible. I think it helps us be healthier and is overall better for us and the quality of our lives. However, I am going to briefly talk about something all us women know and need but far from love. HORMONES. Yes yes, the kind in our bodies andddd the kind in our food. Did you know the foods you eat contain hormone balancers and hormones that can balance or throw off your natural hormone balance. I am sure you knew that your hormones can affect your acne. Well, the foods you eat can affect your hormones. I have recently restarted eating a "clean" diet, full of hormone balancing foods and eliminating the bad. Now naturally, my body will detoxify itself during this process. THIS is why I think my face is running rampant (YUCK), because I think my hormones are trying to sort themselves out in an orderly fashion.
Because of this, I am going to crack and introduce Proactive to my life. My skin is extremely bad right now and needs some chemical assistance to help bring me back to center. This is more than likely not a permanent solution, rather an immediate evacuation of bacteria from my poor skin cells.
Like I said before, I am not going to do a complete review right now, just a few things I have noticed.
First off, it is expensive as hell, you can get the online offer for 20 bucks and if your going to try this stuff that really is the best way. However, after that I believe it goes to 40 dollars a month or something like that. I will get exacts when I make an official review.
Second off, this refining mask everyone raves about. Well like most things I have found, it does not work on pimples that have not broken the skin. However, a pimple that is about to become a big ugly mess. It's True!! Gone overnight. Can't ask for more than that. Although I will say it smells like desitin which is just kind of weird, but the smell does not stay after you rinse it so no worries.
Third off, I have been using it for three days and I have noticed my skin getting a bit smoother, no doubt shedding all the skin cells that have over stayed their welcome. However, my skin is already incredibly dry in certain areas. This is the same problem I run into with most acne product lines. The parts of my face that get dry and flakey are the parts that need the medicine on them. I am still currently using coconut oil after the regimen to moisturize and that has kept it at bay a little bit, but I did notice it's getting worse. I may just be a one a day girl... who knows yet.
Anyway, I am not overly thrilled with my results thus far, but like I said three days only. That being said I am noticing enough changes to make me curious enough to keep going. My thoughts would be proactive once a day and maybe a bentonite clay mask the second time, or something like that. HMM
What do you guys think? Anyone ever tried this stuff. Shoot me an email! :)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Makeup Review: Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation
As I told you guys before I borrowed my sister's makeup when I got home because I left all of mine at home! FML. I ended up using this foundation because it was the lightest color she had on hand. Well I really was quite impressed so I picked some up in my own shade to give it a fair trial. I have been using it for a few days now and gave it the ultimate test... New Years Eve!
The Basics:
Covergirl made this foundation to give us a more natural feel with cucumber and jojoba oil. Well how was I supposed to resist any attempt at being more "organic" with my makeup. It is a liquid foundation that comes in a compact tube which in my opinion is quite cute. Now mind you when I used this I used makeup forever primer on my face, but no concealer because I didn't have mine!
The color: I found mine by using my fit me color to compare in the drugstore, which worked out fine. I have a hard skin tone to match sometimes without looking orange and I was able to get a pretty decent match. that being said it was a little pale for me which looks god awful in certain lights. That being said the shade above would have been far to orange for me. In the right light though it looks quite good. I think it will be just a matter of if they have a color that fits you. Their shade selection is in my opinion less than fabulous, but holds true to all of their other colors so its a personal fit thing. I give their color three stars. ***
The coverage: I was impressed with how well this covered up blemishes considering it had no concealer at it's aid. I think it covered on its own better that the Maybelline Fit Me which is my usual foundation of choice. It covered under eye circles not as well as I hoped, but again that is being picky. I give their coverage five stars *****
The finish: It was a very matte almost powdery finish in blemish prone areas, which I think personally make your blemishes look worse than they already are. However, it was not extreme, and I think with a concealer it would be a non issue. I did hope for a little more "glow" if you will in the finish than I got. Especially after putting a setting powder over it. Finish gets three stars ***
The price: This is something that I have kind of an issue with. I payed $15 for the foundation, and could have gotten a larger "high end" brand of foundation for $30. Covergirl has good products yes, but at $15 dollars it needs to be bigger. End Of Story. Price gets two stars **
My skin: I said before that my reason for even trying this was because the fit me was making me break out a little bit. I have been wearing this for about a week and it has not made me breakout. I even left it on overnight last night (half experiment half being lazy) and did not break out at all. This gets five stars! *****
The other thing I held issue with in this makeup was the smell. I understand that makeup will have a scent, and maybe it is personal preference but I found this smell less than appealing. It smelled chalky to me, and I could smell it the whole night, not just right after I put it on. Normally this is not something I really think about all that much, but I felt strongly enough about the smell to put it in this review.
Conclusion: Truth be told this makeup frusterated me! The good parts I was madly in love with, and the bad parts I have a hard time looking past. This makeup covers well, does not make me breakout and utilizes some more earth friendly ingredients than some other foundations out there. Those are three of the most important things to me personally. However, the awkward smell and the price really are off-putting. The price is not enough to keep me from ever buying it again, but enough to make me think twice. Since this is a new makeup it is hard to get upset over a lack of shades. If they added more shades to this, it would absolutely become a favorite. However, I am happy with my own foundation. To be honest unless other makeup made me keep breaking out I would not buy this again, but I will use this bottle until it is gone. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, or even if you want a natural makeup without losing out on coverage, I think you should try this. You will probably be incredibly satisfied. However, if your skin is not all that sensitive you probably will be just as happy with something a little bit more refined. Since this is a new product I say this is one to keep an eye on.
How about anyone else? Have you tried this? Let me know! Also! if anyone can find it cheaper absolutely let me know :)
Please be advised I am not affiliated with any companies, and do these reviews completely on my own. I am not a professional and these are just my opinion and experience. I am not responsible for any adverse reactions you experience with this makeup, or any other recipe or makeup on this blog.
The Basics:
Covergirl made this foundation to give us a more natural feel with cucumber and jojoba oil. Well how was I supposed to resist any attempt at being more "organic" with my makeup. It is a liquid foundation that comes in a compact tube which in my opinion is quite cute. Now mind you when I used this I used makeup forever primer on my face, but no concealer because I didn't have mine!
The color: I found mine by using my fit me color to compare in the drugstore, which worked out fine. I have a hard skin tone to match sometimes without looking orange and I was able to get a pretty decent match. that being said it was a little pale for me which looks god awful in certain lights. That being said the shade above would have been far to orange for me. In the right light though it looks quite good. I think it will be just a matter of if they have a color that fits you. Their shade selection is in my opinion less than fabulous, but holds true to all of their other colors so its a personal fit thing. I give their color three stars. ***
The coverage: I was impressed with how well this covered up blemishes considering it had no concealer at it's aid. I think it covered on its own better that the Maybelline Fit Me which is my usual foundation of choice. It covered under eye circles not as well as I hoped, but again that is being picky. I give their coverage five stars *****
The finish: It was a very matte almost powdery finish in blemish prone areas, which I think personally make your blemishes look worse than they already are. However, it was not extreme, and I think with a concealer it would be a non issue. I did hope for a little more "glow" if you will in the finish than I got. Especially after putting a setting powder over it. Finish gets three stars ***
The price: This is something that I have kind of an issue with. I payed $15 for the foundation, and could have gotten a larger "high end" brand of foundation for $30. Covergirl has good products yes, but at $15 dollars it needs to be bigger. End Of Story. Price gets two stars **
My skin: I said before that my reason for even trying this was because the fit me was making me break out a little bit. I have been wearing this for about a week and it has not made me breakout. I even left it on overnight last night (half experiment half being lazy) and did not break out at all. This gets five stars! *****
The other thing I held issue with in this makeup was the smell. I understand that makeup will have a scent, and maybe it is personal preference but I found this smell less than appealing. It smelled chalky to me, and I could smell it the whole night, not just right after I put it on. Normally this is not something I really think about all that much, but I felt strongly enough about the smell to put it in this review.
