My Current Skin Care Routine

My skin is looking pretty good these days and I figured I would share what I have been doing to get it there. I use new thing all the time in order to review them, but when I find items that really work for my skin they become my "baseline" and I may sub out for a new moisturizer or cleanser for a moment just to see how it works but this is my baseline routine.

A little about my skin. I have dry skin. It peels on and around the nose, and even on the cheeks sometimes. I don't have a ton of acne, but I do have some on my jawline and the hollows of my cheeks. This routine keeps my skin hydrated and my acne at bay.

-Morning - 

Every Other Day - I exfoliate using the DermaE Microdermabrasion Scrub. I love this scrub because it exfoliates and feels great,  but has a really gentle grain, I don't have to apply hardly any pressure for it to it's job and a little goes a very long way. One jar lasts me 3 or more months.

Every Day - I start by using a microfiber wipe to just kind of clean any oil that I might have created on my face over night. I purchased a really nice set on Amazon from the Amazon Basics line that are super soft and amazing. I use these twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, so having a set of 24 is super nice. You can find the set I bought here. If I am going to exfoliate I do at this point in my routine. 

Then I use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% on freshly cleaned skin on my cheeks and jawline where I have acne. I love this product because it is so light weight and it truly helps, but it's also only $6! Don't be fooled though, the ordinary has some stellar products and direct acids, but some of their items have some not so great ingredients. I do however love this one.

Last I put on my moisturizer and I love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer. I actually discovered this while researching oil free moisturizers for a different post on this. I was looking for the best drugstore option and putting all of my ingredients lists through various sites that analyze ingredients for you, and this one came up with no concerning or comedogenic ingredients on ALL of my sites! I had to try it right? So I picked some up for less than $20 at Walmart and I have been hooked ever since.

- Night -  

I start out my nightly routine by removing my makeup using a microfiber towel and warm water. Then I use a corner of the towel along with the Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover to get the rest of my mascara and eyeliner off.



Next I cleanse my face using the Lil Scrubbies Silicone Facial Scrubbing Pads. Here they are on Amazon, I picked mine up at Walmart in the makeup aisle but I didn't see them on their website. They are less than $3 for a set of two. I just love the gentle way that these help me to deliver product onto my skin without scratching it up. I am not a fan of most fancy expensive brushes and scrubbers, these $3 gems work perfectly for me. With my scrubbies I apply the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Acne Prone Face & Body Bar. I love Shea Moisture. They use great ingredients, they are fair trade, and affordable! This bar is $5 and it's massive! It will take you a while to run out if you are only using it for your face.

After I wash my face with the cleanser I tone it. If I am exfoliating the next day I will often use a toner that is a little harsher and more drying that fights acne. I currently use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution for those days. If I am not exfoliating I will use the Sei Bella Advanced Youth Revital™ Hydrating Toner. This one is another goodie. It smells like cucumbers and is so refreshing on my skin. I usually apply my toners with my hands, but if you prefer a cotton round I personally like the AOA Pure Cotton Rounds. They are afforda
ble and really gentle. My eyes get scratched easily and sometimes the rayon cotton blend cheap pads at walmart are just to rough on them.

If I am using a hydrating toner that night I will also moisturize, once again using the same Nuetrogena moisturizer that I mentioned before. But If I use the glycolic acid toner I do not. If I have a really bad break out sometimes I will treat the affected area with the Derma E Overnight Peel. I've never actually peeled form it before, but it definitely dries out and fight acne pronto. I do put it over the glycolic acid toner, and only use it on nights when I am exfoliating the next day.

This skin care routine has done me some good over the last several months. It keeps my skin looking super healthy, which is important because if I don't have a good baseline it makes it difficult for me t know whether the products I am using are working or not. Hopefully this gave you a little inspiration for your own routine.

REVIEW: Kenra Dry Volume Blast

Packaging - 5 (excellent)

Scent - 5 (excellent) 

Volume - 5 (excellent) 

Longevity - 1 (bad) 

Texture - 3 (average)

Overall: 

I love the packaging for Kenra products. It is sleek and shiny, I love the classic black and silver combo, and it comes in a sturdy metal can. It has this classic light scent that is kind of floral but has a citrus twist to it that keep sit bright. The scent is not long lasting either, so if it's not your cup of tea that's okay.

Now for performance, this gives your hair a major volume boost, especially if your hair is fine, but the boost is fleeting. It has no hold which is intentional I think, because it has a hold factor of 3 (on a scale from 1-25) listed on the can. And I can't just fluff it up throughout the day. I have to reapply. So you have to use a lot of product to get any kind of lasting result. You can definitely feel this product in your hair, it's drying and weird, but it doesn't last all day at the very least. 

