Foundation: In My Opinion, One of the Most Important Steps

I have a few product reviews to do, so keep a look out.
First off, I needed new foundation. For the past two years I've been using (and very happy with) L'Oreal's True Match foundation. They have a superb color range for drugstore makeup, it is quite blendable and gives good, yet sheer, coverage. However, sometimes I get bored. Sometimes I just want to try something new. I saw this foundation in a magazine and thought, maybe I'll give it a whirl.
Anyway, it's by Covergirl, a brand that I have previously decided I don't trust or like. I have never liked any products I've tried from this brand. With the exception of this foundation. It's called Clean Oil Control Liquid Makeup. I noticed in the ingredients that it has silicone-based particles, which is kind of the same concept as those expensive foundation primers.
I think it blends well as it goes on, it does everything a foundation should. It makes a great canvas - smooth, even skin, makes me look "naturally perfect", which is kind of my beauty mantra. And as far as oil control, I guess it does that well enough. Probably better than my last foundation. If you are super oily, I'm sorry, but there is no miracle product out there. Trust me. But this foundation still looks pretty decent after a long day and even better if I take the time to blot once during the day. I have given up on perfection, but I must say I am very pleased with this foundation. Highly recommended. And I got it for just under $5 at my local Target!

Spring, Finally

OK, I'm just gonna blame my major blogging hiatus on winter and it's associated drabness.  I get really tired of it by February.  Lately the weather in my neck of the woods has been fairly decent, but very windy (let's just pretend like I didn't wake up to snow this morning - whuuut??).

Anyway, spring/summer is my favorite time of year.  Probably summer more so, because in the spring it's kind of annoying to still wear a jacket when you leave for work in the morning, right?
I always think that I should buy "against the season" but I can never get myself to do it.  You know, buy sweaters and boots when they are on sale in March and stock up on swim stuff, sandals, etc. in October-ish.  Yeah, I know that's a smart way to do things, but come March, I want to put away my boots and get me into some dang sandals.  So that's what I've been doing lately.  I bought some wedge sandals and a new swimsuit in the last few weeks.  And some shorts.  And some t-shirts.  Wow, when I write it all out, I've been doing a lot of shopping.

If you are smart and you stock up on fall/winter basics at the beginning of spring, or you just don't have the money at the moment to indulge in an of-the-season wardrobe boost, may I recommend a quick, easy, cheap fix?  I just bought this new shade of nail polish.
Sort of embracing the coral trend, in a way that works for me and is not so shocking to my cool-toned ways.

It's Revlon's new Electric Pink.  Under $4 at that really cheap, mega-store that shall remain nameless.  In real life, it is slightly more coral than it looks here in this pic . . .

Good Enough to Eat Beauty Products

My husband makes fun of me for making all kinds of "potions" and trying out beauty theories I read.  I have several items that normally belong in the kitchen that have found their way to the bathroom.  It's usually quite economical and natural to use "foody" products in your beauty routine.  A run down of the items I get double and triple duty out of:

Baking soda:  Most people probably know several ways to use this for baking and cleaning.  I use it to exfoliate my face because it is not so abrasive.  I also make a baking soda and water solution that I pour in my hair after I rinse out the shampoo.  I feel like it helps remove any harsh shampoo chemicals.

Olive oil:  We know it is a "heart healthy" fat and gives great flavor to many dishes, but I also use it mixed with salt as a body scrub in the shower.  It exfoliates and moisturizes better than anything.  I find that I can't use it every time I shower because it can be drying to exfoliate with salt daily or even every other day.  I do it once or twice a week.

Salt:  See above.  I use it with olive oil to exfoliate.  I used it (with olive oil) just on my hands today and it was just what I needed after months without a decent manicure.

Vinegar:  Sounds pretty harsh, but I use it on my hair.  I used to use it straight up, but now since I have a cup in the shower for my baking soda rinse, I use the same cup to mix vinegar with water and rinse it through my hair after shampooing.  Many times I do it before conditioner, but sometimes after.  It really helps get product build-up out and keeps my hair shiny.

That's about it at the moment, but I am usually willing to try home remedies of any kind - beauty or otherwise.

Another Lovely and Affordable Dress

I really like this one...  I have been on a little search to find a sort of "abstract art" dress.  Something printed... to wear over tights that makes me look artsy and 20-something-cool.  Because that's what I am, right? 

From New York and Company.  They often have some great budget friendly finds.  

Oh my...  I love this dress.  It's gray.  I am trying to get myself into more a-lines but this is really adorable.  I do worry about the fit - Target is hit and miss for me. 

 

I'm kind of trying to include more chic neutrals into my wardrobe.  Occasionally I think I am drawn to bright colors too often.

