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My Favorite Beauty Products

written by Parita 23 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated with beauty products.  But not in a “I like to paint my face a bunch of different colors” kind of way.  When I was younger, I loved to read the descriptions on the back of packaging/containers/bottles/etc.  To this day, I often find myself lingering in the beauty aisle picking up random products and reading about them.  I’m a nerd…what can I say!

Anyway, over the past few years, my focus has shifted to finding products that work for my skin/hair and give me the look I want.  And after a lot of experimenting, I’ve finally found a few solid products that have become a part of my day to day beauty regimen.  And because I know how hard it can be to find good quality products that do what is stated on the packaging, I’m going to share some of my favorites!

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This Nivea chapstick is my absolute favorite!  It leaves my lips super smooth and slightly glossy, and it’s not sticky or thick.  And it comes two to a pack and costs less than $3. 

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I once read that all mascara formulas are pretty much the same, and that the brush matters more than anything else.  Personally, I love this Maybelline Great Lash mascara because it makes my lashes look naturally full and doesn’t clump.  And the brush is pretty awesome too – as you can see in the picture, the brush works with the shape of your eyes to coat lashes evenly.

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I never used to wear bronzer, but when a coworker of mine mentioned how she really liked this Neutrogena Bronzer, I decided to give it a try.  I’ve been using it for over a year now, so I guess you can say that I’m a fan.  It’s lightweight and gives my often dull looking skin a healthy glow.  And I think it’s actually helping to improve my skin (well before the whole ACV incident). 

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This Bobbi Brown foundation stick is honestly a life saver for my acne scarred skin.  The coverage is amazing, and it brings an evenness to my skin that has never been there before.  While you can use your fingers to apply, I use a brush to allow for even application.  The only downside to this product is the price tag.  But for me personally, quality > cost.  And yes, the quality is that good!

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This Laura Mercier Powder Foundation is unlike anything I’ve ever used.  And trust me, I’ve tried a lot of different powders over the years.  I love the soft matte coverage, which is important for skin that tends to be oily.  When applied with a large powder brush, it blends beautifully.  The combination of this powder and the foundation stick works extremely well to hide most of the imperfections on my face.  And unfortunately, this product is also relatively expensive.  But for what you get, I think it’s worth it – especially if you weren’t blessed with porcelain skin!

beauty products 001

And last but certainly not least, you have my new favorite hair product – Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector.  As most of you probably know, Florida isn’t exactly a dry state.  In fact, it’s humid year round.  Extremely humid – like “I don’t want to put in the effort to dry and straighten my hair because it’s going to poof up the minute I step outside.”  And with my coarse, slightly wavy hair type, I have the “do I put in the effort or not” debate every single morning.  So when I first tried this product, I didn’t have high hopes.  You can imagine my surprise when my hair stayed relatively flat and frizz free all day.  And I’m happy to report that my experience since that first use has been just as amazing (and surprising).  Florida humidity has nothing on me!

While it looks like my beauty routine is extremely involved and over the top, I promise it’s not!  Trust me…I’m not one to waste my precious time applying makeup.  And I’ve learned that with good products, you don’t have to. I’m done in five minutes tops!

Are you a beauty product lover?  What are your go to essentials?

Written on November 7, 2012 Related:Beauty Products, Make-up, Non-food Product

What I’ve Been Loving Recently

written by Parita 11 Comments

1. Buxom Lip Gloss

This lip gloss is pretty much the best thing ever.  It delivers the perfect amount of shine, creates the illusion of fuller lips, and keeps lips soft and smooth for hours.  And the best part is the slight tingle you feel upon applying the gloss. 

I was actually able to try this via a free gift at Sephora, and the color I got was called Sugar.  Unfortunately, I lost my little sample while out in Atlanta with my cousins but plan on picking up a full size gloss soon.  You won’t regret this purchase.  Promise!

buxom

2. Zac Efron in The Lucky One

Anyone else?  After catching 17 Again on TV this Sunday, I was even more excited for The Lucky One to hit theaters.  The movie is based on the Nicholas Sparks’ novel and is set to be released next Friday!  When I first heard that Zac Efron was playing the male lead, I didn’t think too much about it, but after seeing the trailer, I’m kinda in love…with him.  And yes, Vishnu knows.  I don’t care what anyone says, he’s dreamy!

zac efron

3. The Big Bang Theory

I can’t get enough of this show lately.  Every episode cracks me up.  And I have to admit, Sheldon Cooper is my favorite.  His inability to comprehend basic human emotions is endearing….most of the time.  Oh and “bazinga!”  Ha ha!