If you want a lot of volume but with hold try the Kenra Dry Texture Spray. I'm honestly not sure why anyone would choose this over the Kenra. 

REVIEW: Hot Sexy Hair Protect Me

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Scent - 3 (average)
Weightlessness - 5 (excellent)
Protection - 5 (excellent)
Overall:


I am a huge fan of the Hot Sexy Hair line in general. They protect your hair from heat from styling products and they are all super effective. Protect Me is weightless, it adds no hold or volume to the hair, but does give a slight shine. The packaging is metal as well as durable with an aerosol nozzle that  makes for easy and even distribution.  The scent is a little musky for me and has a pit of a powdery flare, but it doesn't linger. And the product protects up to 450 degrees of heat. What more could you ask for? This is a go-to for me for sure.

Favorite Makeup Brushes

I am going to keep my preamble to this post short and sweet, so we can get right into the recommendations. What makes a good brush set to me is that the bristles hold makeup well and don't fall out quickly. I want the bristles to be soft and to stay soft after being washed multiple times. I want the handles to be high quality and comfortable in the hand, and I don't want peeling paint on the handles or for the metal piece that holds the bristles to the brush to come off quickly. I am going to recommend my top two sets to you at different price points. I was going to post three or four, but honestly these are my top two and I rarely buy outside of these brands. They have the best bang for your buck hands down. Hopefully you will love whatever you choose!


I got my first set of crown brushes in cosmetology school after feeling how soft they were when my classmate was doing her own makeup. I have a large selection of them in my kit and the very first set of crown brushes I purchased more than 6 years ago I still use today. They are an awesome budget option. They actually private label their makeup and brushes, so often well known brands actually carry these at a much higher price point. For example Morphe is private label Crown Brushes, you can read more about that here.  But if you are on a budget you really can't beat these. The individuals are awesome, but they also have a huge selection of sets that are insanely affordable. You pick yours up here. 



This brand I discovered through Ipsy and Boxy Charm and I am in love. I also have some brushes from them from 5 years ago, and every single one of their tools I come back to over and over again. They are super silky soft and  durable. Plus I love the light pink and rose gold style of these brushes, that are all synthetic, vegan and cruelty free. You can grab yours here. 

REVIEW: Rodan and Feilds Lash Boost Serum

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Scent - 3 (average)
Ease of Use - 5 (excellent)
Lengthening - 5 (excellent)
Volume - 4 (very good)
Overall:


This is honestly the best lash serum I have ever tried, and I have tried a lot of them. Most of them I don't notice a huge difference after a month's time of use, but for this one I started seeing results a week after using it

I love the sleek and sturdy metal packaging. The silver and black combo is high end and classic. It has a kind of bar soap scent that I don't love, but it's not an added fragrance, which is good because this goes on your eyes. And the smell I get is insanely light. This is so easy to use. It has a simple brush on the end of a wand, and you swipe a little of the serum onto your lash line using the brush. Done. Do it one-two times a day. Truth be told, I did it about 6 times a week, I forgot often and till saw results.

I saw a huge boost in my lash length. More than double the length in my opinion. I saw a fuller outcome too, but nothing outrageous. I still wear mascara, just only one swipe of it instead of many layers from different kinds.

To the right is a before and after photo from using it. I am not wearing mascara in either photo and it is about 4 weeks apart. Like I said earlier I probably used this about 6 times a week and I am obsessed. I also saw fuller brows when I used it there too. I am hooked!

Click here to get your own Rodan and Fields Lash Boost Serum
or to learn more about it. 

REVIEW: Verb Ghost Oil

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Smell - 4 (very good)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Weightlessness - 6 (incredible)
Overall:


I am truly obsessed with this product and I think you will be too. Ghost oil has been out for YEARS and I have no idea why I have waited so long to pick it up. Let me start with the packaging. I like packaging that is functional, sturdy and that looks chic and high end. The pump dispenses a good amount of product without being to much. But I do feel the packaging looks a little bland, especially in comparison to the other items Verb makes. As for fragrance it has that earthy kind of spring time grass scent. It isn't my personal favorite version of it, but it is incredibly faint.

Now to get into performance. This oil is supposed to "vanish" into the hair and be completely weightless while still smoothing and banishing frizz. And boy does it ever! My husband is a weirdo when it comes to oil. If I use a lotion on my hands he won't hold them anymore because they are "greasy" and he hates using products in his hair because he doesn't like how it makes his hands sticky or oily. But my husband also has a giant beard! And we have a full shelf of fancy and high dollar beard oils that people have gifted him over the years and he never uses any of them. His dry and scratchy beard goes untamed because he hates having greasy hands or feeling residue of any kind.