Long wear

I just bought this lip color.

I had a lipstick in a color that was good for me, but a little dark so I always wore it over balm. I wanted something that I could put on and not have to "dilute". Also, that other lipstick (which was a fancy department store brand) did not last very long at all. Perhaps it would have lasted longer if I wasn't always pairing it with Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream (my balm of choice, but another post for another day).

I have never bought a "long wearing" lip color. I was curious and interested in finding something sort of subtle, but that would bring a bit of color to my (pale) face. My lips have almost no natural coloring and as much as I like the nude lip look on others, I still can't get it to look right on me. I just look washed out and unfinished.

Anyway, I had been eying this L'Oreal Infallible stuff at the grocery store for a while and decided on Thistle. Something that looked sort of light but that wouldn't turn orange or too peachy on me, as so many lipsticks do. I have cool undertones to my skin. Peachy looks great on warm skin.

I have used this only twice now, but so far it is doing what it promised to do. It lasted a good 4-6 hours both times. I have some strange issues with lipstick. If I am conscious that I am wearing it, I will usually end up wiping it off or licking/biting it off my lips for some reason. I get sort of paranoid that it doesn't look right or something. This stuff lasts through eating, talking, drinking, napkin wiping, sitting around after dinner playing games, etc (we had a fairly social weekend). It does get a little dry, but I am a compulsive lip balm applier anyway, so it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. There is a moisturizing top coat you put on after the color, but that doesn't provide enough smoothness for my standards. I hate smiling and having my lips feel tight.

I like this color for me (maybe a little too pink, but if I had gone in any other direction it would have been too peach or too dark, I fear), but it does always look like I'm wearing lipstick, which is not always the look I want. But it is nice that it doesn't fade, even after several hours.
I will continue to use it but the jury is still out on whether I would buy this again (product and color).

Wardrobe Staples Follow-Up

Recently I posted this long-winded post about how there's all this stuff I need, especially winter stuff. Now I can check one or two off that list and I am so glad.
I ordered two wool skirts, a gray one and a light brown one. Warm and neutral and should last me a long time.
The best part is that they were a steal. Compared to most wool skirts out there. I could hardly find any for under $70. That kind of money is just not in the budget right now. I found these skirts, the perfect skirts, on Etsy (from this seller)! It's usually not the first place I think to look, but every time I do look, I am so pleasantly surprised. Cocktail ring - check; Wool skirts - check; Knit beret - check. All hand made and very reasonably priced (so far I have only bought those skirts for myself and a ring for my mom for x-mas).

Winter

Winter is definitely here. Sunday gave us below zero temperatures. I think that may have been my first experience with that kind of cold.
I also live in a very dry climate and it feels worse when it is that cold. I hate dry skin. It bothers me every winter and I never feel like I really conquer it. This year, I found something that works like nothing else ever has.
I made a paste of olive oil and salt and I scrub down in the shower. It is amazing. Better than any product I've ever bought. I don't even need much lotion afterward. It scrubs off the dead skin and instantly moisturizes. I am babysoft. I think the natural olive oil absorbs much better into my skin than petroleum-based lotions so the moisture lasts longer. Something I always keep in the house and pretty budget-friendly!

I'm Sure You Already Know, But Just in Case You Don't

Old Navy has cashmere now! I have not seen/felt it in person, so I cannot tell you about the quality or softness. But for $69.50 (and on sale this weekend!), it is worth a look. I seriously want some cashmere and this may be a good start for me, on our law student budget.

Remember When. . .

A while back, I posted a ring that I saw and loved. It was way out of my price range and I didn't even feel like I could ask for it for Christmas. It's the kind of frivolous, fabulous, huge cocktail ring that I had never worn before and couldn't justify the $140 price tag (even if someone else was doing the buying).

This past weekend, I decided to take a gander at Etsy to see what kind of cocktail rings people have. I am not yet a frequenter of Etsy because I just don't think of it and haven't gotten familiar with the system or favorite sellers, etc. I don't usually know what to look for.

I was so happy to see that they have some delightful cocktail rings, made by hand, and for some very good prices! They are the kind of thing that I could wear more often than the real-deal Swarovski ring. I am in love. Christmas is coming. . .

Wow, Payless?

It's amazing the things you find when you open your mind to the possibility of PVC. I will admit, I have not been in a Payless for years. I kind of forgot they existed. It was the place my mom would take us to get shoes because we outgrew them faster than they could have possibly worn out. I'm really not that much of a snob, I just... I don't know how to explain. Maybe I am a snob.

But, my husband is in law school and our money has reached a new level "tightness". So I can't afford to be snobby.