The Big Bang Theory Sheldon (1)

4. Knowing that in 48 hours I will be in Miami with my girls!

Oh, South Beach, we meet again!!!

south-beach


So tell me, what are you loving right now?  Any new products I should check out?

Written on April 11, 2012 Related:Favorites, Life, Make-up, Movie, Non-food Product, Travel

Vita WHAT!?

written by Parita Leave a Comment

If you could have any kitchen appliance of your choosing, what would you pick?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that 9 out of 10 people would select a Vitamix.

vitamix-turbo-blendSource

If you don’t know what a Vitamix is, please Google it.  I was first introduced to this power blender at Costco.  Random, right?  Anyways, the demonstrations were amazing – entire pieces of fruits and veggies pulverized in a matter of seconds.  I remember telling my mom how she “needs” one of these in her kitchen…and then we saw the price tag.  These bad boys retail at upwards of $500!  Ummm…no thanks! 

So, I just stuck to my regular old blender.  You know the one – it lasts for about 3 months and then starts to die.  Perhaps because of too many ice cubes or in my case, frozen bananas.

Lucky for me, I didn’t have to deal with cheap-o blenders for too long.  When I was living in AZ, my aunt found an awesome deal at Costco (don’t you love when things come full circle) for this blender set called the Ninja Master Prep.  I was a little skeptical solely because of the name.  But after hearing her rave reviews, I went and got a set for myself. 

Get this – for $36 I got the professional set, which includes a large pitcher, a medium pitcher, and small “bowl,” each with it’s own set of blades.

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And check out the blades on this thing…

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This blender is amazing!  I use it at least five times a week to make my breakfast smoothies, and let me tell you, it doesn’t disappoint.  All I have to do is throw all my ingredients in, set the motor on top, and whiz away.  I really attribute the fact that I can’t taste the spinach in my smoothies to this gadget.  After about 30 seconds, all you can see are tiny green flecks. 

It’s uses really go beyond just smoothies though.  I use this for anything and everything that requires any sort of blending – baked goods, soups, dips, etc.  My aunt even uses it to grind rice and Indian dals for certain dishes.  Pretty powerful stuff.

There are a couple of cons to this particular blender.  First, the blades are VERY sharp.  I’ve inadvertently cut myself once or twice – no fun!  And second, cleaning the cover is a pain in the butt.  The inside to it has so many nooks and crannies that I have to use Q-tips to ensure that all the gunk is cleaned out. 

Even still, I think my $36 (major Costco sale) investment was worth it!  And maybe one day when Vishnu’s a hot shot doctor I can afford to dole out $500 for a blender, I will switch over to a Vitamix…maybe.

Until then, for those of you like me, who don’t have the $$$ to go out and buy a fancy shmancy Vitamix, go visit Costco, Target, or even check out Amazon for this Ninja Master Prep blender set. 

If you don’t believe me, ask Alexa.  I convinced her to buy one a few months ago!

And hey, it’s been over six months since I’ve been using mine, and it’s as good as new!

If you could have any kitchen appliance of your choosing, what would you pick?

Written on September 16, 2011 Related:Non-food Product

Teenage Trouble

written by Parita Leave a Comment

When I was in middle school and high school, I dreamt of being an adult.  For all the obvious reasons yes, but also because when I became an adult, I would magically stop breaking out. 

Well, the joke’s on me!  I am now in my late 20s and what I considered to be teenage trouble still continues.  Let me start from the beginning though…

I started breaking out in middle school, but at that time, it was normal.  Everyone had a pepperoni face. 

[During this time, I went on birth control pills because of really horrible female problems.  I remained on BC for about 12 years.]

