Shampoo Week

Shampoo is extremely important the fact that it is used every day or almost every day makes it so. I am going to discuss different shampoos this week. Once again I will talk about my love for Aveda, but not today. Today I am going to start with a hair color shampoo. Most colorist will tell you not to use anything with sulfate because it can cause hair to fade. That is true. However, I have found a shampoo & conditioner which is perfect for color treated hair.

 

Biolage ColorCare Therapie. This shampoo is great. It is clear which works best when you do not want to weigh hair down. There is a very low PH. They use Orchid + UV Complex to moisturize and protect the depth, tone and shine of color-treated hair without parabens or synthetic dyes. This complex really helps with not letting the hair fade. There is a whole line to mirror the shampoo. When you do have haircolor in your hair it is best not to shampoo every day, but if you must this shampoo will help the color and shine last longer.

Freeman Clay Mask

Masks are a very important part of anyone’s beauty routine. Of course there are many different ones for different skin types. It is good to use a mask once or twice a week. The one I have pictured is really inexpensive, it runs about $4.00. It can be bought at most mass stores, I got this one at Walgreens. Freemans is a great line and has a wide variety of masks. This Clay mask happens to be the Mint and Lemon clay mask. Clay is used for deep pore cleaning. The lemon cools and helps with any inflammation caused by breakouts. I don’t have oily skin, but I do like the deep pore cleansing it provides. I usually make sure to add extra hydration after a clay mask since I am dry. It is always good to prep the skin by making sure the surface is clean. Even a mild exfoliation would be good to help loosen the dirt in the pores. I left this on for 15-20 minutes. Most clay mask also add a glowing effect. Just like a facial, it is great to not put any make-up on right after the mask.

NYX False Lashes

Bad

Good

I had an event a few weeks back and needed false lashes. These are not everyday things, but did want to jazz my look up. I also bought a back-up set just incase. Good thing I did . When I pulled the lashes out, they were hard and stiff. The glue was not strong enough, and they kept falling. THey were NYX lashes. Luckly I had the trusted Ardell lashes, even with the horrible glue, they stayed on all night. They both run about the same cost around $4.00, but I would say 100% go with the Ardell, and get their glue.

Don't let those highlights turn Brassy

Many of us usually lighten our strands for the warmer months. You want to make sure you your hair look as shiny as possible. Highlighting is an investment, so you should take care of your hair and keep those strands looking their best.  Day to day heat, sun, and salt or chlorine water can make those highlights look dull. Common styling can do the same. You want to make sure you are washing at least once a week with a shampoo designed to cut down on brassiness. I went mostly blonde last year, and these 2 shampoos were life savers. Aveda Blue Malva and Pureology's Perfect 4 Platinum Shampoo. The Purology you can use daily, the Blue Malva  is once to twice a week. The shampoo is purple. The purple in the shampoo helps neutralize the orange or greens that blonde hair can get. They both smell great. The cost is a little more but it is worth the price.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This is the fountain of youth in a blue bottle. I love this stuff. Their website describes this as a Purely Potent Over-Night Repair. That is certainly is!! It is a lightweight, nighttime treatment. It regenerates, repairs, and replenishes skin for a smoother, healthier skin. It can be used morning and night, however, most repair products work best at night when you skin is resting. It is 99.8% naturally-derived and paraben-free. It has 3 main ingredients which help with retoring, replenshing, soothing and stimulation. The main ingredient Evening Primrose repairs and also is a radiance booster. The cost is $68.00 for a large bottle. It is recommended that you use over a serum, I use a line reducing serum. Place a few drops in the palm of your hand, breathe in, and then press into the face. If you are dry you can use a moisturizer over this, but do allow for the serum to fully absorb. After the first night you will see a difference. I have been using for over a month and can see a huge difference. My skin looks more radiant. My make-up as never looked so amazing either, and I just use at night. I will probably try it during the day. It does say that it is great under make-up. The smell is amazing, it is very relaxing. I highly recommed this product.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Needing to find a special gift a special mom? Here are some top picks any mom would enjoy

Circle E Candles - These are amazing. They can make the whole house smell wonderful. They have many scents, and I know this in not beauty, but some of them can really call you down. www.circleecandles.com

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh- This fragrance has been my go to lately. It is so soft and pretty for summer time. Even my 10yr old wants to wear it. The line has rollerballs for travel, body lotion and Eau de Parfum. $ 23.00-75.00. At Sephora, Nordstrom & Macy's

Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb -This fragrance is the bomb. It is amazing, It smells great on anyone. You can get a rollerball starting at $25.00 to a 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray for $105.00. At Nordstrom & Sephora

 Origins Ginger Collection - I personally am not a fan of this scent, but it is a best seller for a reason. I do however love the way all of the Origins body souffles and salt scrubs feel and leave my skin. That makes this a must gift.

Naked 2 Palette- This is amazing. It has full sized shades all with great staying power. There is a good range from shimmer to matte, and has a deep black that can alter has a liner. $50.00 At Sephora



MAC Make-up brushes. These brushes are amazing there are so many to get the job done right . I would recommend the 168- Large Angled Brush : perfect for applying bronzer , 217-Blending brush : great for blending shadow on the eyes, or setting with powder over concealer under the eyes. 190 - Foundation Brush : this should be a must in every brush collection. 263- small angled liner brush : perfect to wet an apply shadow as liner.

The Pre-Cleanse

In esthetician school you learn to do 2 cleanses. The first is the pre-cleanse and the second the cleanse. You can use the same cleanser twice, but there are some great "pre" cleansers on the market. They are all usually an oil based cleanser, which is OK. Oily skin gals, this is a huge yes to do. It will not clog pores or make your skin more oily. It is basic chemistry, you need oil to remove oil. What it does is allow the make-up dirt and oil to break down on your face, allowing your actual cleanser to do its job and clean pores for a better cleanse. A few I have used and I think are great are Dermologica's Precleanse, Origins Clean energy cleansing Oil, and Bobbi Brown Cleansing oil.

The best way to use these are to apply to dry skin. You want to massage in the skin to make sure it is breaking down the make-up, dirt and oil. Next you want to add a little water and massage in some more. Then rinse. You can start the second cleanse with your normal face cleanser. This is truly a must. If you have ever had a facial you will always get 2 cleanses, so why not treat your skin like it should be. You will see a huge difference in how your skin care works and your make-up goes on. The clarity of your skin will also be noticeable.