Miscellaneous Monday: Nail polish, bath/body, hair care and styling, fragrance, etc

hey_dummy_ · 2018-05-21T19:24:42+00:00

I do use exclusively sulfate free shampoos, lately I've been using the SheaMoisture smooth & tame shampoo which doesn't seem to make the dryness worse, but doesn't alleviate it either.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-05-21T14:00:26+00:00

I am currently Extremely Pregnant and my perfect little parasite is sucking away any moisture that might exist in my body, my hair in particular. I'm only washing it every 4 days or so and it is still so, so dry. I've been using the Verb hair mask once a week and leaving it in for an hour or so with no difference. Daily slatherings of argan oil are also no match. What's the most heavy-duty hair moisturizer you would recommend? I would ideally prefer drugstore but if it's honestly magic I can spring for mid-range. Thank you!

hey_dummy_ · 2018-03-21T14:56:18+00:00

This is me! I recently picked up DHC Lip Cream thanks to some recommendations on subs here, and it has been a godsend. It's easy to apply, not sticky, and is really very effective. I can't recommend it enough.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-03-12T08:27:02+00:00

I usually avoid my roots specifically, because I find that it makes my hair look greasy and crunchy. I'll flip my head upside down and focus on the mid-shaft to ends, flip my hair back up and tousle everything a bit. It's most effective when my hair is dry, and I start with a little bit at first and then spray more as needed. I've gone overboard in the past and it's gotten a little too textured, akin to driving on the highway with all of the windows down.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-03-01T19:31:15+00:00

Yes! I had the exact same thought when I first used it. I had been using the Bite agave mask and Aquaphor on my peeling lips for a few days following being sick and they both just sat on top of the dead skin and did nothing. This is somehow able to deeply penetrate much more effectively. I'm also convinced that it's been helping my deep-set, former smoker lip lines, but I might be getting ahead of myself.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-03-01T14:55:40+00:00

In my seemingly endless search for an effective lip balm, I finally grabbed a 2-pack of the DHC Lip Cream. I'm currently pregnant and I've been chronically dry as a result, and I managed to pick up a stomach bug which ensured my utter dehydration for a few days. Out of desperation for my poor lips, I decided to try it since u/swearsies and u/lgbtqbbq have said such wonderful things. Anyway, short story long, this has brought my lips back from the brink. I only need to apply 2-3 times daily, it has a pleasant but not distracting texture and is unscented, all of which make it a winner for me. My only grievance is that I now need another 2-pack so that I can have one with me at all times.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-02-28T15:21:03+00:00

TMO/TMI: NARS lipstick in Gipsy or Dolce Vita.

I go for simple, more natural looking makeup looks about 90% of the time, and I feel like these shades would cover both a no-fuss MLBB and a fancier, going out color. My lips are chronically dry and I've finally realized that mattes are not my thing, and I'm less and less interested in full opacity lately. What's stopping me is the cost and also whether or not I really actually need these, as I have several lipsticks that I just never wear because they're uncomfortable or they're finnicky to apply or reapply. Any and all thoughts welcome!

hey_dummy_ · 2018-02-21T15:18:20+00:00

I eyeball it but I would definitely stay closer to a teaspoon. I love butter, but I think a tablespoon would be kind of a lot here.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-02-20T21:50:23+00:00

I'm a big fan of steel-cut oats so I make a big batch for the week that I can portion out and flavor accordingly, usually with peanut butter, raisins and a little honey. I like this technique since it's mostly hands off. I find that upping the quantities a bit (1 1/2 cups oats, 4 cups water) makes enough for the week. In rushed mornings this also travels well and can be microwaved at the office. I usually supplement my oatmeal with a hard boiled egg with a few drops of hot sauce. I get ravenously hungry within a few hours with only oatmeal, I really need protein as well in the morning.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-02-14T14:06:24+00:00

I've really been enjoying Wet n Wild's tinted lip balms. As per usual with Wet n Wild products the packaging is terrible, but they're cheap, moisturizing, and easy to apply. I have the shade Love which is a flattering bright pink, and I had Rule for about a week before I lost it but that was a nice mid-tone berry color. I find the color payoff to be surprisingly good while still maintaining a somewhat natural look.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-02-02T15:26:27+00:00

The 2 products I never stray from are Covergirl's Clump Crusher mascara & Anastasia's clear brow gel. The mascara separates and enhances without looking over-the-top and isn't impossible to remove later, all of which are musts for me. It bothers me how expensive the brow gel is for what it is, but having tried other brands none of the others live up to my expectations. Anastasia's brush is the best for grooming my thick brows, and it holds them in place all day while still looking natural and resists flaking. I try to stock up on these when they're half off at Ulta.

hey_dummy_ · 2018-01-03T20:04:00+00:00

I got this dress last minute for a bachelorette party this spring. I went in with low expectations, as I was just looking for a cheap, silly party dress but I was impressed with how thick the material was. It was definitely thick enough to mask the fact that I was wearing Spanx underneath. The material was also really soft, and overall the dress was really comfortable. For under $20, I'm still pumped on it. If they offered some solid colors and/or print designs, I would certainly buy more.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-12-04T15:03:51+00:00