Conclusion: Truth be told this makeup frusterated me! The good parts I was madly in love with, and the bad parts I have a hard time looking past. This makeup covers well, does not make me breakout and utilizes some more earth friendly ingredients than some other foundations out there. Those are three of the most important things to me personally. However, the awkward smell and the price really are off-putting. The price is not enough to keep me from ever buying it again, but enough to make me think twice. Since this is a new makeup it is hard to get upset over a lack of shades. If they added more shades to this, it would absolutely become a favorite. However, I am happy with my own foundation. To be honest unless other makeup made me keep breaking out I would not buy this again, but I will use this bottle until it is gone. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, or even if you want a natural makeup without losing out on coverage, I think you should try this. You will probably be incredibly satisfied. However, if your skin is not all that sensitive you probably will be just as happy with something a little bit more refined. Since this is a new product I say this is one to keep an eye on.
How about anyone else? Have you tried this? Let me know! Also! if anyone can find it cheaper absolutely let me know :)
Please be advised I am not affiliated with any companies, and do these reviews completely on my own. I am not a professional and these are just my opinion and experience. I am not responsible for any adverse reactions you experience with this makeup, or any other recipe or makeup on this blog.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Bentonite Clay Update and some Makeup questions
Just giving you all an update, I am still using the clay mask every night. However, now I am just leaving it on by a few minutes. The main reason is just that who the heck has time to leave a mask on their face for half an hour every day! Not me Madam... The one thing I did notice is that my face gets very red after I leave it on for that long, but that goes away by morning. So if you are going to do this right before you go out I recommend avoiding a long leave on time.
Results:
So far I am still pleased with the results. My skin is not completely clear still, so I may consider adding something to the regimen when I get home. The Bentonite clay is absolutely helping keep big pimples at bay, but I am trying to aim for perfection here people!
ONTO another topic:... Makeup!
When I wear makeup 9 times out of 10 I take it off that night and wash my face thoroughly. I still notice however that my face tends to break out when I use makeup. I am currently using Fit Me foundation in 115. I did a review about it on another post, and I am completely in love with it! I really did not ever want to change makeup. However, I am noticing that it is the trigger to breakouts once in a while.
The solution:
My sister has this covergirl nature something or other makeup that I used a couple of times while back in NJ. It seems to not make me breakout. So Today I bought some of my own in my own shade and will be testing it out and doing a review OOOOF COURSE! It would not be such a bad thing since it is more natural than the Fit Me makeup, but it is DEF more expensive. Once all of this is behind me, I want to switch to completely natural mineral makeup. However, my skin does not cover well with Bare Minerals or any other mineral makeup. It tends to just leave lines and look really cakey.
That's all on my thoughts for now... Check back in a couple of days for that review. I will also be trying out a seven day detox when I get back! New Year means New Years resolution of losing weight!
Results:
So far I am still pleased with the results. My skin is not completely clear still, so I may consider adding something to the regimen when I get home. The Bentonite clay is absolutely helping keep big pimples at bay, but I am trying to aim for perfection here people!
ONTO another topic:... Makeup!
When I wear makeup 9 times out of 10 I take it off that night and wash my face thoroughly. I still notice however that my face tends to break out when I use makeup. I am currently using Fit Me foundation in 115. I did a review about it on another post, and I am completely in love with it! I really did not ever want to change makeup. However, I am noticing that it is the trigger to breakouts once in a while.
The solution:
My sister has this covergirl nature something or other makeup that I used a couple of times while back in NJ. It seems to not make me breakout. So Today I bought some of my own in my own shade and will be testing it out and doing a review OOOOF COURSE! It would not be such a bad thing since it is more natural than the Fit Me makeup, but it is DEF more expensive. Once all of this is behind me, I want to switch to completely natural mineral makeup. However, my skin does not cover well with Bare Minerals or any other mineral makeup. It tends to just leave lines and look really cakey.
That's all on my thoughts for now... Check back in a couple of days for that review. I will also be trying out a seven day detox when I get back! New Year means New Years resolution of losing weight!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Bentonite Clay Skin Detox (Acne)
Hey guys,
So I have tried numerous home made remedies for my acne prone skin. Incase you are wondering, I stopped using store bought things because I have tried just about every product out there and they never ever work. If they do, it is only for a little bit and then they decide they hate me again. So I figured I should try my luck at home made things for a couple of reasons. 1) they're cheap. 2) they are easier to change if they do not work. 3) no harmful chemicals running around on my poor skin.
I have tried many many things, with some luck. Most recipes are on the website. BUT! I was still getting breakouts. Granted my skin is a lot better than it was before I dropped all of my "products" but it was still not quite lovely. I tried this new thing called Bentonite clay.
WTF is that??
Well, we have all heard about clay masks that draw out impurities blah blah and they cost a pretty penny. Well a lot of those masks are artificial ingredients OR contain a very very small amount of an actual all natural clay. Bentonite clay is an nature made ingredient that you can find online. You usually have to by in at least by the pound but that is still about $10 tops and will last you quite a while. For preventative issues it should be used like a regular store bought clay mask, once or twice a week. However I decided to go on a major detox. (as far as my skin was concerned at least)
Step One:
Drop the makeup... to do this I waited until finals week for me so I didn't have to worry about being seen with my awful skin around campus etc. But I reccomend this for any cold turkey skin detox. In my opinion the less crap on your face the better chance it has to heal.
Step Two:
The mask. It is very simply clay powder (bought online) and water. Now there are many different types of clays you can buy, but after some research I decided on this clay. It was said to be the most detoxifying without really drying out the skin too much.
One note about this clay is that it is VERY absorbent. I tried for days to get a good mixture. I only wanted to make one serving at a time, so there was a lot of guess, check and fails on my end. I discovered a few things that worked for me.
1)The clay is extremely absorbent like I said, I use about one part clay to four or five parts water. I know that seems like a lot, but it really mixes better that way. When I used more than that I got a clumpy thick mixture that did not want to spread evenly on my skin.
2) Try to get a container that seals and has approximately one serving unless you want to make it ahead of time. I have not tried this, so I do not know what it's shelf life will be.
3) Even when you use the correct proportions of clay to water, the mixture will initially be lumpy and hard to spread. I found that making it the night before works really well. I simply refill it after I used it on my skin, taking up no more time than had I done it right then.
4) Mix thoroughly for a few seconds. I do this simply by putting the lid on then shaking. However, the clay will be at its best if you let it sit and absorb on it's own for a while. Once again, I reccom
mend overnight.
A few other general tips:
1) make sure you apply to clean skin. I like to wash my face beforehand, even if I do not have makeup on I will have excess oil. If this oil is left on the skin I found that the clay absorbs THAT, thus not absorbing as much from your pours as it could be
2) Moisturize lightly afterward if you feel the need. Honestly, if my skin feels fine after the mask I leave it overnight, but if it feels dry I moisturize with coconut oil.
