Today's Twin Cities Live segment was a lot of fun to put together, because I did so by reaching into my own beauty stash and pulling out five products that I consider absolutely essential - but might not be very well-known (
outside of my own bathroom, anyway!). You can watch the clip, then scroll down for more in-depth product reviews. Later this week, I'll give you the details on my outfit and makeup.
The Products
As I said in the clip, this product isn't new by any means. But it's one that I think doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. This cuticle oil is infused with jojoba oil and vitamin E and it smells very slightly of almond. It adds instant lustre to your nails, whether you wear polish or not, and one small bottle lasts a really, really long time.
I keep a bottle on my nightstand and another at work. It's been a total lifesaver this winter, as my cuticles have been extra dry.
Cover Girl is not the first brand I reach for at the drugstore; in the past, I've had really bad luck with clumpy mascara, unpigmented eyeshadows and unexpectedly sparkly foundation. But I was bumming around Ulta a few weeks ago and thought I'd give their new lipstick line a try. Hey, if it's good enough for Taylor Swift's lips (her signature red shade is Flame) - it's good enough for me.
I'm not a fan of long lasting lipsticks because they get dry and flaky and feel terrible on my mouth. And I actually wasn't even expecting LipPerfection to have any staying power; the product's description touts its moisturizing properties, not its staying power.
So I was completely shocked to swipe on a layer of Spellbound (bright fuschia!) and go about my business for four hours (eating breakfast, drinking coffee and water, blowing my nose) then happen to glance in a mirror near lunch time to find that my lip color was still there. It was still vibrant. It was still perfect! My good friend, Stephanie, is also a new fan of LipPerfection and we spent an entire morning emailing updates back and forth to one another: "Just ate an apple - lipstick is still there." I have noticed that the brighter shades last longer than the nude shades. But what really seals the deal for me on LipPerfection is how comfortable the formula feels on my lips. It doesn't dry out. It feels either moisturizing or like I'm wearing nothing.
For years, I was one of those people who walked past this golden can resting on a bottom shelf in the nail care aisle at Target or Wal-greens. I saw it and would think,"What the heck? Who would actually use that stuff?" And then I met someone who did...my friend, Jenn! I spotted the bottle sitting on the sink in her bathroom one evening as we were getting ready to go out and asked her, incredulously, "Does this stuff actually work??"
Lo and behold, it does. Available in four shades to suit a range of skintones, Airbrush legs provides an almost imperceptible glow (provided you choose a shade that suits your skin!). It diffuses veins and imperfections, and very lightly covers any pastiness or ashiness. It smells a little floral, although not overwhelmingly so.
To apply, I usually stand in my shower (because the product does spray around, a little bit) - then spray a little bit of product on my hands and rub over small sections of my legs at a time. This helps me ensure an even coating without any streaks. In the clip, I said the product doesn't stain clothing...which, true I've washed it out of black and dark colored clothes. But I'm sure if I got this spray all over something white, it would stain.
I've been coloring my hair since I was 12 (my first color job was bright red, and it was a concession my mom made when she wouldn't let me get my ears pierced a second time)...and I've had gray hair since my mid-20's. At this point, I have no idea exactly how much gray I have - nor do I really want to. However, it's impossible not to notice the little gray strands that twang up from the roots of my hair every 4 weeks, or so.
I get my hair colored every 6 or 8 weeks, so in the meantime I use this product to cover up those little gray spots - and to blend any regrowth that's visible between my signature Paul Mitchell Shine color and what nature gave me. I prefer the doe-foot applicator to the spooly wand, which seems to snag on my strands. I've never had any problems with the formula making my hair look matted, although to the touch it feels like I sprayed a little too much hairspray in one particular spot.
It's available in 6 shades, ranging from Jet Black to Light Brown/Blonde, and is only $6.99. I get my tubes from Ulta, but it's also available online.
My obsession with maintaining my neck and chest area is directly linked to my obsession with Bravo's Real Housewives of _________(anywhere, doesn't matter - I watch them all). 95% of the housewives mess around with plastic surgery and fillers, to the point that it's impossible to tell how old any of them are. Here's the thing about that stuff, though. So often, the wives in their 20's and early 30's look MUCH older than they are...and the wives in their 40's and 50's have tight faces but saggy necks. And the sun damage is just amazing. You can have access to all the Botox in the world, but a saggy neck is still going to give you away.
Anyway. The point is that the neck and chest are two areas of very thin, delicate skin that get overlooked more often than not when it comes to exfoliating, toning, moisturizing, etc. Whatever you do to take care of your face should also extend down to your chest. Enter this amazing balm. I discovered it thanks to an article in Good Housekeeping magazine; it earned their seal of approval after under-going some pretty rigorous testing that produced evidence of tangible results: higher moisture content in the skin and firming.
I've been using this rich cream for about a month now, and I love it. I've noticed that a little bit of sun damage that I have on my chest has lightened. This cream is now a permanent part of my skincare routine!
Special thanks to
Terrace Hair Neon Beach salon for providing me with haircut and color services (
see you soon, based on those gray hairs!)
