Perks of Sephora Rewards

I've mentioned before that I love the rewards program at Sephora (HERE). A couple times a year they offer some AWESOME makeup bags filled with 8 different samples. Here's my latest reward:

This package introduced me to my new masacara favorite, Blinc. It's a tubing mascara which means that each lash has a tube around it giving extra length and volume without smudging or flaking off. It really is fantastic. Read more about tubing mascara here.

And guess what? It's already time for another one of these awesome makeup bags! I get to choose one of three with my next purchase. Which would you choose? Is there a product you've been wanting to try? Let me know!

 

Mascara Tips & Favorites

The golden rule with mascara is that you're suppose to replace it every 3 months (read more HERE). That's sometimes a hard pill to swallow when you've paid $20+ on a tube. If it's empty it is easy to toss it. My problem is I never seem to run out because the tube doesn't get empty! Here's my solution to using high-end mascara and feeling OK about throwing it out upon expiration: get the TRIAL SIZED MASCARA. Why?

1. You can get trial or sample sized mascaras for FREE. If you're a beauty rewards member at Sephora, Ulta, or Birchbox you can usually score these puppies as a free gift or in a bonus. If not, you can buy a smaller size, like this They're Real! mascara from Sephora for $10.

2. There's nothing quite like a fresh tube of mascara. It glides on your lashes super smooth and looks phenomenal the first couple weeks. Knowing that you got the mascara for free (or cheap) makes it easy to change it up every couple months.

3. My mascara favorites change constantly. Using the smaller sized tubes gives me an opportunity to try out different brands to see which I like best. There is a great sample pack from Sephora that gives you 10 trial sized mascaras, plus a certificate to redeem a full-sized tube of your favorite. The downside: it's only available during certain times of the year, usually winter.

FINAL TIPS.
Don't pump the wand into the tube. This makes the mascara dry out faster. Changing it out every 3 months also helps you to avoid bacteria that can build up with prolonged use. After using it for a while it starts to dry out and clump, which doesn't help anyone's lashes look good. My current mascara favorites are Makeup Forever's Smoky Extravagant and Benefit's They're Real!.

Looking for an Eyelash Curler? Find out about my favorite HERE.

Bite Lip Lab

Bite is a Canadian cosmetics company specializing in all things lips. A while back I read about the Bite Lip Lab in NYC (here). Well, lucky me, I just had a vacation to the Empire State over Labor Day weekend and this was a stop on my "to-do" list! My friend Micah and I were lucky enough to squeeze in an appointment right before we left to come back home (a word of advice: make an appointment ahead of time).

There are a few steps in creating your custom color:
1. Tell them what you're looking for.
I was going for a pink shade with a hint of nude and a little shimmer. After about 3 different concoctions, we found the right shade!

2. Pick the scent.
There were a few to choose from, like vanilla, cherry, lavender, mint ... I went for citrus mango. Delicious!

3. Pick your lipstick tube.
They had 4 different lip containers to choose from- rounded, pointy, slanted. A small detail, but fun to pick out!

After those decisions are made, the science project begins. They combine the different shades to make your custom color into a cup and melt the colors together, then place the cup in a centrifuge to blend them evenly. Next, they pour the melted color into a mold and freeze it for about 5 minutes, then put the new lipstick into the tube. Voila! Pretty cool to watch the whole process in person. This was such a fun experience, I love my new shade, and the lipstick is super moisturizing. Definitely check it out if you happen to be in NYC!

Metallic Gold Pinstripe

I'm loving my Jamberry Nails! If you missed my first post about these nail wraps, read more HERE. 

My latest favorite is the Metallic Gold Pinstripe. This design is fun because it has a transparent background so you can show color underneath, or wear them on a plain nail. A word of warning: if you do add color, a high-end nail lacquer is a must for long-lasting wear. Jamberry sells a variety of lacquers in addition to 300+ designs for the wraps. 

