Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Evolution of my haircuts and hair lengths
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Sunday, May 28, 2017 /
Posted in
hair
I generally prefer a mid-length look. It isn't too long, it isn't too short, etc. I can tie it up in a ponytail and I can wear it in braids.
However, with miscommunication from various hairstylists and laziness, it's either become super short or super long.
Here is the progression of my hairstyles/hair lengths throughout the years:
Review: Tresemme #ReverseYourRoutine
I've always liked TRESemme products - ever since I was in college, and even now too. I've always liked how they gave my hair a silky smooth texture. Not to mention that they are quite affordable as well!
So thus, I was super excited when Influenster gave me the chance to try out TRESemme's new line - the ReverseYourRoutine line. This line of products basically consists of a pre-wash conditioner followed by a shampoo.
So thus, I was super excited when Influenster gave me the chance to try out TRESemme's new line - the ReverseYourRoutine line. This line of products basically consists of a pre-wash conditioner followed by a shampoo.
This box is awesome!
Nice packaging. I wish I had hair that was as great as this lady's.
So many cards!
I started using the products, but unfortunately I was not used to using conditioner first followed by shampoo. I was afraid that my hair would become all gnarly from the excess amount of shampoo. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This product is great. It makes my hair feel silky smooth and at the same time doesn't leave silicone gunk in. I would definitely use this at least every other day.
Not to mention, it's extremely affordable as well!
I received this product from Influenster for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own.
Wellness Voxbox!
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Wednesday, September 9, 2015 /
Posted in
Acne,
Beauty,
hair,
Influenster,
skin care
I was fortunate enough to receive the Wellness Voxbox recently from Influenster. Interesting box!
Well, all except for the Attitude body wash....
Nonetheless I am grateful for the products I received.
Here are some reviews for the products!!!
1) Olay Active Botanicals Refreshing Gel Cleanser: This product smells super nice and glides on very well onto my face. Use of it for 1 week did not break out my skin and I'm glad that, like other Olay products, this one lives up to the famous name Olay is known for in its quality.
2) Attitude Living Body Wash/Shampoo: I didn't find that this product did much for my hair or body. Unfortunately, it wouldn't get off the dirt/grime I had at the end of the day (I work in a hospital/clinic and have gotten splattered with all sorts of things, unfortunately). I ended up having to use a second body wash as well. However, the shampoo worked very well for my fiancee's hair so I think it works on different hair types.
3) Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer with Monoi Oil - this product is da bomb. Super moisturizing, smells amazing, and keeps my skin supple and nice during and after nighttime shower status-post application. Would definitely repurchase.
4) My Urgent Rx Aspirin pain relief - Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have not had to try this product yet, but I look forward to using it the next time I get a headache. Which I probably anticipate one soon.
5) Colgate mouthwash - kind of drying but very cleansing of an after-feeling. I use mouthwash every night and I also like this product's size - perfect for traveling if you're going to be taking a large bag check-on as well. Will repurchase.
Bottom line, I'm really grateful that Influenster sent me these products for review, and I'm happy I discovered some new products that will be awesome for future use :)
Christmas Wish List 2014 (Dream on...)
I'll probably not be able to receive any of these. I don't expect any of them. I also am too broke to buy anything here. It's okay. It's a distant dream, perhaps for the future =D
Note to all reading this: Please DO NOT buy these for me! Feel free to buy for yourself, but they are waaayyy too expensive and although they are good products, they are way out of my price range and also are luxuries, not needs, for me.
Note to all reading this: Please DO NOT buy these for me! Feel free to buy for yourself, but they are waaayyy too expensive and although they are good products, they are way out of my price range and also are luxuries, not needs, for me.
On oily hair and haircuts
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Monday, December 1, 2014 /
Posted in
hair
So recently, I chopped off about a foot of my hair.
Why??!?!?
Well, basically, I cut my hair about once or twice a year. Twice at most. Every time, the haircut is about the same: lots of layers, short side-swept bangs, curled in, thinned out, etc. I usually get it done when I feel like my head is "too heavy" and I start to get headaches - probably honestly from studying and staring at the computer too long, but hair /is/ a confounding factor, so whatever ;)
Anyway, this time, I got my hair cut really short. Probably the shortest since the fifth grade.
