January Favorites, Current Loves, and Not so Current Loves

January Favorites, Current Loves, and Not so Current Loves

It just occurred to me that some of my favorite you tube videos to watch and blogs to read are current loves, monthly favorites, and finally hearing bloggers talk trash on products that suck. WHY IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO DO THESE, I WILL NEVER KNOW.

Let's get down to business.

(To defeat the huns.)

Jan Fav's and Current Loves

L'Bri- Rejuvenating Facial Peel

I don't know what kind of crazy scientific lab this came from but I am eternally grateful. Here's the deal with my skin- on a normal everyday basis it is dry and peels. I DON'T KNOW WHY EXACTLY other than I know I have dry dehydrated skin and no matter how much water I drink it doesn't seem to change a whole lot. Other than the summer time (for which my skin becomes normal but acne prone), my skin just looks like a snake shedding it's skin. GROSS, YOU'RE WELCOME.

So when it comes to exfoliating the dead skin off, not a lot of things work for me. Mechanical exfoliants (IE scrubs you have to actually scrub in) usually are too irritating or scratchy and end up doing more damage than anything. Chemical exfoliants tend to help a lot but I am generally pretty wary of the peels they do in say, doctors offices and such. THOSE ARE A LITTLE MUCH. So L'Bri made a pretty interesting product- you spread a thin layer over your clean and dry face (avoiding your eyes, c'mon, use your common sense), wait about 20-30 seconds, and then with dry hands start to rub your face in small circles (like you would with a normal scrub). THIS STUFF LITERALLY SHEDS THE SKIN FOR YOU. The dead skin starts to ball up and then you rinse it off with water the flakiness is gone. As scary as it sounds though, it's incredibly gentle and doesn't leave your face totally red and irritated. 

(As an FYI, L'Bri is a really cool company and you can buy samples of their skin sets to try out without shelling out big bucks. I have yet to not like anything I've tried.)

Dior- Rouge Dior Couture Colour Voluptuous Care Lipstick in Prune Daisy

I hate when companies give lipsticks some crazy long names.

Rant aside, this favorite kind of snuck up on me towards the end of the month here. I can't believe how flattering this color is. I'm beginning to wonder if the formula color is cool and the shimmer is warm to create a neutral because every person that's tried this seems to look amazing in it. 

And as for the formula itself- it's really nice. It's incredibly comfortable and it pretty much stays put. I will say though, it's not long-wearing- like it's not gonna get you through a burger, don't be getting ideas.

However, I will say this about it- when it wears off- IT ALL WEARS OFF. Every time I wore this lippie, I've never noticed like a darker ring to the outside of the lip, or that it only wore off in the center. It kind of all comes off about the same time. This actually works as a pro for me. I hate the ring of lipliner or lipstick without the center filled in. I hate it a lot. So when this wore down and actually looked like a lip stain- I was very excited. (Plus I paid good money for this, it better look nice all the time. The end.)

Dior- Addict eau de parfum

I can't even. I can't. 

This is like the nicest perfume I've ever owned. I get complements about it every time I wear it and generally people can't get enough of it. I can't explain what is is. I think it's just that the scent is such a strange mix and no one really owns it so it smells new and exciting.

I know this is one of the pricier perfumes on the market, but I'm telling you- I am a Dior convert. I think it's worth the price tag. 

Hot Tools- Professional 20 piece hot rollers

What kind of chump am I? Seriously? I have been slaving over my head with a curling iron for years and it never occurred to me to buy and use a hot roller set. 

My mom actually has the same version of this set from the 80's or 90's that still works as an FYI.

Now I know a lot of you are looking at this like it's some kind of artifact I found in a museum. Yes, it has no velvet or velour and the clips are just those little prongs- but honestly those hot rollers have never worked on me or anyone else I've used them on. The velvet has no grip and they slide off pretty easily and the big claw clips leave huge dents. They are just tough to work with and frankly- ain't nobody got time for that.