A few other cool things about Jamberry Nail Wraps:

• You can design your own, unique wraps using the Nail Art Studio
• They have special wraps for little girls
• One $15 set will give you at least 2 manicures and 2 pedicures
• They have a Buy 3 Get 1 FREE sale going on right now
• These wraps last up to 2 weeks on fingers and 4+ weeks on toes

Questions? Comment below! To browse or shop, click this link. Here's to fun, pretty nails!

Birchbox!

Samples are like a fun sized candy bar. They're cute, but you aren't satisfied with just one. You have to eat the whole bag. Oh ... that's just me? Ahem.

Guys, I love this Birchbox thing. It helps me discover new products and fulfills my sample fix. Plus, who doesn't love travel sized stuff? Super convenient. And occasionally you get a full sized product in there, too! This month I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the +Supergoop! hand cream. In case you didn't know, your hands are the first thing to show signs of aging. SPF on your hands is a must for this reason (and a few others). And, it smells like a gentle fall breeze. Talk about perfect.

If you want to give Birchbox a whirl, use this link to check it out or sign up. Let me know how it goes!

6 Reasons I Chopped my Hair

After months of wishy-washy "chop it or keep it" internal debates, I finally took the plunge. I decided on a shoulder length cut this time, but who knows, I may get the courage to go G.I. Jane one of these days.

Some of the best advice I received when deciding to make a drastic hair change is to make a list of reasons WHY. That way, if you're having a day when you miss your long locks, you can refer to your list to remember why it was a good decision. Here's my list of reasons!

1. I was shedding like a dog. Woof.

2. It's summer. 114 degree temps + long hair don't mix. 

3. Long hair is a time commitment. My hair didn't look great unless I curled it every day.
4. Want to move your head when laying down? Sorry, think again. Your hair is stuck under your back.

5. I either needed to buy a new house, get a new job, move states, or cut my hair. Hair won. 

6. Because I wanted to! Change is good.

Jamberry Nail Wraps

Have you guys ever heard of Jamberry Nail Wraps? I just learned about them 3 weeks ago. THEY ARE AWESOME. I have a thing for new products and love having my nails done so I wanted to try them out. It's kind of like a shrink wrap for your nails, and there's no chipping! There are so many fun designs to choose from, it's hard to pick just one. I ordered two sets, put them on, and I'm sold!

Here's what you need to know:

• Vinyl adhesive nail wrap, heat activated
• Last for 2 weeks on your fingers, and 4+ weeks on your toes
• Better staying power than nail polish
• They don't damage your nails like acrylic, gel, or shellac
• $15 per set
• One set will do 2+ (or more!) full manicures and pedicures
• Tons of designs to choose from (click here to browse website)
• You can create your own custom nail wraps!

After some reading, research, asking questions, and watching YouTube tutorials, I decided to sign up as a consultant because 1) I want a discount on the wraps. 2) I already work full time and enjoy my job, but I have plenty of SAHM friends who might enjoy doing this as a side business.Why not share them with my friends and family (& earn some spending money)? My dentist, CEO, and some friends have asked about them!

If you'd like to browse the style options or order CLICK ON THIS LINK. Or, if you want to host an online party or ask questions about the consultant program email me at scratchnstef@gmail.com. Have you ever tried Jamberry Nail Wraps? What do you think? Do you have questions? Comment below!

Here's a video from my sponsor's blog and she explains a little more about Jamberry Nail wraps!

GLAMGLOW

Have you heard about GlamGlow? I learned about it over a year ago, but just recently tried it out. This stuff is great! It has only been on the market since 2011 and has already won tons of awards and recognition from a variety of beauty authorities like Elle, Cosmo, Sephora, and Neiman Marcus. It's a 10-minute face mask that makes your skin "camera ready" by tightening, toning, and drawing out impurities.

The mask itself is made with sea clay, volcanic rock, and green tea leaf. It definitely has a tingling, heating sensation that's slightly uncomfortable but well worth the results. The bad part? It's pricey. The 1.7 oz. jar retails for $69. Ouch. I purchased a sample jar from Sephora for $19 and will probably get about 4-5 masks out of it. I used the original Youthmud Tinglexfoliate mask, but there are others to choose from. Read more here. Let me know if you like it!