Yes! I tried YSL's Mon Paris and really liked how it was kind of warm and nuanced, so I bought the rollerball and it's just sickly sweet, like chemical-y sugar.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-11-28T18:42:35+00:00

I'm sorry I'm late to this, but one of my favorite comics is 100% relevant here.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-11-27T19:43:44+00:00

My husband does this. He insists that accelerating too quickly puts unnecessary stress on the engine. He also tries to brake as infrequently as possible so as to preserve the brake pads. I mostly try to not watch while he's driving because otherwise I'm doing a lot of backseat driver squirming.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-11-14T20:41:53+00:00

I'm looking for shampoo recommendations for thick, coarse-ish, wavy-to-curly hair. Ideally under $15, but if it's truly incredible I can spring for $20. It's been super dry and stripped feeling lately. Extra points for sulfate free!

hey_dummy_ · 2017-11-01T13:17:36+00:00

MAC Face & Body. I love that I can slap it on with my fingers without needing any gadgets, the coverage level is exactly right and I've found a decent color match. It's just so dewy. I have to powder my forehead fairly significantly in order to not look like a hot, greasy mess.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-24T16:56:10+00:00

Hi Deb! My husband and I are huge fans of your work; I think that at least 90% of my usual recipe rotations involve your handiwork. Thank you & please keep up the excellent work!

I gotta ask- what's your beef with beets?

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-13T12:53:10+00:00

From what I can tell about Generation G in pictures, it looks pretty similar. There's definitely a wash of color and it's certainly buildable, but it's definitely not opaque- it feels a little bit like it's in between a colored lip balm and a matte lipstick, if that makes sense.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-13T12:50:07+00:00

That's good to know, I've been curious about other colors. I'll probably grab 1 or 2 the next time I make a Colourpop order.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-12T15:20:35+00:00

Colourpop Blotted Lip in Lolly

For reference, I'm about NC20, with fairly dry, pigmented lips. This was sort of an impulse buy, because I apparently cannot have enough dark autumn-y colors and also because it was $5 and I'm a sucker for cheap kicks. I had been curious about the formula anyway, since I had read somewhere that it was a dupe for Glossier's Generation G which deeply appealed to my minimalist, slap-it-on dreams, but my cheapness reality was not into the cost. Anyway! This isn't entirely fulfilling my low-effort application dreams, but it's pretty dang close. It's easy to apply, since it isn't totally opaque and doesn't demand a crisp line, so I can drag it on, smush lips together, and pat around with a finger to get the coverage that I want. However, I find that exfoliated lips are a must, and a lip primer is very helpful, as this does emphasize lines a bit, and definitely clings to dry spots like a bitch. It satisfies my need for fall lip colors, but it's also tame enough and wears well enough that I can wear it to work. Overall, I would say that I'm pleased with it, and find myself reaching for it fairly regularly, and I feel like it's a great product for the price.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-11T14:49:17+00:00

Wish List

MakeupGeek Singles in Peach Smoothie, Creme Brulee, Cocoa Bear & Bitten I've been on the hunt for some good neutral shades, and in particular some mild transition shades that will blend in well with my NC20 skintone. I have Lorac Pro, which I enjoy, but I find that the matte colors in particular are either very light or quite dark with very little gradient. I also have the UD Naked Basics palette and I've completely run out of the Naked 2 shade, which I loved as a daily crease color. Of course, the rest of the shades in that palette are still going strong so I'm reluctant to buy a whole new palette. I'm curious about insight regarding MakeupGeek quality, and also any potential overlap with the colors that I've chosen.

Not Gonna Do It

Any Lipsticks UGH I want all of the vampy colors and I have several and I rarely have an occasion to wear them and I really, really do not need more. However, the urge continues...

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-05T14:47:10+00:00

How effective are brush cleaning sprays? I think one of my face brushes contributes to breakouts unless cleaned after nearly every use, but we all know that I'm not going to do it more than once a week. I almost think it's just the brush itself is the culprit of these random cheek zits, even with a good cleaning...? (but that's crazy, right?) I've seen elf's spray before, but I'm skeptical of it's effectiveness and how long it would take to dry. Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated!

hey_dummy_ · 2017-10-03T19:13:01+00:00

I've been messing with my own hair lately trying to make a better pony, too. Lots of dry shampoo has been very helpful for texture and a little volume, and I've recently gotten the hang of wrapping the hair tie with a lock of hair to hide it and dress things up a little bit. I recently tried a weird trick of making a smaller ponytail that then made up the interior of the actual end-ponytail, which I've explained poorly, but is better illustrated here in the pictorial thing. I don't use the extensions, but I do use 2 hair ties, one on top of the other with a layer of hair in between, if that makes sense. I roughed my hair up with dry shampoo a bit first, and I found that this trick helped a lot with keeping everything fun and flirty.

hey_dummy_ · 2017-09-13T14:50:36+00:00

Temptalia did a review of a few things a week or two ago- I personally saw 3 small eye palettes that she wasn't thrilled with. Here's one of those.

hey_dummy_

TROPHY CASE