Well FINALLY I have found a holy grail product that we both like! He literally uses Ghost Oil daily and loves how soft it makes his beard hair without it feeling greasy. I love how it can revitalize my ends and smooth frizz without adding weight to my hair. It's a win all around. A little goes a long way and it is intensely hydrating. I can't say enough good things about this product.

Click this link to get 16% off your first purchase with Verb.com, and if you've already shopped with them you can still get the discount by shopping through my link for the first time.

Lashlifting, here's what you need to know

I have heard so much about lash lifting and I wanted to do a super comprehensive post about it. Your one stop to getting all your questions answered. I actually took the time
to learn how to perform this service and began offering in the salon so that I could get a good feel of what problems might arise, what it is and how it works. Hopefully I can get all these questions answered for you!

Lash Lift and Tint Service done by Tibi Brimhall 

at Just Your Style in Spanish Fork, Utah 

What does a Lash Lift Do? 
Simply put, it chemically alters the hair on your lashes to give them a lifted and fully curled look.

Who Would Benefit from a Lash Lift? 
If you have stick straight lashes this is for you for sure. I also think it's great for people who want to enhance their lashes but don't have the time, money or like the maintenance of lash extensions. If you are a makeup lover, this is for you too. My favorite part of having a lash lift is that my mascara routine included two different kinds of mascara layered on after curling my lashes. Often this resulted in crumbles under my eyes as the layers flaked off throughout the day. Now I swipe on one layer of mascara and I am ready to go. And less mascara means no crumbling or flaking.

What is the Process Like? 
Using a super gentle water soluble glue a dome shaped rod is placed on your closed eyelid. Your lashes are adhered to it, and then the stylist will apply two solutions, one at a time, to process the hairs to help them keep their new shape. After removing the solutions your lashes are freed from the rod and the rod is removed. Your stylist should then do a thorough wipe down of the eye area.

Lash Lift and Tint done by Angela Woodward
at Just Your Style Salon in Spanish Fork, Utah

Does it Hurt? 
Absolutely not!  Just the fact that my eyes were being played with and I couldn't open them even though I really wanted to, kind of gave me a phantom itch. But there was no burning, scraping or pulling that happened.

 How Often will I need to Get Them Redone? 
The effect are permanent but your eyelashes naturally fall out. So as they all out, and new ones grow in, you will want to get your lashes relifted. It is recommended you do not do this procedure more than once every 6 weeks. But 8-10 weeks is normal.

What Should I Know Before my Appointment? 
Do not wear contacts, make sure you have 100% of your eye makeup removed when you get there, and be prepared to keep your eyes moisture free for 24 hours. You also can not wear eye makeup for 24 hours. So be sure to give yourself a couple days in between your service and any big events. You also can't shower or be in humidity for 24 hours, so prep for that.

REVIEW: Glazzi Stamping Eyeliner Pen

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Ease of Use - 2 (not very good)
Color Payoff - 2 (not very good)
Longevity - 1 (bad)
Overall -


  I was so excited to try this product and was equally disappointed in it.

The packaging is cute and sleek. It is cheap plastic so my caps broke quickly and the label rubbed off fast as well. The cat eye stamping portion of this liner was so hard to use. It is at the weirdest angle and is really fat and awkward, not a normal cat eye look to me. Then you had the classic pen end which had no pigment and no color payoff, so you either needed a second liner or to try to use the stamping end to do it all. It also wore off terribly fast and I looked like I had been punched within a couple of hours. I would skip this one if I were you. 

REVIEW: Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

Packaging - 5 (excellent) 

Scent - 5 (excellent) 

Longevity - 4 (very good) 

Smoothing - 4 (very good) 

Hydration - 5 (excellent) 

Overall: 

4.5 stars

This is actually my go-to shampoo and conditioner for myself and I was surprised that I hadn't reviewed it yet. I love Living Proof! The packaging is sleek and beautiful. The lids are flat and heavy so storing them upside down to get maximum product out of the containers is super easy. It has a really nice light and clean fragrance.. It has a freshly cut grass vibes that isn't to strong and I love it. 

A little goes an averagely long way. I feel I have to use more conditioner than I'd like, but the shampoo is great! It is smoothing, but not enough for people with global texture or kinky hair. It is great for people with average frizz. It is super hydrating though and perfect for my normal hair texture because it smooths it without weighing to down. 

This is a great standard shampoo for dry hair that is a little frizzy and is (like I said) my go-to right now.