Anyway, needless to say, I actually really like my haircut. But afterward, I noticed a few problems. I had to change the way I washed and dried my hair....
Bottom line, I'd say my haircare routine is easier, and I'm super happy with it. It's easy to work with and I don't worry about much, except when I really want my hair down.
Why??!?!?
Well, basically, I cut my hair about once or twice a year. Twice at most. Every time, the haircut is about the same: lots of layers, short side-swept bangs, curled in, thinned out, etc. I usually get it done when I feel like my head is "too heavy" and I start to get headaches - probably honestly from studying and staring at the computer too long, but hair /is/ a confounding factor, so whatever ;)
Anyway, this time, I got my hair cut really short. Probably the shortest since the fifth grade.
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| Right out of the hair salon. |
- Oiliness - I noticed that my hair started getting much oilier than before. This is probably because despite shampooing, the sebum travels down my hair a lot faster than before, and now that it doesn't have to travel down as far for the sebum to reach the tips, the result is hair getting oily a lot quicker.
- No more hair serums - beforehand, I used to put hair serum on my ends because they were so dry and "splitty." Now, it's the opposite. If I put any hair serum at all, the hair becomes much more oily and gross the next day.
- Back to the hair iron - My hair now looks like a "square" every morning, so I have to painfully iron it all into place. That is, unless I just put it into a half-ponytail and forget about it.
- Less shampoo and conditioner - that's a money-saver, at least.
Bottom line, I'd say my haircare routine is easier, and I'm super happy with it. It's easy to work with and I don't worry about much, except when I really want my hair down.
DIY Hair Ties
Ribbon hair ties are now all the rage. They have replaced hair bands as the next "cool ponytail thing". They are cool because they not only are stylish, but they also tie hair up without kinking it.
They are also super expensive, however, When I went on Sephora's website the other day, I found that the cheapest ones were sold at $9 for a pack of 8. That's $1.125 for each hair tie. Ridonculous.
I then thought, "why not let this be the next DIY project?"
Thus, adapting from instructions from The Spohrs Are Multiplying, I bought some 5/8'' fold over elastic on Etsy and went into action.
The elastics were a grab-bag of colors, all 1 yard long. I divided each elastic into 4 even pieces of about 9 inches in length. Then I folded each nine-inch piece in half and tied off the end.
I bought a package of 40 yards of elastic for $10. Adding shipping cost me only $13.95. 40 yards yields 160 hair ties. That's about 10 cents for each hair tie. Sephora came out with a 1254.48% mark-up!!!
I'm gonna give these to friends as little stocking stuffers and other gifts. I think it'll be fun combining different colors. Such a cute, fun DIY that's also super affordable, and saves your gal pals' $$ as well!
They are also super expensive, however, When I went on Sephora's website the other day, I found that the cheapest ones were sold at $9 for a pack of 8. That's $1.125 for each hair tie. Ridonculous.
I then thought, "why not let this be the next DIY project?"
Thus, adapting from instructions from The Spohrs Are Multiplying, I bought some 5/8'' fold over elastic on Etsy and went into action.
The package of elastics
The elastics were a grab-bag of colors, all 1 yard long. I divided each elastic into 4 even pieces of about 9 inches in length. Then I folded each nine-inch piece in half and tied off the end.
Voila! Beautiful hair ties!
I bought a package of 40 yards of elastic for $10. Adding shipping cost me only $13.95. 40 yards yields 160 hair ties. That's about 10 cents for each hair tie. Sephora came out with a 1254.48% mark-up!!!
I'm gonna give these to friends as little stocking stuffers and other gifts. I think it'll be fun combining different colors. Such a cute, fun DIY that's also super affordable, and saves your gal pals' $$ as well!