3) Leave on for half an hour. I put it on before the shower and then wet it and scrub it into my face before I rinse it off.
Results:
So far I have been using this mask everyday for about 12 days I think. My skin has definitely improved. I am not sure if after I am done "detoxing" my skin will stay nice when I revert back to once or twice a week for maintenance. however, this is cost effective and gentle enough to use as a cleanser as well, so I would not be opposed to doing that.
Have any of you tried this? or exprimented with other clays. I also order Rhaussoul Clay, but this has been workign so well I have yet to try it.
EMAIL me with your results, and Happy experimenting.
**REMINDERS** None of the above information or anything from previous posts is based off of scientific evidence or fact. This is all simply MY own personal experience with each of these "recipes" or products. Any experimenting you do must be done of your own caution. Please check for allergies, or other possibilities before trying any of these things. I am not responsible for any adverse affects due to your own at home experiments. THESE ARE SIMPLY MY EXPERIENCES and I do not encourage anyone to try them without consulting the necessary professional resources.
So I have tried numerous home made remedies for my acne prone skin. Incase you are wondering, I stopped using store bought things because I have tried just about every product out there and they never ever work. If they do, it is only for a little bit and then they decide they hate me again. So I figured I should try my luck at home made things for a couple of reasons. 1) they're cheap. 2) they are easier to change if they do not work. 3) no harmful chemicals running around on my poor skin.
I have tried many many things, with some luck. Most recipes are on the website. BUT! I was still getting breakouts. Granted my skin is a lot better than it was before I dropped all of my "products" but it was still not quite lovely. I tried this new thing called Bentonite clay.
WTF is that??
Well, we have all heard about clay masks that draw out impurities blah blah and they cost a pretty penny. Well a lot of those masks are artificial ingredients OR contain a very very small amount of an actual all natural clay. Bentonite clay is an nature made ingredient that you can find online. You usually have to by in at least by the pound but that is still about $10 tops and will last you quite a while. For preventative issues it should be used like a regular store bought clay mask, once or twice a week. However I decided to go on a major detox. (as far as my skin was concerned at least)
Step One:
Drop the makeup... to do this I waited until finals week for me so I didn't have to worry about being seen with my awful skin around campus etc. But I reccomend this for any cold turkey skin detox. In my opinion the less crap on your face the better chance it has to heal.
Step Two:
The mask. It is very simply clay powder (bought online) and water. Now there are many different types of clays you can buy, but after some research I decided on this clay. It was said to be the most detoxifying without really drying out the skin too much.
One note about this clay is that it is VERY absorbent. I tried for days to get a good mixture. I only wanted to make one serving at a time, so there was a lot of guess, check and fails on my end. I discovered a few things that worked for me.
1)The clay is extremely absorbent like I said, I use about one part clay to four or five parts water. I know that seems like a lot, but it really mixes better that way. When I used more than that I got a clumpy thick mixture that did not want to spread evenly on my skin.
2) Try to get a container that seals and has approximately one serving unless you want to make it ahead of time. I have not tried this, so I do not know what it's shelf life will be.
3) Even when you use the correct proportions of clay to water, the mixture will initially be lumpy and hard to spread. I found that making it the night before works really well. I simply refill it after I used it on my skin, taking up no more time than had I done it right then.
4) Mix thoroughly for a few seconds. I do this simply by putting the lid on then shaking. However, the clay will be at its best if you let it sit and absorb on it's own for a while. Once again, I reccom
mend overnight.
A few other general tips:
1) make sure you apply to clean skin. I like to wash my face beforehand, even if I do not have makeup on I will have excess oil. If this oil is left on the skin I found that the clay absorbs THAT, thus not absorbing as much from your pours as it could be
2) Moisturize lightly afterward if you feel the need. Honestly, if my skin feels fine after the mask I leave it overnight, but if it feels dry I moisturize with coconut oil.
3) Leave on for half an hour. I put it on before the shower and then wet it and scrub it into my face before I rinse it off.
Results:
So far I have been using this mask everyday for about 12 days I think. My skin has definitely improved. I am not sure if after I am done "detoxing" my skin will stay nice when I revert back to once or twice a week for maintenance. however, this is cost effective and gentle enough to use as a cleanser as well, so I would not be opposed to doing that.
Have any of you tried this? or exprimented with other clays. I also order Rhaussoul Clay, but this has been workign so well I have yet to try it.
EMAIL me with your results, and Happy experimenting.
**REMINDERS** None of the above information or anything from previous posts is based off of scientific evidence or fact. This is all simply MY own personal experience with each of these "recipes" or products. Any experimenting you do must be done of your own caution. Please check for allergies, or other possibilities before trying any of these things. I am not responsible for any adverse affects due to your own at home experiments. THESE ARE SIMPLY MY EXPERIENCES and I do not encourage anyone to try them without consulting the necessary professional resources.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Product Review: Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer in Light 01
As an acne sufferer foundation has never been enough to fix my face. I have tried countless concealers trying to find one that stays on without looking totally fake. This one is supposed to cover Tattoos! Sounds good right?
The Product:
Texture: It comes out in a thick cream and goes on quite smoothly. As always remember to tap the product into your skin and never rub. If you tap it in you need hardly any to cover large parts of your face. *****
Color: There are only I believe four color options for the concealer here. Now for me that is not such a big deal because I have always been a concealer before foundation person. However if you are the other way around, this may cause some issues. Although I will say that it blends quite well.
****
Coverage: If this thing says it can cover tattoos well... I am not SO sure about that. I find that with large blemishes it does a really good job at reducing them but I still see them a little bit. However!, my redness and acne scars completely disappear. My favorite thing is that my skin does not look like I have a ton of makeup on because well I don't! It takes very little to get such good coverage results as far as redness and scars are concerned. For the bigger blemishes though I am still left a little wanting.
****
Price: I may come back and amend this later on, but right now I am not thrilled. It costs 30$ at Sephora. The container is 0.5 oz of concealer. This depends I though on how long is lasts me. It is true I use very little to cover up my face, so 30$ every two months might not be SOOO bad. For a beauty product that I hold to high standards such as my concealer I am willing to pay for results.
**
Overall: I really do like this product. It has definitely climbed the ranks as far as my personal favorites. However the price really kills. I know it is a high end product, but until I see how long this lasts me the rating stays at ***3/4.
Note: I use this concealer with a skin primer under it. I do not know how it performs without a primer. I will do an experiment and let you know!
So what concealers do you use? Do you apply it before or after foundation? How much do you pay for it and how often do you buy it? Any suggestions!?
The Product:
Texture: It comes out in a thick cream and goes on quite smoothly. As always remember to tap the product into your skin and never rub. If you tap it in you need hardly any to cover large parts of your face. *****
Color: There are only I believe four color options for the concealer here. Now for me that is not such a big deal because I have always been a concealer before foundation person. However if you are the other way around, this may cause some issues. Although I will say that it blends quite well.
****
Coverage: If this thing says it can cover tattoos well... I am not SO sure about that. I find that with large blemishes it does a really good job at reducing them but I still see them a little bit. However!, my redness and acne scars completely disappear. My favorite thing is that my skin does not look like I have a ton of makeup on because well I don't! It takes very little to get such good coverage results as far as redness and scars are concerned. For the bigger blemishes though I am still left a little wanting.
