Doing it Naturally

Over the years, I have tried everything out there from drugstore products to high-end department store products to synthetic drugs prescribed by dermatologists to treat my skin. Most of the products didn’t work. They were either too drying, too strong or just didn’t work. I spent a lot of money. I threw a lot of things away. I was frustrated. More than that, I was tired of slathering all of these chemical products on my skin day after day. Then I had a breakthrough, earlier this year, I found a local esthetician who sang the praises of Juice Beauty products. During my facial she used these products on my skin and sent me home with samples. I liked that the products were natural, did not have a heavy scent and most of all did not aggravate my extremely sensitive skin. I went online to the Juice Beauty website and looked up there products and purchased the Blemish clearing serum and the Cleansing gel. While the cleansing gel did not wow me, I really liked Blemish clearing serum. It seemed to add a little moisture to my skin and give me a glow. I have since started using the oil free moisturizer and I love the product. It is not heavy or greasy and melts right into my skin and gives my skin much needed moisture without making me have the oily feel or shine during the day. I purchased a bar of African Black Soap from Whole Foods and use it as my cleanser morning and night. The Black Soap is great for evening out your skin tone. Just know that the Black Soap can be a little irritating initially. I really recommend not allowing it to sit or dry on your face. Get a good lather, clean your face and rinse immediately and pat dry. I follow this with the Juice Beauty serum and Oil free Moisturizer.
I think I have finally after 24 years found something that works:) I have had really good results since I started using natural products to clean and treat my skin. I would recommend getting a Juice Beauty sampler kit to try out the products. I purchased mine from Sephora. Or I would also start with the Blemish clearing serum and see what cleansers/moisturizers interest you, since there are different formulas based on skin type. Good Luck on your natural skin care journey. You will feel great when you find products that work for your skin and you will feel even better that they are natural.
(note: FYI Authentic Black Soap will look like a brown rock or hunk of hardened oatmeal. It is not actually black some products you will find).
Disclaimer: Dn2erthgirl is in no way affiliated with the Juice Beauty Co. nor do I receive any kickbacks:) Above are my personal experiences and opinions.

Beauty Stocking Stuffers

Since I’ve been more nice than naughty
Here are a few products I would like to get in my stocking:

This stuff is wonderful!! It just smells like candy canes and is great to open up your nasal passages if you have a cold. Love this stuff and hate it only comes out once a year. Don’t leave Bath and Bodyworks without this.

I picked this up at Sephora and fell in love with this product. It is a cross between lipstick and lipgloss. It goes on smooth like gloss but looks like a sheer lipstick. I have this in Black Orchid and it is a perfect color for me. Love this product! I want to try some of the other shades.

I get so many compliments on this scent. I can’t really explain it but it almost smells unisex when I first spray it but it calms down into a soft scent. Works well with my body chemistry. Give it a sniff the next time you’re at the MAC counter.

This is a great lip gloss that isn’t too sticky and it smells like grape (there are like 24 other scents). I would list this as one of my all time fave lip glosses and I have been down with lip gloss since Bonne Bell in the 80’s! It looks great over the Black Orchid stick gloss above. Grab these by the fistful while you’re in Victoria’s Secret.

This is a splurge for me. And they should be ashamed at how small they make it for the price. But I guess you’re paying for the name?! I love this little wax pencil and it lays down that brow hair like nobody’s business. If anybody knows of a cheaper alternative let me know.

This is the ultimate ash killer. Love it!! My son has even started using this in the morning. It has shea butter in it and goes on smooth, not greasy. It makes your skin soft and smooth. I love this in the winter for dry skin and in summer to keep knees, elbows and heels well moisturized.

MAC 182

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! this brush.  It lives up to the hype.  I have very sensitive skin and this does not scratch or irritate my face at all.  Mine has not shed and buffs my powder foundation to a soft finish.  This brush is worth the money. Love it!

I’m Bringing Sexy Back

This was me just 4 yrs. ago.  I had a little kid ask if I was pregnant yesterday :O  (see previous post-I need to exercise butt).

THE AB CHALLENGE IS OFFICIALLY ON!!!!!

I need to exercise, butt….