I love that these grip onto the hair and I actually like having the mix of sizes because it creates a more natural look. Plus, I have some wiggle room in terms of styling. Do I want tighter curls? Do I want waves?

I just have more options with this. And I found them online for like 30 bucks, so not a bad deal.

Plus, oh man, how nice is it to set your whole head in like 10 minutes and then walk away AND DO SOMETHING ELSE. All I have to do at the end is shake them out. I can't even... I'm an idiot for not using these on myself sooner.

Paul Mitchell- Awapuhi Wild Ginger Keratin Intensive Treatment

Ok, so, I'm officially back to blonde. With the intense amount of lightening I've been doing, I've been really strict about my hair products lately. I normally use my Awapuhi Shampoo and Conditioner and then every 2 or 3 washes I switch it up with a clarifying shampoo to make sure I remove the keratin buildup.

ANYWAY, I remembered I had this after my It's a 10 hair mask ran out and frankly, I kind of forgot how nice it is. You apply it all over your hair about once a week and it has to sit on the hair 3-5 minutes. (Really by the time you wash, shave your legs, etc, you're good to go). If you want something more intense though, I've applied this all over and then wrapped it up in a shower cap and left it on while I made coffee, or checked emails and whatever. I think I rinsed it out about 15 minutes after I applied it and it made my hair sooooooooooo soft. I can't even begin to say how nice it felt- especially after abusing my hair with lightener.

The whole Awapuhi line is pretty great and as most of you know I love the styling products- but just be sure to use a clarifying shampoo here and there to start fresh- otherwise you'll end up with a keratin buildup and your hair can start snapping. (Been there, done that).

Just Getting my Nails Done

I don't know what really prompted it but I really just needed pampering for myself. A lot of people comment on it, asking if I did it myself.

No. 

Not in a million years.

First of all, acrylic is hard enough for me with my dominant hand but my left hand is close to completely useless. There's no way I could do it myself. 

And look, I know I could paint my own nails. I agree that I'm spending money on something I could do myself.

But do chefs stop going out to eat just because they became a chef?

No. 

And honestly, it's just nice to have someone else take care of something for you.

Plus, I get to hang out with my friend Kristine and gossip and generally act dumb. IT'S FUN FOR ME.

31 Bags

I can't believe how much I've used these in the past month of so. I feel like I've been living out of them. They came with me to Disneyland, F airfield, Napa, sleepovers, parties, just using them to organize my purse....

They are so handy and I never thought I'd use them that often. I pretty much thought it would be a travel only thing but they're just handy in general. 

Especially for stuff like when your mom calls you for a manicure and you need something to stash all your polishes in.

I'm glad my mom thought you get them in a few different sizes because I've pretty much used every single size at some point.

Not so Current Loves

I haven't really encountered a lot of products I didn't like this month, but there are a few things I genuinely hate at the moment.

Studying for State Board

If I have to look at that test book one more time, I might actually go crazy and start storming the neighborhood with a doll head in each hand.

I can't even, you guys.

But I really don't have much longer to wait, thank God. I don't want everyone to know the date but suffice it to say, I'll be working in February.

People who are so into things to a point that it makes everyone else go crazy

Football fans, girls who believe in astrology, people who post inspirational poster after poster, and generally anyone else who becomes obsessive over something insignificant.

I do not need you spitting out hateful words or cluttering up my facebook feed with your crazy. I do not care about how slutty you are but "It's ok, I'm a Virgo! It explains EVERYTHING". And I do not care how anyone else is a pansy because they don't like the 49-ers but when your team loses you say HORRIBLE things instead of admitting that every team has an off game. 

And so help me, if I see one more picture of a sunset with a quote like, "Everyone comes with baggage- find someone to help you unpack", I'm going to delete EVERYONE and I will enjoy facebook with the other people who post pictures of My Little Pony and comment on each other's pictures saying supportive things like, "Hey bro! I love this picture. I miss you! We should hang out next Thursday."

Because you know what? I am free next Thursday, and I do want to hang out.

-SamanthaK