Worth it? Ulta Brow Tint

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Ulta Brow TintUlta Brow Tint, $10

When I learned that my favorite brow product, Gimme Brow, had been recalled/discontinued, I was upset. I seem to end up getting attached to products that end up facing discontinuation just a year or two later. I set out to research replacements because like mascara and unlike lipstick, I do my brows daily.

Exploration

Glossier’s Boy Brow product looks attractive, and I intend to someday try it. That said, that day doesn’t happen to fall in the first quarter of 2018. Instead, I was surprised to find that Ulta Brow Tint, an unassuming brow product in their house line, has incredible reviews… and is only $10 a tube.

Supply Run

I needed to resupply on dry shampoo last month, which is ‘permitted’ by my ‘rules.’ Likewise, resupplying on a brow product is within the rules as long as I’m not getting crazy experimental. Since my previous product is not available for purchase, trying something new is fair. And, better yet, it costs less.

Better-better yet:

  • The whole line, including Ulta Brow Tint was buy one, get one free
  • I had Ulta coupons
  • I had a gift card

…so I didn’t spend out-of-pocket.

Shade Range

Ulta Brow Tint comes in six shades and, as a result, beats the pants off the color options of most other brands offering similar products.

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Invisalign Update: Tray 34/36 & Refinement Trays Soon

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Invisalign Update - 34/36 - Refinement Trays

Suddenly, nearly nine months have passed. For about two months, now, my upper teeth have been very nearly straight. Not perfect, but such a night-and-day difference from my starting point that they may as well be. Throughout the process, my confidence in my teeth has grown even though they’re a work in progress. I don’t hide my teeth when I smile now – it’s pretty weird! Good weird. :) After the trays I started earlier this week, I have two more left. On April 3, I return to my orthodontist and will almost certainly be rescanned with the iTero Element to establish a a course of refinement trays. This probably means I’ll be hanging out in my 36th tray for a while!

What are Refinement Trays?

If the initial course of trays didn’t quite get everything where it needs to be further correction is required. Usually, new impressions or a new scan is taken, then new refinement trays are fabricated. The refinement trays are the same type of thing as the original course and may or may not include the same number of attachments or other ‘tools’ to advance the plot of straightening your teeth.

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Roller Eyeliner

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When I wear ‘proper’ eyeliner (not shadow-as-eyeliner), I use one of two formats: gel liner (my favorite) or a mechanical twist-up (the only one I’ve had luck with). There’s been a lot done with eyeliner in the past two decades but when I saw these new-fangled roller eyeliner releases, I got EXCITED.

Roller Eyeliner – What Is It?

The three roller eyeliner products on the market appear to use the same idea. A wand that has a small, foam disc on the end that rests in an ink-like liquid liner when the tube is closed. The disc is thin and has a small radius to facilitate easy application.

It isn’t the first time, after all, that I have been excited about the intersection of beauty and technology or beauty and engineering. What’s more amazing is that all three I’ve found consistently receive 4/5 star ratings on their respective sites.

Could it be that it isn’t just a gimmick!?

Roller Eyeliner - NUDESTIX Rock n' Roller

Nudestix

First, I saw NUDESTIX Rock n’ Roller Easy Eyeliner Ink. Samantha Ravndahl mentioned them in some format of hers and I was blown away. Then I saw them in an Instagram ad and…I was blown away again. I was so excited, in fact, that I made a point of showing this brilliant take on an eyeliner applicator with my could-not-be-more-disinterested-in-makeup husband. Even he thought it was neat; it reminded him of something used in metal fabrication.

There are three colors: ever practical black, Bronze Patina, and my favorite – Golden Rosé. I keep catching myself telling myself, “That’s totally wearable enough for work.” Honestly even writing that out gave me a twinge of temptation. And then I remind myself that not only does it run $24… I’m on a No Buy. 

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Worth it? Reusable Makeup Removing Cloths

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I love those Swisspers cotton pads that are a lot like the Shiseido ones. They’re both really nice (although the Shiseido are on the expensive side), but I invested in some reusable makeup removing cloths that have all but replaced them.

Waste Not

In the last year or so I’ve been gradually pursuing the idea of less.

  • Less makeup.
  • Less clothing (now possible since I have a lovely little apartment-sized washer and dryer).
  • Less waste.

I won’t pretend I’m living some virtuous low-waste fantasy. I’m totally not, and I’m not even trying to strive for that. I am, however, trying to make gradual, reasonable cuts to certain single-use items I buy. Fortunately, nice reusable makeup removing cloths don’t feel like a sacrifice or burden.

My Reusable Makeup Removing Cloths

There are so many options out there that it is hard to know where to start. When I first started shopping, I saw Makeup Eraser at Nordstrom and Sephora but $20 for one single cloth was a bit rich for

a) my blood and

b) something that I wasn’t sure of yet. I still haven’t bothered trying them because what I’ve gone with is (comparatively) inexpensive and fantastic!

SephoraSephora Black Magic Reusable Makeup Removing Cloths

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Bi-Weekly WTF :: Vol 6 – Beauty Gurus & Vitamins

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I’ve followed Nikki over at Lipstick Latitude for a long time, now. Her recent post about gurus playing doctor really hit the nail on the head. I was inspired to expand upon the topic.

Credentials

I don’t follow Tati/GlamLifeGuru. Her content never appealed to me, but that is neither here nor there. The reality is that most beauty content creators are not qualified to dispense medical advice. I’ve talked about my use and discontinuation/reduction in use of Biotin before, but I make it abundantly clear that I am not a medical professional. I cannot educate you in health-related choices! So – all changes of the supplementary nature should be reviewed with a qualified medical professional even if your BFF or mom endorses the hell out of ’em.

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February 2018 Favorites

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February 2018 FavoritesFebruary 2018 Favorites
1. Psssst, $7 / 2. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Countertop Spray, $4 / 3. Wool Dryer Balls, $10 /
4. Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaning Kit, $10 / 5. MetroVac DataVac Duster Blower, $60

February was not only a short month, but a busy one. I spent most of my time treading water and staying afloat; as a result, I didn’t spend much time rediscovering my collection or being surprised by anything. When I sat down to ponder it from a beauty perspective, I nearly re-wrote my January 2018 Favorites. So, all that said, my February 2018 Favorites are more lifestyle than beauty; I hope you’ll forgive the departure from being on-topic.

Refresh

When I use dry shampoo before bed, I don’t want to use a fragranced variety for several reasons. An old favorite brand, Psssst!, makes an unscented variety that fits the bill perfectly.

Deep Breaths

What good is a clean home if you either a) can’t breathe in it or are b) damaging your lungs in achieving it? Long before reports that using heavy cleaning sprays contributed to decreased lung function and COPD, I’ve been trying to use less-severe cleaning products in my home.

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