My HG Products + Approximate prices
Skincare:
Make-up:
Tools:
Miscellaneous:
Body:
- Facial Scrub: DIY Aspirin facial mask w/ witch hazel [$1 for 100 Aspirin tablets and $4 of 16 oz of witch hazel]
- Facial Cleanser: Neutrogena Acne Wash w/ 2% Salicylic Acid [$6 for 6 oz]
- Toner: Witch hazel [$4 for 16 oz]
- Face mask: Queen Helene Mint Julep ($4 for 6 oz)
- Retinol Product: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream (Night) [$15 for 1.4 oz]
- Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sunscreen for Face, SPF 30+ [$15 for 5 oz]
Make-up:
- Foundation: None (don't use)
- BB Cream: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++, No 23 [$30 for 50 ml, approx 1.7 fl oz]
- Tinted Moisturizer: Shiseido Urban Environment in Light, SPF 43 [$30 for 1 oz]
- Concealer: Maybelline Dream Mousse in Cream, 4-5 (discontinued) [$6 for a small jar, which lasts me ~2 years, bought on Amazon]
- Face Primer: None (don't use)
- Blush: None (don't use)
- Bronzer: None (don't use)
- Highlight: None (don't use)
- Eye primer: DIY 1:1 of Body butter : Concealer [$7.50 for 8 oz body butter, concealer ranges for about $6 for 1 oz]
- Eyeliner (pencil): Urban Decay 24/7 Liners (any color, preferrably Dark Brown or Black - Perversion) [$18 per pencil]
- Eyeliner (liquid): Be a Bombshell (felt-tip pen) + MakeUp Forever Aqua Liners [$18 and $24, respectively]
- Eyeliner (for waterline): Urban Decay 24/7 Liners in Dime and Baked [$18 each]
- Mascara: Still searching for that HG mascara
- Eyebrow Product: Wet N' Wild ColorIcon Eyeliner + Brow Liner in Dark Brown [$1 for 7'' liner]
- Eyeshadow: None (still searching)
- Lip Balm: ChapStick Lip Shield 365, SPF 50+ [$1.50 for 0.15 oz]
- Lip gloss: Clinique Pure Pops [$18-20 per tube]
Tools:
- Brush Cleaner: Tresemme Shampoo (Moisture Rich) [$4 for 32 oz]
- Nail File: None (I don't use them?)
- Eyelash curler: ELF Mechanical Eyelash curler [$1, lasts about 1 year worth of use]
- Tweezers: ELF Stainless steel tweezers [$1 each]
Miscellaneous:
- Makeup Towelettes: None (don't use them)
- Makeup Remover: DIY 1:1 Olive oil : Witch hazel [Olive oil is $10 for 1 gallon at Costco, and Witch hazel is $4 for 16 oz at any drugstore]
- Nail Polish Remover: Target Nail Polish Remover [$4 for 16 oz]
- Base Coat and Top Coat: L'oreal Base + Top Coat (Clear) [$6 per bottle]
- At-Home Hair Color: None (don't use)
- Hand Cream: Curel Anti-Itch Lotion [$8 for 8 oz]
- Cuticle Balm: Coconut oil [$6 for 16 oz]
- Shaving product: (Don't use them)
- Body wash: (Don't have a HG)
- Shampoo & Conditioner: L'oreal Sulfate-Free Shampoo + Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner [$6 for 8 oz and $4 for 32 oz, respectively]
- Body lotion: Olay Quenching Thirst Body Lotion [$8 for 16 oz]
Winter Skincare Suggestions
Some people have been wondering what I use during the winter to maintain healthy skin. Thus, here are some things that I use in general for winter care - not just on my skin but my hair and lips too!
Review: L'Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Restorative Masque
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| Source FTC: I bought this product with my own money. |
Here's another haircare product I've been fortunate enough to try. In a (perhaps futile) effort to preserve my hair and prevent split ends, I've been trying different deep conditioning products and leave-in additives. I was fortunate enough to happen upon this product during a sale at Target (I bought it for $4 instead of the normal $8.99 price).
Ingredients:
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Fragrance, Trideceth 6, Methylparaben, Benzophenone 3, Ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Citric Acid, FIL D34879 2
I basically just slathered this onto my hair after putting and rinsing out the shampoo in my hair.
Pros:
- Really conditioning and smoothing to the hair
- Nice, strong smell
- Detangles
- Vegan product - all vegan ingredients (cruelty-free anyone?)