Picking a CC Cream

I haven't used liquid foundation as part of my skincare routine since 2009. Let me tell you, this was a welcome change for a few reasons: 1) Easy on the pocketbook. 2) Natural looking skin.  I moved away from heavy foundations to Bare Minerals original powder foundation and didn't look back. Well, not until last month.

During my makeover with Lindsey from the Painting You Pretty blog we had a little heart to heart about my skin. She helped me realize that my Bare Minerals powder foundation wasn't really helping me because I had dry skin. She suggested using a CC cream (Color Correcting) to give the powder something to hold onto, provide more coverage, give a little SPF, and moisutrize my thirsty skin. BB (Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm)  and CC creams are a great addition to my makeup routine and I've been very pleased with the results! It's not as heavy as liquid foundation and gives my skin a bit of a glow.

As far as CC creams go, I found this great post on +Sephora to help you pick out one that's best for your complexion needs (click here for list). Very helpful! I personally use the Sephora brand CC cream, but I've also tried Smashbox and it's GREAT.

Do you use a CC or BB cream? Do you like them? Tell me all about it in the comments below.

3 Barrel Curling Iron Styles

One of my favorite hair tools is my 3 barrel curling iron. I rely on it to give me the extra oomph I need for certain hairstyles, like braids. If you have medium length to long hair you should consider investing in one of these bad boys if you you want to add some variety to your hair routine.

The 3 barrels give your locks a nice wave, slightly reminiscent of the crimping style of the early '90's, but way classier. YouTube has tutorials on how to use the 3 barrel curling iron if you need some extra help figuring it out. It can be a little awkward to handle at first, but becomes easier with practice. Plus, if you're looking for just a few waves it's quick to use! It's a simple technique and gives a different look than a standard curling iron.

Purchase from Amazon here.

Birchbox: June & July

June and July didn't disappoint with my monthly Birchbox! You can't beat the value at $10/month for $25+ worth of products (and makes a great gift, btw)! I've run into a few duds along the way, but I've also found some great products I wouldn't want to live without like Stainiac and Davines shampoo. Aside from finding new favorites, getting free products isn't bad either (earn points for writing reviews and redeem for free products). Here's the link for more info.

Favorites from June:
Harvey Prince Hello purfume
Davines Love Shampoo/Conditioner

Favorites from July:
LAQA & Co. Lip Lube
Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

8 Products for Healthy, Shiny Hair

Here's a list of products I keep in my hair care arsenal to help my mane stay shiny, healthy, growing, and manageable. These work great for me, but experiment with different brands to see what you like best! Aside from these products, read my post about six hair habits (here) to keep your hair strong and healthy.

1. Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo. I've used this for years. First, because it's like $1.97. Score! Second, it's a good clarifying shampoo to use every couple weeks. Tip: Also use this to wash your face occasionally. I've been doing it for years with respectable results.

2. Davines OI Shampoo. Holy smells amazing! I was first introduced to Davines in my Birchbox. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Smooth, sleek, and awesome. It's not the cheapest, but it sure is nice.

3. Davines OI Conditioner. See number 2. Duos are best: Captain and Tenille, Salt and Pepper, Left and Right, Shampoo and Conditioner. 

4. Biosilk Silk Therapy. A friend gave me a sample of this stuff 5 years ago and I fell in love. The smell is wonderful and it smoothes my hair like nothing else. I've tried lots of "frizz ease" type products but this takes the cake. Tip: Only use it on the mid-end section of your hair, not on your scalp. And use sparingly, just a dime size amount.

5. Dove Dry Shampoo. I wash my hair about two-three times per week. For those of you with bangs, those probably need to be washed everyday, but the rest of your hair can manage to wait. This dry shampoo, or any dry shampoo, can work wonders with hair that is looking a little bleh. It's a spray powder that absorbs the excess oils. Try it out. It really does help! 