Then came high school.  My acne got better (probably because of the BC) but really blew up my senior year.  A couple of weeks before graduation, I remember bawling because I had huge bumps all over my face.  And to top it all off, they hurt like hell.  I paid a visit to the dermatologist, and she prescribed Benzaclin and some pills.  My mom was very cautious about any and all acne medications – especially pills, so I just used the topical stuff.  I still remember feeling ugly during graduation, but it was what it was.

Next came undergrad and my introduction to Proactiv.  I used the 3 step system morning and night, and over time, my face cleared up.  I still suffered from the occasional breakouts but nothing too horrible.  For those of you who have never heard of Proactiv, just know this – it’s expensive!  So over time, I stopped using it for this reason and reverted back to Clearasil and Neutrogena as my go to acne products.

My face had it’s moments after college – some good, some not so good.  The same went for grad school. 

[I stopped taking BC at the beginning of grad school because I really felt as though I had been on it long enough.  Even after my doctor reassured me that I would be fine taking it until I planned on conceiving, I stopped.  This is all probably better suited for another post, but it’s an important part of my acne journey, if you will.]

About eight months ago, my worst nightmare came true.  The acne was back with a vengeance.  I seriously felt like I had time travelled back to my senior year of high school.  

At this time I decided that enough was enough and made an appointment with a well-respected dermatologist in the Atlanta area.  I had a good long talk with her and told her all of the above.  From looking at my skin, she said that my acne was hormonal.  Treating it topically was not going to stop it.  She prescribed a low dose of Spironolactone, a water pill that is often used to treat adult acne.  I went home, did my research, and made the decision to give the medication a try.

Please note: I am not suggesting that everyone go and ask their dermatologist to put them on this medication.  This is what worked for me.  You have to do what is best for your skin and body. 

Knock on wood but so far so good.  My skin looks MUCH better then it did eight months ago.  I still suffer from a zit every now and then, but the occasional flare ups don’t last as long as they used to.

Wait…my story does not end here.  I have a couple of more things to share with y’all…

Enter…

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Desert essence 003

…Desert Essence!  I first heard about this cleanser and blemish stick on Caitlin’s blog when she posted about Natural Beauty Products.  I was amazed at the sheer number of comments that mentioned these products.  I knew I had to try them. 

The only store I’ve found so far that sells them is Whole Foods.  The face wash sells for about $6.99 and the blemish stick for about $9.99. 

I love that the face wash leaves my face super clean without any dryness.  You don’t need too much to get the job done either!  It’s also free of parabens, animal derived ingredients, artificial fragrances, and a bunch of other nasty things.  The blemish stick is also free of all that junk.  There is no oiliness even though it’s made with nine essential oils.  It absorbs quickly into the skin too.  And the best part…together, these two products are helping my skin stay clear (along with the medication I’m still on)!  And even when a zit pops up, it doesn’t last too long.  I love it!

Unfortunately, there are two downsides to to these products.  One – the smell.  Personally, I love it.  The smell of Tea Tree oil is very natural and calming.  But after reading the comments on Caitlin’s post, I saw that a lot of people hated the smell.  To each his/her own I suppose – just don’t say I didn’t give you a heads up either way.  And two, the blemish stick runs out pretty quickly.  It’s not meant to one of those products you apply to your entire face every day.  I learned that the hard way!  I am now on my second stick and use it only on the affected areas.  Lesson learned. 

And in case you’re wondering, I am NOT getting paid by Desert Essence to promote their products.  I am blogging about them because I have used them and feel that they have helped my skin.  I even have my sister using these now.

Again, just because this regimen is working for me at the moment does not mean it is is guaranteed to work for everyone.  If you feel like you need a change or want to try something more natural, give it a go – hopefully it works for you too!

I don’t believe that my battle with acne is over yet.  I honestly don’t believe it will ever be over, but at least for now, I finally feel like I have the upper hand.  Cross your fingers for me!

Do you or have you ever suffered from acne?  What products do you use to keep your skin clean and acne free (as much as possible at least)?  Are you a fan of Desert Essence products?

Written on September 13, 2011 Related:Beauty Products, Non-food Product

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