****
Price: I may come back and amend this later on, but right now I am not thrilled. It costs 30$ at Sephora. The container is 0.5 oz of concealer. This depends I though on how long is lasts me. It is true I use very little to cover up my face, so 30$ every two months might not be SOOO bad. For a beauty product that I hold to high standards such as my concealer I am willing to pay for results.
**
Overall: I really do like this product. It has definitely climbed the ranks as far as my personal favorites. However the price really kills. I know it is a high end product, but until I see how long this lasts me the rating stays at ***3/4.
Note: I use this concealer with a skin primer under it. I do not know how it performs without a primer. I will do an experiment and let you know!
So what concealers do you use? Do you apply it before or after foundation? How much do you pay for it and how often do you buy it? Any suggestions!?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Product Review: Maybelline Fit Me Liquid Foundation 120
Hey all-
So as much as I am still very much pro DIY all natural ETC. I do love my makeup. I think if nothing else it is a fun way to play up a day or a convenient way to cover up your breakouts. I have been using Fit Me for about two months now. Like many of you I have rarely bought the same foundation twice and have a hard time finding one I get what I want out of.
My situation:
I have combination skin at it's finest. I get oily in certain areas and then flaky in other areas making my needs a lot more specific. I also have breakouts and have yet to find a be all end all solution for them so I need to control them as well. I prefer a liquid or cream to powder and have a hard time finding my color. I seem to be right in between looking really pale or looking like I fell face first in dirt. I also refuse to spend 30$ on foundation merely because I have yet to try something that I am terribly impressed with.
The makeup:
Texture: This is your typical liquid makeup, but it is a nice consistency not watery like some. It also goes on your skin super smooth. Some liquids I find get streaky or become gooey before they actually cover anything. *****
Color: Fit me has tons of shades which is one of the reasons I was attracted to it. My 120 Classic ivory is pretty close to perfect. It gets a little orange around my neck, but I think that is more me being pale and sun fearing. ****
Coverage: This makeup is not a stage makeup level cover by any means. But it does a really great job of evening out my skin tone which in turn makes blemishes and such minimized. I always notice a difference. However, it does not stay for a really long time. In a normal person's life I am sure it would. When I have weekends where I don't go out to the barn to run around like a crazy person it stays all day just fine. ****
Price: I believe I bought this for $12 at the grocery store, so I am sure you could find it for a bit cheaper else where but... $12 is not bad at all especially since I am going on two months and still have a ways to go. *****
Overall: This is a makeup that I think I may actually purchase twice. I think for me personally I need to add a primer and some concealer, but for anyone who breaks out less or has an indoor job I would recommend this. Especially if your on a budget! ****1/2
~PLEASE NOTE~
This review and other posts on this blog are merely my experience and opinion. I have no facts backing any of this up nor do I have an education that allows me to recommend products or cosmetics.
So as much as I am still very much pro DIY all natural ETC. I do love my makeup. I think if nothing else it is a fun way to play up a day or a convenient way to cover up your breakouts. I have been using Fit Me for about two months now. Like many of you I have rarely bought the same foundation twice and have a hard time finding one I get what I want out of.
My situation:
I have combination skin at it's finest. I get oily in certain areas and then flaky in other areas making my needs a lot more specific. I also have breakouts and have yet to find a be all end all solution for them so I need to control them as well. I prefer a liquid or cream to powder and have a hard time finding my color. I seem to be right in between looking really pale or looking like I fell face first in dirt. I also refuse to spend 30$ on foundation merely because I have yet to try something that I am terribly impressed with.
The makeup:
Texture: This is your typical liquid makeup, but it is a nice consistency not watery like some. It also goes on your skin super smooth. Some liquids I find get streaky or become gooey before they actually cover anything. *****
Color: Fit me has tons of shades which is one of the reasons I was attracted to it. My 120 Classic ivory is pretty close to perfect. It gets a little orange around my neck, but I think that is more me being pale and sun fearing. ****
Coverage: This makeup is not a stage makeup level cover by any means. But it does a really great job of evening out my skin tone which in turn makes blemishes and such minimized. I always notice a difference. However, it does not stay for a really long time. In a normal person's life I am sure it would. When I have weekends where I don't go out to the barn to run around like a crazy person it stays all day just fine. ****
Price: I believe I bought this for $12 at the grocery store, so I am sure you could find it for a bit cheaper else where but... $12 is not bad at all especially since I am going on two months and still have a ways to go. *****
Overall: This is a makeup that I think I may actually purchase twice. I think for me personally I need to add a primer and some concealer, but for anyone who breaks out less or has an indoor job I would recommend this. Especially if your on a budget! ****1/2
~PLEASE NOTE~
This review and other posts on this blog are merely my experience and opinion. I have no facts backing any of this up nor do I have an education that allows me to recommend products or cosmetics.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Mayo Hair wrap and Face regimen update!
So has anyone ever heard of this whole Mayo hair wrap? Basically since forever it has been used as a deep conditioning treatment which totally make sense considering eggs are used for the same thing. My mom also said it works which led me to try it.
I took mayo covered my hair in it then covered my hair in plastic wrap since I didn't have a shower cap. I used the blow dryer to heat it up for about 15 minutes then rinsed. If I was going to rate the process and the results I give it a one!
YUCK! First of all that much mayo in one place really smells quite awful. I have gotten used to the ACV smell just fine for the most part, but the mayo is ten times worse. It also feels nasty and thick and greasy when I put it in my hair. Of course heating it up only made it smell worse. Just thinking about it makes me gag. :( Rinsing it out was hard and took a long time. After I got out of the shower my hair felt heavy and gross. I thought it might not be a huge deal and it would feel fine once it dried.
Well, waking up the next morning was less than exciting. I looked like a greasy Tbird missing his pink lady for days! even after using BSoda and ACV to get it to rinse out. Basically, you could not pay me enough to do this again.
WHY??
I started thinking about why this backfired on me so intensely and I came up with a theory. Now that I have been no poo for about a month now my hair is overall much healthier and happier with almost nothing added to it. A mayo pack is intended for people with dry brittle hair which I DEF used to have. However, now that my hair has gone through this transformation it does not really need that much moisture in one hit. I will say even if I needed it, with other alternatives like other oils etc... I would not go back to this anyway.
Has anyone else every tried this? If you have how did it workout?
Face UPDATE!!!
This is a much happier update. So for a while I was not sure if my skin was purging if you will or if I was just breaking out. I figured since my skin sucks anyway it was not a big deal so I pushed through. Well "that time of the month" is usually the be all end of my face looking decent for about two weeks. First off I never pay attention to that like some women do. I'm a busy girl! Anyway it totally caught up to me because my face didn't break out. I mean at all. I am sitting here writing to cyber space with two weeks after skin instead of first day of skin. I am AMAZED! This is by far the happiest result I could have asked for. One thing I changed is dropping out the tea tree oil all over my face. I found it irritating and more useful as a spot treatment only because it is rather drying.
I also watered down my ACV and kept it that way and I think it is working just fine that way. Nothing wrong with saving a few bucks right!
** Please remember these are just my recipes and experiences with them. I in no way have any medical knowledge of these products nor do I know how they will work for you.**
I took mayo covered my hair in it then covered my hair in plastic wrap since I didn't have a shower cap. I used the blow dryer to heat it up for about 15 minutes then rinsed. If I was going to rate the process and the results I give it a one!