I need to exercise. I have been telling myself this for years. It’s hard. It’s hard to get motivated. It is hard to make the time to do it. My God, it is hard to commit to it and make it a regular part of life. But it is time. I have always been a thin person. Growing up, I was tall and lanky with legs that went on for miles. Everybody thought I should run track or play basketball. I was an active kid, sort of tomboyish but preferred to read instead. I was called Olive Oyl, Skinny Minnie and all those names. Once I hit high school, my backside began to grow. No one could figure out how such a skinny little girl could have such a big behind. Skinny arms, skinny legs but a nice size, round behind. And I always had a lot of energy and felt strong.

As I have gotten older, I have gotten “thicker”. I am around 137 and wear an 8 in pants.  Most of my life I stayed around 125 and wore a size 6.  But, I am getting the dimples and dents in places. You know, the dreaded cottage cheese. I feel more tired. I am slowing down. Mind you, I am still fine in clothes and still look pretty damn good naked (yes, I am modest, I know) but I could be better. I could be tighter, more tone. I could be stronger. I need to exercise, not just for vanity but for my health. I want to feel stronger. I don’t want to sit and pant after a flight of stairs. It is time. I am going to have to make the time. No if ands or butts about it:)

DiorShow

I’ve broken down and done it. I’ve tried to fight it for months but it is on its way from Sephora. $24 dollars for a mascara. We are at war. Gas is over $4. I know it is a shame. I wait everyday for the rumble of the UPS truck. It will probably end up being just another black mascara. Sigh. Then again….this just might be the one!

UPDATE:

Well it came and…it is just another black mascara. No wow factor and I used CILS Booster XL as a base before applying. I am not impressed. It is nothing special.  The sample of the Sephora atomic volume mascara was more impressive.  I will definitely be purchasing this.  It lengthened my short little lashes like crazy.  And then there is Lancome Defincils and Clinique High Impact and High Definition which are my staples.  I will stick with these for now.

Going Bare Down There

I’ve been thinking about getting a Brazilian wax. You know…Going bare down there. All off. Smooth as a baby’s bottom. Bald. My girlfriend and I were getting our eyebrows threaded a few months ago and the subject came up as we were reading the price list. Brazilian wax-$35.

My friend- “You ever did that?”

Me: “No, have you?”

My friend-”No.”

Me: “You want to?” “We can have a shot of Hen. I’ll hold your hand.”

My friend- “Girl, No!” she said clutching her purse giving me the side eye.

Getting my (Vagina- too textbook, thing/privates-too 6th grade and then there’s the P word which I can only bring myself to say in the throws of passion. And even then I feel like I am being a bad girl,wink) waxed is on my summer to do list along with a beach vacation and list of books I want to read. Let’s put it out there, I have never really done any kind of maintenance in that area (yes, we are dangerously going in that TMI area:) But I’ve always had that adventurous streak, you know that I’ll try anything once mentality. So why haven’t I? Okay, I’ll say it, I’m a little scared. I think about the discomfort of my eyebrows being done x20 and in a much more sensitive area.

Look, I am no wimp and I am no stranger to pain. Ten years ago I gave birth to an eight lb. baby with no epidural. I repeat NO EPIDURAL!!! It was medieval. No numbing of the lower body, no stick to bite down on. So having the hair on my “girl” ripped off after being covered in hot wax should be a walk in the park huh? I tell myself this but the hair still stands up on my arm as I think about it. But more than being scared, there is just something about the thought of letting some strange woman who is not my doctor, look at, put her hands on and snatch the hair off of my _______(fill in the blank with your word of choice).

I’ve read other people’s experiences on the web and in magazines and they almost all say that the end result is worth the embarrassment and the pain. So… the only way I’ll ever know is if I do it. And I am gonna do it. The adventurous side of me won’t let it go. I have to see what it’s like. One of these days, I am gonna take a good soak, go have a margarita (ok, two) and I am going to do it. And this time I won’t forget to bring a stick.

You gotta brush your tongue

“You gotta brush your tongue, that is where the funk in your breath comes from. You gotta hack all that s*** up. Just brushing your teeth is not gonna get it.”

Bruno on oral hygiene

C.O. Bigelow lipgloss

I absolutely love this stuff!!! It is tingly without the burning sensation and cool at the same time. It freshens breath and provides a great shine over your favorite lipstick or gloss. My favorite is the Peppermint Oil gloss (shown). Grab these up by the handful ladies!!