6. Creaseless Hair Ties. Better than regular elastics because they don't leave crimps in your hair (which helps with the less washing thing), are less likely to get stuck and pull hair out, and they double as a cute bracelet. Remember scrunchies in the early 90's? These are the latest not-so-in-your-face version of that hair accessory. 

7. Biotin. B complex vitamin that helps with hair, skin, and nails. This is a great supplement to go along with a healthy diet. I have noticed improvements with my nails and hair, but not so much with my skin. 

8. Prenatal Vitamins. The claims that prenatal vitamins grow hair and nails is unproven, but of all the products I use this has made the biggest difference in length. Some articles advise against these vitamins if you're not trying to get pregnant or if you aren't pregnant, but I say talk to your doctor for a second opinion rather than relying on the internet. 

Fresh Lips

Being a +Sephora Beauty Insider member has a ton of perks. (No, this post isn't sponsored by Sephora. They don't know me, but they should!) By racking up points on purchases you qualify for a variety of gifts, get a free birthday surprise, and they send you emails with free bonuses you can add on to your online order.

I stockpile Sephora's emails to keep track of all the great bonuses so that when I'm ready to place an order I remember my options of what to redeem (too bad you can only pick one). Just recently they offered a Fresh Sugar bonus that included 3 mini products: Sugar Shine Lip Treatment, Sugar Advanced Therapy, and Sugar Lip Polish. I already tried and love the Sugar Advanced Therapy balm (read original  review here), but the other two products are great as well! The Lip Polish is a nice scrub to exfoliate dryness and the Lip Shine isn't just a gloss, it moisturizes, too.

If you were to buy these products full-size, it would cost about $65. The mini samples I received were probably worth about $25 retail, but I received them FREE with an order of items I already needed to purchase. If you're not a rewards member at your beauty store you should seriously consider it. You could be missing out on some great swag!

Oil Pulling

If you haven't heard of oil pulling you may be hiding under a rock. It's getting quite a bit of attention over the last few years for its supposed health benefits including:

• Teeth Whitening
• Reduces plaque
• Prevents bad breath
• Increased overall oral health
• General Detoxification
• Clears Complexion
• Reduces Inflammation
• Etc, etc, etc

In a nutshell, oil pulling is swishing about 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (or other vegetable oil) in your mouth for 20 minutes per day to draw out toxins. The oil doubles in size from saliva and the "toxins" as you swish it around. I started oil pulling last week and do notice whiter and cleaner teeth overall, but the main reason I tried it out was to help get rid of my canker sores. They're healing faster than they would normally, but it's not a miracle worker overnight. I have noticed that they are less painful, which is a huge plus! If you're interested in oil pulling read more about it from some trusted sources in the links below.

Mercola.com link
US News & World Report Health link

Tips from a Celebrity Makeup Artist

I was the lucky winner of a makeover with Lindsey from the Painting You Pretty blog! She worked as a Celebrity Makeup Artist in Los Angeles with clients like Victoria Beckham and Amanda Bynes, and she now lives in the Phoenix area with her hubby and cute son Harvey. Learning tips and tricks from a true pro and not just a girl at the Sephora counter is worth its weight in gold, so I was all ears (and eyes) during my appointment.

Lindsey wrote about my makeover on her blog (here). Below are a few of my favorite tips she shared with me.

1. Eye Cream. "I don't care if you buy the cheapest one from Wal-Mart, just use an eye cream." She didn't ask, she just knew! I was like a kid caught with his mouth full of candy. The skin under my eyes were parched for moisture, and a little anti-aging action never hurt anyone. Lindsey will be happy to hear I purchased an eye cream today.

2. I was wearing the wrong foundation. I've been using Bare Minerals Original Foundation for years, but just recently switched to the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. The problem is, I have dry skin. What is the powder sticking to? Not much. I've switched now to a CC cream with a light dusting of powder to give my skin a finished look. Consider your skin type before choosing your foundation!