Cons:
- Price: $8.99 on Online Drugstore for 5.1 fl oz
- Ran out quickly - only lasted for 3 weeks of use
Honestly, this product was interesting to try but it wasn't anything spectacular. There isn't much spectacular about the product itself, as apart from other such products. I don't think I'll repurchase this product though; I'll try others and seek out a truly amazing one.
Review: Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner
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| Source |
Ever since I over-shampooed my hair during college and started getting split ends, I've been searching for a solution that would help me grow out my hair while preventing those nasty little buggers. This lead me to a whole realm of haircare I had previously never sought out before - leave-in conditioners, hair serums, deep conditioners, hair masks, etc.
Thus, when I received a generous sample of this product, I was super delighted to try it.
Ingredients list:
-Prickly Pear Cactus Extract: Hydrates hair.
-Antioxidant Green Tea and Vitamin B5: Help protect hair and promote shine.
-Arnica Extract: Fights frizz.
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polyquaternium-59, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus) Tuna Flower Extract, Fragrance, Butylene Glycol, PVP, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
What was my experience? Well, I put it into my hair every night for 2 weeks. A two-week worth sample. Wow.
Pros:
Thus, when I received a generous sample of this product, I was super delighted to try it.
Ingredients list:
-Prickly Pear Cactus Extract: Hydrates hair.
-Antioxidant Green Tea and Vitamin B5: Help protect hair and promote shine.
-Arnica Extract: Fights frizz.
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polyquaternium-59, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus) Tuna Flower Extract, Fragrance, Butylene Glycol, PVP, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
What was my experience? Well, I put it into my hair every night for 2 weeks. A two-week worth sample. Wow.
Pros:
- A little goes a long way!
- Great extracts and ingredients' incorporations
- Really light
- Didn't make my hair feel greasy
- Made my hair feel really soft, silky
- Helped deter split ends
Con:
- Price: $23 for 8.5 fl oz at Sephora
Honestly, even for the price, I think it is a good product as it doesn't make my hair super greasy like other other hair serums I've tried. However, it is a pricey product.
Review: Wen By Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner in Sweet Almond Mint
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| Photo source FTC: I bought this product from a MyGlam bag purchase. I am not paid to do a review on it. |
Source: Got from MyGlam glam bag a long time ago (sample size, 2 oz).
This is supposed to be a "Cleansing Conditioner" -aka taking the place of a shampoo and a conditioner.
Ingredients list (from Sephora):
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Menthol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal.C960
There have been lots of rave reviews made on this product. People like it because it doesn't have parabens, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, triclosan, and sulfates. This is because of the hyped "natural" movement - the thought that organic, non-GMO, un-adulterated products are better.
Overall? Not really worth it. My opinion is, that this product is overhyped.
This is supposed to be a "Cleansing Conditioner" -aka taking the place of a shampoo and a conditioner.
Ingredients list (from Sephora):
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Menthol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal.C960
There have been lots of rave reviews made on this product. People like it because it doesn't have parabens, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, triclosan, and sulfates. This is because of the hyped "natural" movement - the thought that organic, non-GMO, un-adulterated products are better.
Overall? Not really worth it. My opinion is, that this product is overhyped.
When I first used this product, I realized I needed a lot of this product in order to cover all of my hair (which has grown pretty long by now). It's as much conditioner as I use on a daily basis.
Pros:
Smelled nice
Good ingredients (sulfate-free, paraben free, etc)
Cons:
Made my hair all oily
Really expensive ($32 for 16 oz)
Kind of frizzed up my hair
Kind of frizzed up my hair
Overall, I think that it is a product that doesn't work for me, since it doesn't really "clean" my hair, despite the name of the product. I think that it is really better to use a shampoo and a conditioner, which serve different functions separately. Plus, this is super expensive (Price on Sephora is crazy, $32 for 16 oz). I could get Tresemme conditioner (which works better, esp for co-washes) at $4 for 32 oz. Thus that's 16X more expensive!! I could get basically 3 years' worth of conditioner in Tresemme conditioners for perhaps 2-3 months' worth of Wen conditioner.
Bottom line? I will not purchase the full-size product.