YUCK! First of all that much mayo in one place really smells quite awful. I have gotten used to the ACV smell just fine for the most part, but the mayo is ten times worse. It also feels nasty and thick and greasy when I put it in my hair. Of course heating it up only made it smell worse. Just thinking about it makes me gag. :( Rinsing it out was hard and took a long time. After I got out of the shower my hair felt heavy and gross. I thought it might not be a huge deal and it would feel fine once it dried.
Well, waking up the next morning was less than exciting. I looked like a greasy Tbird missing his pink lady for days! even after using BSoda and ACV to get it to rinse out. Basically, you could not pay me enough to do this again.
WHY??
I started thinking about why this backfired on me so intensely and I came up with a theory. Now that I have been no poo for about a month now my hair is overall much healthier and happier with almost nothing added to it. A mayo pack is intended for people with dry brittle hair which I DEF used to have. However, now that my hair has gone through this transformation it does not really need that much moisture in one hit. I will say even if I needed it, with other alternatives like other oils etc... I would not go back to this anyway.
Has anyone else every tried this? If you have how did it workout?
Face UPDATE!!!
This is a much happier update. So for a while I was not sure if my skin was purging if you will or if I was just breaking out. I figured since my skin sucks anyway it was not a big deal so I pushed through. Well "that time of the month" is usually the be all end of my face looking decent for about two weeks. First off I never pay attention to that like some women do. I'm a busy girl! Anyway it totally caught up to me because my face didn't break out. I mean at all. I am sitting here writing to cyber space with two weeks after skin instead of first day of skin. I am AMAZED! This is by far the happiest result I could have asked for. One thing I changed is dropping out the tea tree oil all over my face. I found it irritating and more useful as a spot treatment only because it is rather drying.
I also watered down my ACV and kept it that way and I think it is working just fine that way. Nothing wrong with saving a few bucks right!
** Please remember these are just my recipes and experiences with them. I in no way have any medical knowledge of these products nor do I know how they will work for you.**
Monday, November 14, 2011
Quinoa and lentils with Feta (Vegetarian)
So I have been taking this elemental thing from beauty products and tried to spread the focus to eating as well. I think it is really important to be healthy in all aspects of your life, not just one corner. First off I would like to say that I am not a Vegetarian or Vegan, however I recognize that if done right it is really healthy. Also, raw meat grosses my roommate and I out so basically vegetarian is kind of a good option even though I love a good steak every now and again. :D So today I made Quinoa with lentils and some Feta. Delishhh!
The Recipe:
1 Cup Quinoa cooked
1 Cup Lentils cooked
1/4 Cup of Feta Cheese
Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice
Cook Quinoa in water and season with salt and pepper to taste. I found if you add the salt and pepper while the quinoa is cooking it absorbs really nicely. I added about a teaspoon of pepper and got a really nice bite to it.
Cook Lentils in water and season with a little bit of salt. I always use sea salt no matter what but regular salt is fine.
Once everything is cooked mix together in a bowl and add the feta. Mix well to get a nice creamy texture. Add a very tiny bit of lemon juice to taste. This makes about four servings.
It was delicious, I would like to try it with tomatoes and spinach and maybe gorgonzola cheese instead. I also think some almonds or walnuts would make it even better! I have left overs so I will experiment for lunch tomorrow!
The Recipe:
1 Cup Quinoa cooked
1 Cup Lentils cooked
1/4 Cup of Feta Cheese
Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice
Cook Quinoa in water and season with salt and pepper to taste. I found if you add the salt and pepper while the quinoa is cooking it absorbs really nicely. I added about a teaspoon of pepper and got a really nice bite to it.
Cook Lentils in water and season with a little bit of salt. I always use sea salt no matter what but regular salt is fine.
Once everything is cooked mix together in a bowl and add the feta. Mix well to get a nice creamy texture. Add a very tiny bit of lemon juice to taste. This makes about four servings.
It was delicious, I would like to try it with tomatoes and spinach and maybe gorgonzola cheese instead. I also think some almonds or walnuts would make it even better! I have left overs so I will experiment for lunch tomorrow!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A different take on NO POO
Hey guys,
I just found this blog and think I may try it. If I do i will let you know how it goes. But basically it isn't no poo, but it is how to make your own shampoo at home! Thus eliminating the harsh chemicals we all don't know and fear. Still controls exactly what you put into your hair but may be better for those out there who don't know how to feel about never using soap on their locks again!
Check them out and as always support... if you try it out write a review.
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/08/homemade-natural-hair-care-shampoo-recipe.html
I just found this blog and think I may try it. If I do i will let you know how it goes. But basically it isn't no poo, but it is how to make your own shampoo at home! Thus eliminating the harsh chemicals we all don't know and fear. Still controls exactly what you put into your hair but may be better for those out there who don't know how to feel about never using soap on their locks again!
Check them out and as always support... if you try it out write a review.
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/08/homemade-natural-hair-care-shampoo-recipe.html
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Blogs I am obsessed with
SimpleDollar
Has anyone ever been here? I just discovered it a few days ago and am kind of in love! It is where I got the recipe for bread which I embarked on yesterday. I must say it was delicious and will start my journey onto never buying bread again!
Anyway Check it out there are so many great tips on here. Especially because even though I want to be as organic as possible, I would also like to not break the bank!
Has anyone ever been here? I just discovered it a few days ago and am kind of in love! It is where I got the recipe for bread which I embarked on yesterday. I must say it was delicious and will start my journey onto never buying bread again!
Anyway Check it out there are so many great tips on here. Especially because even though I want to be as organic as possible, I would also like to not break the bank!
Face Wash Regimen (All Natural)
So I have been toying with a face wash regimen for the last week or so to try to perfect what I want. I have had really bad skin since I can remember. I have tried every single product in under the sun. Proactive, Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Clearasil, Acnefree, and Burts Bees, just to name a few! Nothing ever worked so I decided it was time to make my own regimen. It started with a lot of research. I knew I wanted something all natural. This was mostly because I wanted something that was easy to make and as non irritating as possible.
After some research my possibilities included...
just about everything under the sun... So I threw everything out the window and Decided to pretty literally make it up as I went along. What I ended up with were a few key ingredients that I made into a three sometimes four step system.
Organic ACV
Coconut Oil
Baking Soda
Tea Tree Oil
Aquaphor
Although I initially wanted to use only all natural ingredients, Aquaphor has been something I use on my skin daily since I was a kid. It made the rounds in my house and got used on everything! It is scent free and doesn't clog pours. Aquaphor is something I will probably never be able to cut ties with even if one day I lived in the forrest in a tent. Seriously this stuff is THAT good!
Step One, Scrub:
This one is pretty basic. Simply Baking soda and water. Thats Right! Just baking soda and water. I use about a 1/4 BSoda to a 3/4 Water mix. You should adjust this based on your own skin type because the soda will exfoliate the skin.
Step Two, Toner:
Again this is basic. Organic ACV. This once again stinks to high heaven, but it goes away completely when it dries. I use about 50/50 water to ACV because my acne is pretty heavy. Some people say to use it full strength some say 1 part ACV to 10 parts water. Basically there is no right answer.
My experiences:
I have used it full strength and 50/50. I switched to 50/50 simply because it cut the smell down. It was going away on my face but my bathroom was starting to stink-Yuck!-and I will say it cuts down the stench by a ton. I have not noticed it working differently since diluting it. However I will admit I would probably switch to full strength when I get a breakout just to nip it in the butt.