3. Wet your eyeshadow. I'm not too creative with my eyes, so I don't use much shadow. Lindsey taught me a few great tricks with my eyes and perhaps my favorite is getting the tip of the brush wet then getting some color from a dry shadow and apply it to the lower part of your lid. Amazing results! It applies like a cream this way and looks so pretty. (She suggested NYX shadows)

4. Shaping eyebrows. Wow. She did some amazing things with my brows. She outlined them to how they should look, and I've got some growing in to do and need to chill out on the plucking. She filled them in just right and used a brow gel. Seriously, get a pro to help with your brows. GAME.CHANGER.

5. Applying blush. OK, so like a dummy I've been going crazy with the blush. It took my appointment with Lindsey to help me realize I only need blush on the apples of my checks, not a long pink streak up the side of my face. She used a cream blush that was great, and I've been using Stainiac which I love. Either will wear much longer than a powder blush.

If you're in AZ and want to learn some great tricks from a pro, make an appointment with Lindsey! She personalizes her suggestions, is knowledgeable, sweet, and affordable.

Six Tips for Healthy Hair

Photo Credit: Averi Black 

I was fortunate enough to be blessed with lots of dark brown locks. It's not as thick and luxurious as it used to be, but I don't have much room to complain. As we age, hair doesn't stay naturally amazing. It takes some work to keep it looking great. Below are a six tips I adhere to that help keep my hair healthy.

ONE. Keep coloring your hair to a minimum. I don't dye my hair. I have in the past, but it's not a regular occurrence. I'd say my last dye job was 3 years ago. Overprocessing=bad. Natural=good.

TWO. Go easy on the amount of product you put in your hair. For example, I don't use much hairspray (if any). Let it go natural.

THREE. Heated tools should be used sparingly. They can strip your hair of essential oils. If you use a straightener or curling iron regularly, use a heat protector spray. I only use heated products (hair dryer, curling irons) about 3 times per week.

FOUR. Don't wash your hair everyday. This one took me a while to adjust to, but it's worth it. You save time, and your hair will be healthier in the long run. It's a win-win.

FIVE. Wash your hair with warm water since hot water stimulates sebum production and leads to greasy hair. Seal the hair cuticle with cool water.

SIX. Eat well. Protein, omega-3's, and fruits and veggies are good for your hair. Junk food is not. And it's not good for your body. Are you shocked? #dontbe

3 Ways to Remove Facial Hair

As a brunette I'm way too experienced with removing pesky peach fuzz from my face. Granted, blondes have it too, but it's typically not as noticeable. It starts to get expensive if you're going to the salon to have it taken care of professionally and sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands.

I've been waxing my eyebrows and 'stache at home for years. I purchased a waxing system, muslin strips, and applicators from +Sally Beauty Supply and they haven't failed me. Just recently I was introduced to the world of threading and (wait for it) shaving. Yes, shaving.

1. Waxing. As of today, this is the only method I've used to remove facial hair (aside from regular tweezing).

2. Threading. This method has been around for years, I have friends who rave about it, and I am ready to try it out ASAP!

3. Shaving. This video was eye opening (and made me laugh. This former Bachelorette contestant is slightly eccentric). Shaving? Are you serious? It's not the typical man shave and there are specialty razors for this very purpose.

Let me know! Have you tried any of these methods? What do you recommend? Comment below.

May Birchbox Review

Another month, another +Birchbox! This box was definitely summer themed. We're gearing up for 90 straight days of 100+ temps in Phoenix (heaven help us), so yes, I can use some sunscreen and lip balm. Thanks for helping a sista out BB.

ABOUT THE BOX: For those of you who haven't heard, Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends samples of products for $10/month ($20 for men). Fill out your profile so they get an idea of what you like, then patiently await your delivery. Earn points toward free products by referring friends and writing reviews. Easy, fun, and something to look forward to each month. Use this link to try it out.