Review: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
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| Source FTC: I received this product as a gift from a dear friend. I am not compensated for any reviews. |
I normally don't review hair care products, but I figured this product was quite special so I decided that it was totally worth its own post.
A few months ago, one of my closest friends told me his hair stylist (well, rather, the person who gives him haircuts 2x/year) recommended this product to him, and he found it to be a great product. I thought... "whattt???" Well, the thing is, my friend really likes to keep his self-care routine as simple as possible, and for a moment, I pigeon-holed him as one of those men who doesn't do much for self-care apart from the bare minimum... and that this was quite the exception. And then I thought, "I spend $3 for shampoo, whereas you got a $16 shampoo (for half the size I get, Tresemme Shampoo). What is going on?"
Well... sometime a few months later, I received a surprise care package in the mail... and one of the things inside was this!
I've used this product for awhile and thus, I decided to review it, both out of curiosity as well as courtesy to high-end shampoos.
According to Drugstore.com, here are the ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Oleamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Oil (Peppermint), Melaleuca Altemifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil (Tea Tree), Linoleamide DEA, Cocamide DEA, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone, Hedychium Coronarium Extract (White Ginger), PEG 12 Dimethicone, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone/Algae Extract, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract (Henna), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract (Jojoba), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract (Rosemary), PEG 12 Dimethicone, Lavandula Angustifola Oil (Lavendar), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil (Wheat), Panthenol, Glycol Stearate, Polyquaternium 7, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG 150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Limonene, Citric Acid, Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090) (CI 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)
An initial alarm came up in my head: sodium lauryl sulfate, a detergent usually added to cleansing products for its "bubbling" effects. Despite the fact that it is a FDA-approved ingredient, it is known for its abrasive nature on the body. Uh-oh. I was especially concerned about it because SLS was listed as the second ingredient in the ingredients list, which was alarming because ingredient lists are listed in order of concentration (first ingredient has the highest percentage by volume of the total product, second ingredient has the second highest percentage, etc). What was I doing?
On the other hand, there are many other special ingredients that are in this product that I haven't seen in many other shampoo products. peppermint oil, tea tree oil (a disinfecting agent), jojoba and lavender oils, as well as others (more common) such as aloe vera extract, protecting dimethicone, a bunch of colorings, EDTA, and preservatives. Interesting.
Well, even though this was the case, I decided to try it anyway because of the rave reviews from my friend and his hair stylist.
What did I think?
- Very cleansing - got rid of a bunch gunk in my hair, stripping the sebum and other accumulated products without problem
- Smelled very disinfecting - the tea tree oil was very prominent
Cons:
- The tea tree oil was extremely powerful and burned my eyes when I put it on my hair on the top of my forehead.
- Made me break out along my hairline (although this may have also been because I was using this product during high-stress times with exam seasons, even though everything else in my routine was kept ibid.)
- Price - seriously, $24 for 16.9 fl oz? (My friend bought it at $16 for 16.9 fl oz though) I know it's a high-end shampoo, but I think that some may feel that the special ingredients are worth the price, while others don't.
Bottom line, I think this is a good shampoo for those who really want to disinfect their hair. As for me, a simple shampoo with nourishing ingredients without SLS is sufficient. As a poor med student, this was an interesting sensation to try, but I don't think I'll be purchasing this for myself anytime in the near future.
My night routine (requested)
One of my friends requested that I do a "Night Routine" post - namely, all of the products I use to prepare for the night, before bed. All righty, so here we go!
Note: These products are what I use nightly as of this post. I sometimes change up products depending if I'm testing something or otherwise. This post includes both my face and body routine (namely, my entire shower routine)
1. Remove eye make-up: Typical cotton rounds + 1:1 olive oil:witch hazel. Cotton rounds = $2.50 for 100 pack, while olive oil is $5 for 25 fl oz (generic brand) and witch hazel is $3 for 16 fl oz.
Now into the shower I go!
2. Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Shampoo - this has been the same shampoo I've used for quite awhile now. It's cheap and effective. I'm hoping to start using one soon that doesn't have SLS or SLES in it, though. This is a very cheap shampoo - $3 for 32 fl oz.