Step Three, Moisturize:
I use two different moisturizers, one during the day and one overnight. Coconut oil is the sole ingredient the night time moisturizer. Since I also use it on my skin I just take it straight out of the jar. However and this is BIG however, you must use Virgin Coconut oil. It should be white and a little cakey. Once you heat it up between your fingers it melts right into clear oil. I just apply a thin layer all over my skin and thats that!
During the day I have this spray bottle with a cup of water and maybe a teaspoon of Coconut Oil in it. I just spray my face with it lightly with it after toner. I switch it up because the straight oil takes a while to absorb, and I don't have the time in the morning!
Step Four, Spot Treatment/Mask:
This is where the Aquaphor comes in. I just took about a tablespoon of Aquaphor and mix in a drop or two of tea tree oil. I originally did this as spot treatment because I wanted something more substantial than just oil so I felt like it was staying on my face all night. Once every three days I replace the coconut oil with this mask. Just a thin layer on my skin before bedtime.
THATS IT! I know it was a lot of words, but if you think about it most steps are just one ingredient. Doesn't it erk you that it can be that simple. I will say my skin has NEVER looked so much better. It is not overly dry oily messy anything. Just slowly clearing up and getting healthier. A big part of this is my honey mask. Since I find it so crucial I will make an entire post dedicated to it. It is just too lovely!
P.S. Shelf life is something I was concerned about when I decided to use all natural ingredients. However, I made all of these ahead of time and store them in my bathroom. So far nothing has gone bad or smelled funny and it has been a couple of weeks.
Please remember, this is how these things reacted to MY skin. Each person is different and ingredients may react to your face in a better or worse way. Be careful and let me know how it goes!
After some research my possibilities included...
just about everything under the sun... So I threw everything out the window and Decided to pretty literally make it up as I went along. What I ended up with were a few key ingredients that I made into a three sometimes four step system.
Organic ACV
Coconut Oil
Baking Soda
Tea Tree Oil
Aquaphor
Although I initially wanted to use only all natural ingredients, Aquaphor has been something I use on my skin daily since I was a kid. It made the rounds in my house and got used on everything! It is scent free and doesn't clog pours. Aquaphor is something I will probably never be able to cut ties with even if one day I lived in the forrest in a tent. Seriously this stuff is THAT good!
Step One, Scrub:
This one is pretty basic. Simply Baking soda and water. Thats Right! Just baking soda and water. I use about a 1/4 BSoda to a 3/4 Water mix. You should adjust this based on your own skin type because the soda will exfoliate the skin.
Step Two, Toner:
Again this is basic. Organic ACV. This once again stinks to high heaven, but it goes away completely when it dries. I use about 50/50 water to ACV because my acne is pretty heavy. Some people say to use it full strength some say 1 part ACV to 10 parts water. Basically there is no right answer.
My experiences:
I have used it full strength and 50/50. I switched to 50/50 simply because it cut the smell down. It was going away on my face but my bathroom was starting to stink-Yuck!-and I will say it cuts down the stench by a ton. I have not noticed it working differently since diluting it. However I will admit I would probably switch to full strength when I get a breakout just to nip it in the butt.
Step Three, Moisturize:
I use two different moisturizers, one during the day and one overnight. Coconut oil is the sole ingredient the night time moisturizer. Since I also use it on my skin I just take it straight out of the jar. However and this is BIG however, you must use Virgin Coconut oil. It should be white and a little cakey. Once you heat it up between your fingers it melts right into clear oil. I just apply a thin layer all over my skin and thats that!
During the day I have this spray bottle with a cup of water and maybe a teaspoon of Coconut Oil in it. I just spray my face with it lightly with it after toner. I switch it up because the straight oil takes a while to absorb, and I don't have the time in the morning!
Step Four, Spot Treatment/Mask:
This is where the Aquaphor comes in. I just took about a tablespoon of Aquaphor and mix in a drop or two of tea tree oil. I originally did this as spot treatment because I wanted something more substantial than just oil so I felt like it was staying on my face all night. Once every three days I replace the coconut oil with this mask. Just a thin layer on my skin before bedtime.
THATS IT! I know it was a lot of words, but if you think about it most steps are just one ingredient. Doesn't it erk you that it can be that simple. I will say my skin has NEVER looked so much better. It is not overly dry oily messy anything. Just slowly clearing up and getting healthier. A big part of this is my honey mask. Since I find it so crucial I will make an entire post dedicated to it. It is just too lovely!
P.S. Shelf life is something I was concerned about when I decided to use all natural ingredients. However, I made all of these ahead of time and store them in my bathroom. So far nothing has gone bad or smelled funny and it has been a couple of weeks.
Please remember, this is how these things reacted to MY skin. Each person is different and ingredients may react to your face in a better or worse way. Be careful and let me know how it goes!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Experiment #2 Organic ACV in hair
Last night I made a new version of an AVC rinse for my hair. I used organic ACV from Whole Foods water and honey.
Recipe...
~One part organic ACV
~Three parts hot water
~One teaspoon of raw organic honey.
~Mix all together until honey completely melts
~Dump on hair focusing on scalp
~Massage in scalp for one minute or so
~Rinse well
Effects...
Well the vinegar smell is extremely intense especially with this organic stuff. However I def noticed that my hair curled really nicely this morning all by itself. Once again the vinegar smell disappears when your hair dries. My hair looks fine, not incredibly shiny but stayed together really well and did not friz at all. I would like a little more shine and volume in my curl. Although I have heard a lot of good things about this method, and will try it again. My hair is still getting better by the day in it's transition period if you will.
Recipe...
~One part organic ACV
~Three parts hot water
~One teaspoon of raw organic honey.
~Mix all together until honey completely melts
~Dump on hair focusing on scalp
~Massage in scalp for one minute or so
~Rinse well
Effects...
Well the vinegar smell is extremely intense especially with this organic stuff. However I def noticed that my hair curled really nicely this morning all by itself. Once again the vinegar smell disappears when your hair dries. My hair looks fine, not incredibly shiny but stayed together really well and did not friz at all. I would like a little more shine and volume in my curl. Although I have heard a lot of good things about this method, and will try it again. My hair is still getting better by the day in it's transition period if you will.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Experiment #1
The first thing I did when I was experimenting with natural products was whip out the ACV. I initially started looking into this as an acne treatment because I also suffer from severe disgruntlement of those products as well. Anyway, I used it as a toner for my skin and just wiped it across my clean skin. THIS BURNS LIKE A MOTHER F*@%ER. However, I did notice a difference in my skin even the next day. That night I also made an ACV rinse for my hair.
Recipes:
Hair Rinse...
~ about 1/8 cup of ACV
~ mixed with about 2 cups warm water from shower
~ tilt head forward and pour vinegar over hair
~ massage for about a minute then rinse with warm water
~ follow up with cool water if you can stand it (for shine)
Effects...
I tried to use this as an anti dandruff treatment, and a clarifying treatment since I have really hard water at home. The next day I must say I did not notice any itch at all, and my hair looked AMAZING! However, I did smell like an Easter Egg until my hair dried. *NOTE* If you are active or workout whatever, when my hair got wet again and I started to sweat I did smell a hint of vinegar, but nothing terrible.
Skin Toner...
~ I used a dab of this on a piece of toilet paper or a tissue
~ I used it on my face full strength. If you have sensitive skin you can dilute with water.
~ Do not rinse off, let dry.
~ If skin feels dry moisturize with anything that won't clog pours
~ I added nothing the first night just to see what the effects would be
Effects...
~ Acne looked better, not completely gone
~ Complexion looked a lot better
~ Smelled of vinegar a tad when sweating.
