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Dry Shampoo Review

Beautiful people, if you have not included dry shampoo in your styling arsenal, know that it’s a very good friend to you on days that actual shampooing would be too time or water-consuming.
For those of you with slippery, fine hair, dry shampoo is fantastic for plumping up the roots. In fact, my own hair looks like a big bla when freshly washed but looks much better on day two and three with some dry shampoo spritzed in.

My hair stylist, Roger, gave me the essential tip: apply dry shampoo before bed and allow it time to soak up the oil. Brush out in the morning and voila, cleaner, lifted roots.

Don’t over-apply dry shampoo, and don’t brush it out too hard, either or you’ll just make it oily again. I lift sections of my hair, spritz the roots, zhuzh wiht my fingers, and leave be. The next morning I brush gently with a boar bristle brush and style.

Batiste is a pretty good brand. It costs about $7 and has different formulas.

Bamboo Style is my fave dry shampoo. It’s very clear, doesn’t require more than a few little spritzes to soak up a lot of oil, and has a fairly neutral smell. It’s about $12.95.

I don’t know how I once acquired a bottle of Oribe Dry Shampoo but it’s WAY beyond my budget, so it must have been a giveaway. I liked it a lot but no way is it worth $44!! Oribe products are delicious, though.

Not Your Mother’s Texturing Dry Shampoo is a good product and only costs a few bucks. It made my hair a little too slippery and I found it a little too fragranced but definitely a fall-back if I run out of Bamboo or Batiste.

As for this orginal dry shampoo that you may have seen on your mom’s bathroom counter growing up?

Pssst, here’s a secret: save your money. It’s awful.

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Fenty Match Stix: Evening Fresh Face

You know how those long days go, right? You get to 5PM and you have an hour for dinner and to walk the dog before going to your evening meeting and you’re looking like Nosferatu around the eyes?

I really like Fenty Match Stix in one shade lighter than I would wear if I was using it as a foundation under my eyes and around blotchy spots. I’m wearing Linen here.

Blush is Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip and Cheek Color.

These products are extremely blendable so you can slap them on, blend, and run.
I usually spray my face with rosewater and blot with a tissue before doing this, btw, and after I’m done with my skin I take a clean Q-tip and clean up my smeary eyeliner.

This should help with Holy Week, darlings.

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Good Sales Right Now for Women’s Clothing

just a quick Sunday AM note, chickadees: J Jill is having a good sale. They make pretty quality garments.
Jessica London, a plus size operation whose clothes are mostly not very exciting or flattering, is having a 50% off sale on sweaters. Their fine gauge cardigans are good, although a bit floppy around the waistline. I like the colors a lot and bought one in deep teal and one in dark purple.

Back to last minute worship prep! Blessings on your dear selves.

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Summer Skin

Lovely ones!

So my skin was looking hiddy. I wear my sunscreen religiously but I had gotten kind of sloppy about washing my face carefully. Heck, some nights I didn’t wash it at all. That’s when I realized I had to see a dermatologist immediately.

My reward for my “I’m too tired to care” regimen was to have blotchy, dull, congested skin. Since I’m doing a health re-boot this summer I figured I would add skin care to my efforts. I use all sorts of products, sure, but under (or over!) cleaning the face leads to dull complexions. I determined to cut down on sodium, drink more water and get back into skin shape!

What I discovered for myself: a quick wash and splash of water isn’t good enough in the summer when my pores are clogged with heavier sunscreen. Now I use a big dab of foaming cleanser, lather it up with plenty of water, apply it to my wet face, turn the water off and actually spend a minute or so working the cleanser into my skin, making sure not to neglect my nose, chin, under chin(s) way back by my ears, and hairline. I rinse very well, then dry with a clean towel.

After drying, I either apply a gentle toner before eye cream and light moisturizer or I apply a fancy version of a Stridex pad to exfoliate and let that dry before moisturizing,you can Read More here. Also, check out this series of SkinCeuticals skin care products that you’ll surely love.

A friend bought me a beautiful Aveda product a few days ago that I’m loving.

Screen Shot 2017-07-20 at 12.16.35 PM
Nope, I don’t get any money or discounts or freebies from Aveda or any other products I endorse here. If I ever do, I’ll always let you know that.

It’s pricey and fancy but what a pleasure to use!! It comes with a little dry brush gizmo that you use on your dry, clean face to gently exfoliate, and an incredibly delicious smelling oil that you BREEATTTHHHHHE IN then massage into your face and décolletage. It says to wash it off but I leave it overnight and my face feels like a baby’s butt in the morning.

I am very happy with the results of paying closer attention to just washing my face! Yea, the oil is nice and helps soften everything but I think the real key has been drinking water, faithfully wearing sunscreen and then getting my skin clear of all that sunscreen every night. If you are suffering from skin problems like me, check out this article on What Is A Green Superfood Powder, And Why Is It Good For You? for some very helpful tips.

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I am wearing CE Ferulic serum and eye gel by Dr. Dennis Gross, sunscreen by Algenist, undereye concealer by Smashbox, powder blush by Tarte, highlighter in Smokin’ Whistles by ColourPop, liquid eye liner by Kat Von D and Marc Jacob’s eye pencil on my lower lashes, eyebrow pencil by NYX cosmetics, mascara by Maybelline, eyeshadow in neutrals by Urban Decay, liquid lipstick by Urban Decay and lipgloss by Sephora. I have powdered under my eyes with Ben Nye powder to keep my eye make-up and concealer from melting. But no foundation!

I am wearing an almost full face of make-up today because I have a staff meeting and I don’t want to look like a bedraggled heat wave mess as I did yesterday when I ran out of time in the morning. I hate that feeling so much. This make-up job took five minutes to do and was FUN.

Excited to have my first staff meeting with two new program staff members! Woot!

What are you all up to?
Remember to limit your news consumption! We know what we’re up against, we have to take care of ourselves.
Take. Care. Of. You.
If that means spending a few more minutes in the bath or putting on your eyebrows or making an extra few laps in the pool, you do that. We are in this for the long haul, my loves.

Be strong, be faithful, be beautiful.
I love you.