3. Nature's Gate Papaya Body Wash - Papaya is a very good desquamator/exfoliant and naturally lightens the skin. I really enjoy this body wash, even though it is a bit pricey, at least according to drugstore standards ($7 for 18 fl oz)
4. Missha Near Skin Extra Renew Cleansing Foam - this is one of the first Asian skincare/cosmetic products I have purchased in full-size (other than the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream). So far I have really liked it. Its original price is $18 for 150 ml (approximately 5 fl oz) but I bought it 50% off for $9. Thus, the price is a bit steep but I thought it would be worth the try. It has proven so far to be pretty good, and I'm pretty pleased with it. It's awesome for sensitive and sensitized skin types!
5. Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Conditioner - this is also a very budget-friendly conditioner that actually works very well. It costs $3 for 32 fl oz. Quite nice.
6. Brush teeth - I like to brush my teeth in the shower while I let the conditioner sit in my hair. This way I can "deep condition" the hair better and let the conditioner sink further into the hair. Toothpaste is whatever type of Crest or Colgate I can get my hands on, and toothbrush is whatever Oral-B or whatever I like. Prices are drugstore-variable.
7. Floss - Flossing is a very important part of dental hygiene. I really recommend the Oral-B Glide Floss - I've tried so many kinds over the years and so far this has proven to be the best. Sells for $7 for a two-pack at Drugstore.com.
8. Mouthwash - I like Listerine a lot. Prices vary depending on if you go to the drugstore vs. supermarket vs. Costco/Sams.
9. Earth Therapeutics Foot Scrub - I actually use this product to desquamate my underarm areas in order to get rid of dead skin cells. This prevents ingrown hairs. Ironic how a foot scrub is used for this, huh? Lolz. $7 for 4 fl oz.
And now, out of the shower I come!
10. Nature's Gate Deodorant in Autumn Breeze w/ Witch Hazel - I like this natural deodorant because it doesn't have aluminum in its ingredients (which has been controversial in its effects on breast cancer). I also like the fact that it makes me feel clean because it has witch hazel. $6 per stick.
11. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream - I've been using this retinol every night for a few months now. While it is a relatively expensive facial product for a drugstore product, it is relatively affordable as a retinol, and has proven very helpful with smoothing out my skin and promoting skin turnover. I bought mine for $13 on Ebay.
12. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - I actually use this product as an eye cream. Ironic huh? In reality, I've found that it works just as well as some of the eye creams I've used, and it doesn't make me break out. Plus, it's perhaps 50X cheaper than some eye creams that work to the same ability. Lolz. I bought 2-pack of the full-sized product (two 18 fl oz bottles, aka 36 fl oz in total) for about $15 at Costco. Super affordable.
13. Body lotion - Curel Intensive Healing - lately my skin has become pretty dry, and my arms and legs are no exception. I'm currently trying out several Curel lotions due to their touted effects of being very effective and hypoallergenic to many skin types. In my opinion, this brand is very comparable to Eucerin and equally (if not more) affordable. The only thing I don't like about this product is that it is in jar packaging (more likely to get bacterial contaminants in) but I guess this is the one downside I've found so far. I believe it's sold for slightly under $10 for a large jar (16 fl oz) at any drugstore.
14. Hair serum - Bioinfusion Critical Hair Serum - I've used this product for a couple of months now and it's really helped me preserve my hair's health and helped prevent split ends. Yay!
15. Dermstore Lip Quench Lip Treatment - I recently finished my C.O. Bigelow Lip Cream from Bath & Body Works, so this is the next product in that I found to replace it. This product is much thicker than the BBW lip cream, but it still works very effectively and definitely is incredibly moisturizing.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my night time routine! Yes, very long and very many products, but it's helped me (1) establish good hygiene habits and (2) preserve the health of my skin, teeth, and hair. Yep yep!
Note: These products are what I use nightly as of this post. I sometimes change up products depending if I'm testing something or otherwise. This post includes both my face and body routine (namely, my entire shower routine)
1. Remove eye make-up: Typical cotton rounds + 1:1 olive oil:witch hazel. Cotton rounds = $2.50 for 100 pack, while olive oil is $5 for 25 fl oz (generic brand) and witch hazel is $3 for 16 fl oz.