After I did these experiments I found out that Organic ACV is really what I was supposed to be using. It contains the "mother" which is basically a bunch of cloudy gunk. So although I got the results I wanted for my hair, I am looking forward to the hopefully enhanced results with my skin.
will check back later!
Recipes:
Hair Rinse...
~ about 1/8 cup of ACV
~ mixed with about 2 cups warm water from shower
~ tilt head forward and pour vinegar over hair
~ massage for about a minute then rinse with warm water
~ follow up with cool water if you can stand it (for shine)
Effects...
I tried to use this as an anti dandruff treatment, and a clarifying treatment since I have really hard water at home. The next day I must say I did not notice any itch at all, and my hair looked AMAZING! However, I did smell like an Easter Egg until my hair dried. *NOTE* If you are active or workout whatever, when my hair got wet again and I started to sweat I did smell a hint of vinegar, but nothing terrible.
Skin Toner...
~ I used a dab of this on a piece of toilet paper or a tissue
~ I used it on my face full strength. If you have sensitive skin you can dilute with water.
~ Do not rinse off, let dry.
~ If skin feels dry moisturize with anything that won't clog pours
~ I added nothing the first night just to see what the effects would be
Effects...
~ Acne looked better, not completely gone
~ Complexion looked a lot better
~ Smelled of vinegar a tad when sweating.
After I did these experiments I found out that Organic ACV is really what I was supposed to be using. It contains the "mother" which is basically a bunch of cloudy gunk. So although I got the results I wanted for my hair, I am looking forward to the hopefully enhanced results with my skin.
will check back later!
Going All Natural "No Poo"
I am among the majority of women out there who are far from impressed with the expensive shampoo they use and their performance. I was googling around initially for a shampoo that would moisturize my curly dry hair, relieve an itchy scalp without ruining my red color. I found one option. A 35$ shampoo and then a 35$ conditioner. UHHH no thanks! :(
As I was googling I stumbled across the "no poo" method. The basic way is baking soda and ACV (apple cider vinegar). As I read further, the baking soda could be very drying. Then I found out about the curly girl method. This focused on washing your hair with only conditioner. Of course then there is the always famous olive oil deep conditioning. Then I found a website with organic shampoo bars. So basically there are about a gazillion "no poo" techniques on the world wide web. Thus leaving be one STILL very unsatisfied curly haired little girl. In my lack of planning type of way the first thing I did was went shopping!
I bought...
Baking soda
Apple cider vinegar
Coconut oil
Grape seed oil
As I was googling I stumbled across the "no poo" method. The basic way is baking soda and ACV (apple cider vinegar). As I read further, the baking soda could be very drying. Then I found out about the curly girl method. This focused on washing your hair with only conditioner. Of course then there is the always famous olive oil deep conditioning. Then I found a website with organic shampoo bars. So basically there are about a gazillion "no poo" techniques on the world wide web. Thus leaving be one STILL very unsatisfied curly haired little girl. In my lack of planning type of way the first thing I did was went shopping!
I bought...
Baking soda
Apple cider vinegar
Coconut oil
Grape seed oil
Monday, September 12, 2011
It's 5:34 am... Do you know where your children are?: Alternate: Gypsy Girl Why Do You Run
Well first off, I was not planning on writing about this but call it a side note or maybe a beginning note. How old do you think that boy is by now? You know who I'm talking about Jersey citizens. The blonde boy with the bowl cut and the red shirt who pops up every night at 10 PM.?? I wonder...
Anyway.
I have been up since 3 AM trying to go back to sleep
Accepting that I am not going back to sleep
Then figuring out what to do since I am not asleep
Then... figuring out what to do with my life.
I suppose that is the kind of question that comes down to "who am I" blah blah blah. I think the truth to that is who cares? I do not mean that in a depressing sort of way. But more of an everyone is too caught up with figuring themselves out to figure you out kind of way. Which personally I see as a total advantage. I mean think about it, if no one is paying attention to anyone else then you get to PRETTY MUCH do whatever the heck you want. Aside from a nod from the fellow oddlings nothing else is going to happen. I mean unless of course you do something incredibly illegal. But even then, look at Lisbeth Salander, she made off pretty in the end!
But basically I have been trying to figure out what the heck would make me the happiest. You see I have this passion. I have been riding horses since I was four. YEAH FOUR. I live on a farm at home, I have three horses here at school, where I study horses and riding them basically. I have always had the end goal of a farm and some students etc. Which is all well and good and many days all I think I would need.
Here's the kicker (whatever that means) Establishing a farm and a riding program is done over time and done to establish yourself in the riding world to establish a record to establish some esteem to establish a reputation (a positive one hopefully). Well... I don't know about you but that seems like an awful lot of establishing to establish to establish to become well... established. What does establish mean to you? Because to me it means a base, roots, something you have built up something firmly planted on the ground that you are standing on. Well all of those words strike fear into the very depths of my twenty year old soul. I am not that kind of girl.
What kind of girl am I you ask? I am the kind of girl whose backpack has a cape on it. Whose closet consists of hippy skirts AND combat boots. Whose hair is so out of control it has never looked the same twice. Who wants a station wagon because of the sheer amount of STUFF I could put in it. Who liked her room better when it was an aero bed that she could fold up and take with her. Who has an art blog and no time to fill it with all of the wild ideas in her head. The kind of girl that could probably never ever make a decision about her life in one fell swoop a term she learned from a song from her favorite band that is her favorite because he sings of passion and existing without any actual establishment. I am first and foremost a girl of passion. Yes I am passionate about the animals I have dedicated my life to everyday for the past 15 years. I like them more than people and I understand them way more than people. How on earth though can one pick between passions. I cannot rank them in my head. I guess if you ranked them on performance horses are the first passion. But that is because they need to be they take so much time, and establishing. You cannot pack a horse in a station wagon and hit the road. You cannot just up and go with your horse and his stall. I am therefore a passionate human trapped within her passion.
What's a girl to do?
A girl is to think on it some more I suppose. Growing up means making choices doesn't it? OR growing up can mean figuring out how to not have to sacrifice one passion for the next. OR who knows really... lets be honest I have no idea what I am talking about. There is no how to guide to living. Well I take that back I am sure somewhere out there (or not so out there) there is, but honestly? Would YOU read it? I mean of course other than in a manner of sheer curiosity.
The time is 5:55 AM_The song is Gypsy Girl by Dean Brody although admittedly I just turned it on about fifteen seconds ago_the feeling is trapped_the solution is to run.
"Gypsy girl why do you run?"
Stay weird XxAngelRae
Anyway.
I have been up since 3 AM trying to go back to sleep
Accepting that I am not going back to sleep
Then figuring out what to do since I am not asleep
Then... figuring out what to do with my life.
I suppose that is the kind of question that comes down to "who am I" blah blah blah. I think the truth to that is who cares? I do not mean that in a depressing sort of way. But more of an everyone is too caught up with figuring themselves out to figure you out kind of way. Which personally I see as a total advantage. I mean think about it, if no one is paying attention to anyone else then you get to PRETTY MUCH do whatever the heck you want. Aside from a nod from the fellow oddlings nothing else is going to happen. I mean unless of course you do something incredibly illegal. But even then, look at Lisbeth Salander, she made off pretty in the end!