Caudalie, Overnight Detox Oil. I grew up in humidity and rarely used lotions, but now I live in the desert and my skin gets PARCHED. Really, it's dying of thirst. I have used oils before and they're a nice change from heavy lotions. This one has a scent to it which I wasn't a fan of, but overall I was pleased with the results. If you want to try an oil I suggest Josie Maran Light Argan Oil. A little goes a long way.

Pixi, Shea Butter Lip Balm. I have a thing for lip balm (see here). Pixi has fun packaging and is a nice moisturizing choice. It's tinted and the shade I was sent is quite vibrant, but still works. I have plenty of lip balms on hand and I'm not quite convinced yet this is better than those.

Supergoop!, Everyday SPF 30. This sample size is handy-- love that. I typically use SPF 15, so I wasn't crazy about 30 but occasionally it's needed. As far as the sunscreen itself it has a subtle tea tree oil scent and isn't moisturizing but applies smooth and light. Not bad.

Whish, Shave Crave Shaving Cream. I don't use shave cream, but maybe I should. I just see it as another bathroom accessory where soap will get the job done. The scent here is lovely, but I noticed a waxy feeling after shaving my legs and I felt like the cream was clogging my razor. Not sold.

Lifestyle Extra
SmartyPants, All-in-One Gummy Vitamins. I could do without these. Package directions say to eat 6 per day. No thanks, I'll just swallow my single multivitamin and call it good. The taste is nice but it's overpriced. Skip it.

Overall, great value for $10 and glad I got to try out some new stuff. Keep 'em coming, Birchbox.

The Best Eyelash Curler

Since I first started wearing makeup I thought my lashes weren't capable of keeping a curl. I used a standard Revlon curler that I would heat up with my hair dryer to give my lashes a lift that only seemed to last 2-3 hours. I tried different mascaras to see if that would affect the staying power. It didn't. I determined the lack of lash lift was the world's way of dishing me bad karma. It was a real narcissistic problem of mine. I couldn't figure it out. I was on the hunt for the best eyelash curler.

I did a bit of research and stumbled upon the Shu Uemura. It's rated the #1 lash curler in many beauty reviews so I wanted to try it. I found it on Amazon for $14. It really doesn't look like anything special, and when I first used it I only noticed a slight difference in its handling compared to a cheap curler. The result: my lashes stay curled ALL DAY! Not just a couple hours. I was overcome with joy on this discovery. I've been using it for about two weeks now and I get the same results every day. I do curl my lashes before I apply mascara, and then again after (wipe it up after so it doesn't get the gunky buildup). But no more hair dryer heating required!

3 Ways to Enhance your Eyes

Recently I had a makeover at +Sephora. It was wonderful and I wish I could have someone do my makeup every day! But I'm an average Stef, so I'll keep doing it myself. Of all the products they used during the makeover, there are two I purchased that make a HUGE difference, and one technique that wowed me:


1. GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream by Origins. LOVE this stuff. It really does depuff the skin around the eyes and brightens the area up. I have a small brush that I apply the cream with which helps it last longer and not absorb into your fingertips. I only apply this in the morning when I'm looking pretty scary and this changes things around! One tip I was given was to keep it in the fridge, that way it has a cooling affect when it's applied. $30

2. Sephora Collection Retractable Brow Pencil. I have dark features, so I never really considered using an eyebrow pencil. I was quite pleased when I saw what a little bit of shading in can do! The pencil really fills in where there are some sparse areas and has a natural look when you use short strokes. It's retractable so it doesn't require sharpening, and it has a brush on the end -very handy! $13

Eyebrows with Sephora's Retractable Brow Pencil

P.S. This mascara is great, no clumping. It's "They're Real!" by Benefit. 

3. One last trick I really like is applying eyeliner to the upper inner rim of the lash line. Above the lashes on the lid is a little too heavy for my taste, and this is a nice solution to still add some depth but not make it too overwhelming. A soft liner works best, I prefer Covergirl's Liquiline Blast. It's still a pencil, but is soft and easy to apply.