Now into the shower I go!
2. Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Shampoo - this has been the same shampoo I've used for quite awhile now. It's cheap and effective. I'm hoping to start using one soon that doesn't have SLS or SLES in it, though. This is a very cheap shampoo - $3 for 32 fl oz.
3. Nature's Gate Papaya Body Wash - Papaya is a very good desquamator/exfoliant and naturally lightens the skin. I really enjoy this body wash, even though it is a bit pricey, at least according to drugstore standards ($7 for 18 fl oz)
4. Missha Near Skin Extra Renew Cleansing Foam - this is one of the first Asian skincare/cosmetic products I have purchased in full-size (other than the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream). So far I have really liked it. Its original price is $18 for 150 ml (approximately 5 fl oz) but I bought it 50% off for $9. Thus, the price is a bit steep but I thought it would be worth the try. It has proven so far to be pretty good, and I'm pretty pleased with it. It's awesome for sensitive and sensitized skin types!
5. Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Conditioner - this is also a very budget-friendly conditioner that actually works very well. It costs $3 for 32 fl oz. Quite nice.
6. Brush teeth - I like to brush my teeth in the shower while I let the conditioner sit in my hair. This way I can "deep condition" the hair better and let the conditioner sink further into the hair. Toothpaste is whatever type of Crest or Colgate I can get my hands on, and toothbrush is whatever Oral-B or whatever I like. Prices are drugstore-variable.
7. Floss - Flossing is a very important part of dental hygiene. I really recommend the Oral-B Glide Floss - I've tried so many kinds over the years and so far this has proven to be the best. Sells for $7 for a two-pack at Drugstore.com.
8. Mouthwash - I like Listerine a lot. Prices vary depending on if you go to the drugstore vs. supermarket vs. Costco/Sams.
9. Earth Therapeutics Foot Scrub - I actually use this product to desquamate my underarm areas in order to get rid of dead skin cells. This prevents ingrown hairs. Ironic how a foot scrub is used for this, huh? Lolz. $7 for 4 fl oz.
And now, out of the shower I come!
10. Nature's Gate Deodorant in Autumn Breeze w/ Witch Hazel - I like this natural deodorant because it doesn't have aluminum in its ingredients (which has been controversial in its effects on breast cancer). I also like the fact that it makes me feel clean because it has witch hazel. $6 per stick.
11. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream - I've been using this retinol every night for a few months now. While it is a relatively expensive facial product for a drugstore product, it is relatively affordable as a retinol, and has proven very helpful with smoothing out my skin and promoting skin turnover. I bought mine for $13 on Ebay.
12. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - I actually use this product as an eye cream. Ironic huh? In reality, I've found that it works just as well as some of the eye creams I've used, and it doesn't make me break out. Plus, it's perhaps 50X cheaper than some eye creams that work to the same ability. Lolz. I bought 2-pack of the full-sized product (two 18 fl oz bottles, aka 36 fl oz in total) for about $15 at Costco. Super affordable.
13. Body lotion - Curel Intensive Healing - lately my skin has become pretty dry, and my arms and legs are no exception. I'm currently trying out several Curel lotions due to their touted effects of being very effective and hypoallergenic to many skin types. In my opinion, this brand is very comparable to Eucerin and equally (if not more) affordable. The only thing I don't like about this product is that it is in jar packaging (more likely to get bacterial contaminants in) but I guess this is the one downside I've found so far. I believe it's sold for slightly under $10 for a large jar (16 fl oz) at any drugstore.
14. Hair serum - Bioinfusion Critical Hair Serum - I've used this product for a couple of months now and it's really helped me preserve my hair's health and helped prevent split ends. Yay!
15. Dermstore Lip Quench Lip Treatment - I recently finished my C.O. Bigelow Lip Cream from Bath & Body Works, so this is the next product in that I found to replace it. This product is much thicker than the BBW lip cream, but it still works very effectively and definitely is incredibly moisturizing.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my night time routine! Yes, very long and very many products, but it's helped me (1) establish good hygiene habits and (2) preserve the health of my skin, teeth, and hair. Yep yep!