But basically I have been trying to figure out what the heck would make me the happiest. You see I have this passion. I have been riding horses since I was four. YEAH FOUR. I live on a farm at home, I have three horses here at school, where I study horses and riding them basically. I have always had the end goal of a farm and some students etc. Which is all well and good and many days all I think I would need.
Here's the kicker (whatever that means) Establishing a farm and a riding program is done over time and done to establish yourself in the riding world to establish a record to establish some esteem to establish a reputation (a positive one hopefully). Well... I don't know about you but that seems like an awful lot of establishing to establish to establish to become well... established. What does establish mean to you? Because to me it means a base, roots, something you have built up something firmly planted on the ground that you are standing on. Well all of those words strike fear into the very depths of my twenty year old soul. I am not that kind of girl.
What kind of girl am I you ask? I am the kind of girl whose backpack has a cape on it. Whose closet consists of hippy skirts AND combat boots. Whose hair is so out of control it has never looked the same twice. Who wants a station wagon because of the sheer amount of STUFF I could put in it. Who liked her room better when it was an aero bed that she could fold up and take with her. Who has an art blog and no time to fill it with all of the wild ideas in her head. The kind of girl that could probably never ever make a decision about her life in one fell swoop a term she learned from a song from her favorite band that is her favorite because he sings of passion and existing without any actual establishment. I am first and foremost a girl of passion. Yes I am passionate about the animals I have dedicated my life to everyday for the past 15 years. I like them more than people and I understand them way more than people. How on earth though can one pick between passions. I cannot rank them in my head. I guess if you ranked them on performance horses are the first passion. But that is because they need to be they take so much time, and establishing. You cannot pack a horse in a station wagon and hit the road. You cannot just up and go with your horse and his stall. I am therefore a passionate human trapped within her passion.
What's a girl to do?
A girl is to think on it some more I suppose. Growing up means making choices doesn't it? OR growing up can mean figuring out how to not have to sacrifice one passion for the next. OR who knows really... lets be honest I have no idea what I am talking about. There is no how to guide to living. Well I take that back I am sure somewhere out there (or not so out there) there is, but honestly? Would YOU read it? I mean of course other than in a manner of sheer curiosity.
The time is 5:55 AM_The song is Gypsy Girl by Dean Brody although admittedly I just turned it on about fifteen seconds ago_the feeling is trapped_the solution is to run.
"Gypsy girl why do you run?"
Stay weird XxAngelRae
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Lexi and riley update :)
Sad news and good news. Bad news first... riley got shoes on and still has not improved soundness wise. She is sound going to the right but not the left. I think we are going to send her back or find somewhere for her to go. :( sadness she is a really sweet mare and hopefully someone will love her!
Now for the good news... Lexi has been making great progress and will probably come with me to ohio :) today was a big day for her we went in the outdoor ring yesterday and walked and trotted around like a little champ :) so today we cantered her for the first time and trotted over a couple poles. She was amazing she is a really smart mare who learns quick and loves working. She is getting better ever day about putting the saddle on her and was better for the farrier the other day. She is making great progress and I could not be more proud. Pictures soon :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Lexi and Riley :D
Have not updated on them in a while!... Bad mommy. Riley is the Bay mare's new name and Lexi is the Grey. They have both been in work now for about a week and are doing fabulously. the first day Kate long lined both of them to see what they knew etc. It was determined that they were both started very well and I could get on them the next day. So as of now they have been lungeing for fiveish minutes and then I get on them. Riley @ 7 years old is pretty much an old pro. She walks and trots undersaddle bends and steers... Have not cantered yet though. Lexi is also started well, just goes around like a four year old with no education. She is still a bit slow off my leg and steers a little bit more wobbly.
Today was a good milestone day for both mares. We used the mounting block on them for the first time and they were stars! neither of them minded lungeing around the round pen with it or minded me using it to get on. Riley, being the older one was graduated into the indoor arena today! That was a huge step getting out of the round pen and into an actual arena. She looked around a very tiny bit but remained her same personable self.
As of now they both cross tie, long line, lunge, stand for the mounting block, and for the farrier. We seperated them after their third day with us and they screamed bloody murder for the first day or so but have now settled in. They cross paths once in a while and notice each other but no longer shout longingly. Personality wise I think Lexi is the more independant of the two, Riley just wants to be loved on all day. Although neither of them deny the attention they receive.
Looking forward to working with them and to updating cyber space about their progress! :)
Today was a good milestone day for both mares. We used the mounting block on them for the first time and they were stars! neither of them minded lungeing around the round pen with it or minded me using it to get on. Riley, being the older one was graduated into the indoor arena today! That was a huge step getting out of the round pen and into an actual arena. She looked around a very tiny bit but remained her same personable self.
As of now they both cross tie, long line, lunge, stand for the mounting block, and for the farrier. We seperated them after their third day with us and they screamed bloody murder for the first day or so but have now settled in. They cross paths once in a while and notice each other but no longer shout longingly. Personality wise I think Lexi is the more independant of the two, Riley just wants to be loved on all day. Although neither of them deny the attention they receive.
Looking forward to working with them and to updating cyber space about their progress! :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Grey and Bay
The mares are still nameless, and they got their feet done today :) I have decided to keep track of their progress via blogging so I have a reference to look back on and I love documenting! O:) When they got their feet done they were separated for the first time. Bay went first, she walked out like a champ and Grey pinned her ears when she left but nothing further. Bay stood like an angel for the farrier and got her feet trimmed. Her feet are a bit of a mess and need some time to get stronger, but she looked fine and walked away sound. When Bay was getting her feet done Grey was screaming a little but not really running or anything.
Grey went second. When we switched them, Bay started to scream, which I must say I did not really expect. Grey stood for the farrier as well, but not as quietly. She is only four so I did not expect her to be as good. She was not vicious or mean, and looks like she just needs to get used to life. Her feet were also a mess, she had one shoe on which we removed to let her feet get stronger too. Her left front is a little bit dishy, and slowly the angle will get pushed back to where it belongs.
Tomorrow Sandy gets back and we will separate them. They are eating a handful of grain right now and have a lot of weight to put on, but so far they seem healthy, and happy girls! The next thing I want to do is start a record book of them, gather their papers, and make a plan for them.
Naming them needs to happen ASAP I don't want bay and grey to become a habit. :o
Tomorrow is going to be a louddd day...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sigh... Today
Well today was bitter sweet for me today. To start my mom and I picked up two Thoroughbreds that just got off the track. One of them is a seven year old and the other is four, both mares. They need names, so I am trying to work that out. I am super excited about them! I really can't wait to start working with them. Rode Tommy today and he is finally back to work after being lame for almost a month, he is doing really well and Hannah my 13 year old little sister got on him today. :) I was such a proud mamma when he just marched around like a champ. Hannah is a good rider but she doesn't ride a lot and she has not really ridden many horses. Anyway he was perfect!
And now for the bitter to my sweet.
I got into the first level of EAP this year, but I did not make it to the second level. It is just one more thing to the long list of trying to be a professional Equestrian blah blah blah. I am not against working hard I really am not. But workign to something that feels like it just spins me around in a circle again and again is so goddamn frusterating you have no idea. Well, I'm sure that's not true, I guess everyone has a dream they never acheive or they change to move on to something else right? I just never wanted to be that person. I always thought hard work would pay off in the end yanno. I mean sure it is not the end, but I have been riding in circles for probably three years now, at LEAST! It is just hard to handle when you watch other people fly by you, it hurts, it hurts a lot.
Current song: breaking out the angry avril lavigne for sure!
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