Tools

Manicure Bowl – $2 at Sally Beauty!

by

I don’t really enjoy salon manicures as much as some women, so I usually do my own. For years, I’d just grab a bowl or Tupperware container from the kitchen, add my soapy cocktail to it, and get on with it.

sallyhaul

Despite not enjoying salon manicures (due to the limited polish longevity, price, and the fact that I’m just weird and don’t like my hands being, well, handled), my few experiences that had me use a manicure bowl were pleasant – when I saw that you can get a sturdy plastic one from Sally Beauty for under $2, I decided to pick one up when I hauled last month.

The design of the manicure bowl is far more ergonomically friendly than just any ol’ bowl, featuring a founded palm-rest, resulting in greater comfort for you (or your client/manicure recipient). No need to awkwardly perch your wrist on the side of the bowl and point your fingers down; this feels far more natural!

My Manicure Bowl$2 Manicure Bowl from Sally Beauty

Read more

Foreo Moda

by

Following up Friday’s first look at the Issa is another Foreo post! The makers of the Issa toothbrush and Luna face contraption) emailed me two months ago(ish) about their newest device concept – the Moda. To jam it into a single sentence? The Foreo Moda is 3D printing meets airbrush makeup application in a single, consumer-use device.

Foreo Moda

That’s right. I squealed with delight when I read it because it is really freaking cool. If you’ve been around a while, you know I love the intersection at which beauty and technology meet. ColorIQ is such an amazing idea (even if it does have room for improvement), and it is so cool to see the worlds intermixing.

The Foreo Moda can apply a full face in three stages (primer, foundation, color) in approximately thirty seconds. THIRTY. Mind – blown.

Read more

Sally Beauty Haul – May 2015

by

It’s been a while since I’ve hauled. I was on a No Buy in April, and was successful. If it’s been a while since I’ve shopped for makeup and hair items, it has been longer since I’ve gotten any nail goodies. Despite my love of polished nails, which existed long before my interest in makeup, I’ve been slacking lately! I’ve just been keeping my nails shaped and tidy, leaving them bare often, being semi-bored with what I did have (listen to my first world problems, waah). I decided I want some more colors, but resolved to wait until Sally Beauty had a BOGO (buy one, get one) free sale.

My patience was rewarded. A couple weeks ago Sally Beauty had a 3-Day BOGO polish (RNP and gel) sale…and I had a 20% off coupon. The hunt began. I originally planned to order online because the two stores nearest me aren’t ultra-convenient, and I don’t really like how crowded the aisles can be AND there’s often only one employee working.

Due to the free ship threshold, I ventured out in person to seek my Sally Beauty Haul. Instant gratification was nice, but waiting 20 minutes for someone to ring me out was not. (Another customer decided to DIY destroycolor her hair for the first time…and instead of doing research, she wanted to play 20 Questions with the employee.)

Anyway, here’s the loot!

Sally Beauty HaulSally Beauty Haul – May 2015
  • ORLY GelFX in Melt Your Popsicle, Oh Cabana Boy, and Skinny Dip
  • Manicure Bowl
  • Nail Brush
  • Harmony Gelish in Arctic Freeze
  • China Glaze Gelaze in Coconut Kiss and Recycle

Total? $26 before tax. Yassss. RNP at regular price wouldn’t be that cheap!

That’s well over $70 of stuff – and I got some tools (that were super cheap, <$1 each).

I don’t get crazy with my makeup, but I do get crazy with my nails. I slapped on ORLY GelFX Melt Your Popsicle right away and am liking it a lot – I really wanted an orange (now I just need a true, non-fluorescent/highlighter yellow). With this Sally Beauty Ha, I’m pretty well set for summer nail shenanigans.

Have you had any beauty hauls recently? How did you do?

How to Clean Your Clarisonic

by

This is the second post (see the first) in my originally unintentional Spring Cleaning Series. I’ve shared extensively that I enjoy some buttons and internet in my skincare via the Clarisonic Mia2. Like any tool, Clarisonics require maintenance not only to work as intended, but to avoid introducing any ilk to your skin that, by its very design, it shouldn’t. So let’s talk about how to Clean Your Clarisonic. For that matter, these steps should apply to most replaceable-brush-head skincare tools, but illustrations will be with my trusty Mia2.

Maintenance is not something we should do when we realize that we can’t quite remember how long our Clarisonic has been hanging out in our shower. You don’t need a significant amount of time and you don’t need any fancy cleansers or materials to clean your Clarisonic. It’s quick and easy, and there’s really no good reason not to do so. (It takes less time than cleaning makeup brushes, come on).

1. After use, dry your Clarisonic.

Clean Your Clarisonic - Dry it After Use

Read more

LAB2 I’m Turning Pro Brush Kit

by

front

This is the LAB2 Beauty I’m Turning Pro Brush Kit. Look familiar? It should! I found L.A.B.2 by chance in Wal-Mart and tried out an angled-bristle liner brush, and was excited to try more.

Before we go any further, though, let’s get the legalities out of the way. The folks at L.A.B.2 were kind enough to send me this I’m Turning Pro brush set after I expressed my delight at their liner and brow brush. This post is not paid or sponsored, but the brushes in the post were free.

There were no conditions or stipulations attached to the brushes. My opinions are my own and were formed in the same way my opinion would be formed for any other product whether I bought it or it was a gift. That’s how we do things here because we aren’t unethical scrubs who can be, “bought.” Got it? Good. Check the Legal page for more info, or comment or contact me if I can clear anything up.

Now don’t mind the banged up box – that is 1000% USPS’ fault. I don’t know if it happened en route or if it happened on the last leg (sometimes my Post Office could stand to handle things a bit more gently).
back

Like the previous LAB2 brush I reviewed, the I’m Turning Pro brush set has a lot of information on the back including an explanation of the set and what each brush does, a cut-out card of how to use the brushes – even a face chart.

The I’m Turning Pro brush kit is available on Amazon for $21.99 and includes:

  • Angled Contour Brush
  • Flat Foundation Brush
  • Shadow Brush
  • Buffer Brush

The Strokes of Genius set is more eye-centric and is available on Amazon for $19.99. More after the jump…

Read more

March 2015 Favorites

by
March 2015 Favorites
March 2015 Favorites
1. Travelon Sleep Mask, $8 / 2. Contigo Grace Water Bottle, $11 /
3. Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics, $29 / 4. The Wet Brush, $9

A-ha! You thought, “Oh, first Wednesday of the month fell on the first day of the month…no favorites until next week.”

April Fools on you – I actually managed to get my March 2015 Favorites up regardless!

Read more