Clampless Curling Iron for Sexy Waves

Conair Infiniti You Curl Curling Wand: $39.99 (Amazon.com)

This is by far the best clampless curling iron I've ever used. I love the type of beachy curls these specific irons create, but I've never found one, no matter how expensive, to really help me achieve that "sexy waves" look. I'm planning to post a before and after pic of my hair soon to show what I'm talking about. I'll also include a pic of what my hair looks like when I use my regular 1'' iron for soft waves. These waves are a bit more sexy and wild..but very cute! The idea of it being clampless can be intimidating, but it's so easy to catch on with a little practice. The cone shaped rod also helps with wrapping your hair around the iron. I have to say hands down, one of the best out there for so cheap! I most recently purchased the Enzo Milano iron for $100, and this Conair iron blows that out of the water in relation to how quickly it heats up to how fast it curls your hair. I will say for those that have never used one of these irons before, you might get frustrated at first with figuring out how to hold the rod, but it gets easier, I promise! And, like any other iron, just be careful not to burn your fingertips when wrapping your hair around the rod. Some pluses are that it's Tourmaline ceramic, heats up to 400 degrees, and helps eliminate frizz.

Great Drugstore Dry Shampoo!

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo: $4.49 (Walgreens)

If you're like me, I don't wash my hair every day. Actually, I learned early on that it wasn't really good for my hair in particular because it tends to be on the dry side. However, most hairdressers I've spoken to say that hair is at its healthies when it's not washed every single day, regardless of hair type. Dry shampoo hit the scene as an alternative for those with oily hair who wanted to go wash-free for a few days, but have been a little pricey, until now. Tresemme has a new Fresh Start line that offeres a dry shampoo for under $5, and it's good! For those that are new to the concept of dry shampoo, it's basically a spray that gives you clean, fresh hair without actually washing it by removing oils and odor. It's also great for those that dye their hair or have highlights, because it helps maintain color with less washing. The scent is also great and not too overpowering. I used it after going to the gym when my hair is extra dirty and a little oily and it cleaned it up really well. I recommend spraying it not too close to your head and also letting it settle in for a minute or two before brushing it.

Face Highlighter/Illuminator for Summer!

Revlon Age Defying Spa Illuminator ($9.97 Walmart.com)

With summer already here, what better way then to add a cool product that helps you achieve that faux summer glow without actually having to spend hours in the sun while on vaca (I wish!). Not to mention, a product that prevents aging! I recently was looking for a great highlighter for my cheeks, something that gave me that "dewy" look, and I first came across the NARS Orgasm Illuminator and tested it while out shopping, but wasn't too crazy about the color or effect. I then found an ad for this Revlon illuminator and was excited it came in 4 different colors (Bare Light, Pink Light, Gold Light, and Bronze Light). For my skin tone (a little more olive), I chose the Gold Light and love it! It has an easy applicator that you can either brush on to the back of your hand to then apply to the apples of your cheeks or you can brush it directly onto your face. The 2 ways I like to use it best are either mixing it in with my moisturizer so you get a nice tint before you apply your face makeup or mixing it in with my foundation. You get a really pretty glow and a little goes a long way, so use it sparingly. At Walgreens, it's Buy 1 Get 1 Half-off at %$15 a piece. So you could get all 4 for a great price and mix-and-match. Happy summer ladies!

Fantastic Pencil Eye Liner!

L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner: $8.49 (Drugstore.com)

I love pencil eyeliner, and always keep 2 in my makeup arsenal- one for a more dramatic look and another for a more natural effect. I generally use iiquid eyeliner on my upper eyelid and pencil for my lower and inner lid. I recently came across a fantastic pencil eyeliner that acts like a liquid liner. It glides on really smoothly and provides rich, bold color. L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner is exactly what it claims it is- a liquid eye pencil. It's dry but looks like liquid. Be light-handed when applying at first if you only want a little color. If you want that smokey, Kim kardashian eye then this will definitely accomplish that. It's also smudge-proof so you rarely have to worry about looking in the mirror hours after applying and see dripping liner! Also, I used to swear by Lancome's Kohl Eye Pencil and now this is my go-to eyeliner, and it's more than half the price!

Some Solutions for Stretch Marks!

It's been awhile since my last post, so I wanted to make this one good! I think almost every woman, regardless of age or weight, has encountered the dreaded stretch mark! If not, then I hate you! Just kidding..but I am very envious =). Personally, I got a few at a very young age after my teenage growth spurt, which has made me very aware about the prevention and treatment of them at an early age.

Cocoa Butter, as many of us know, is a great product to help the elasticity of the skin, but it's primarily a preventative measure that will help keep stretch marks from forming, say after pregnancy and weight fluctuation.

Below are a few products/methods that I've researched and either tried out myself or have read some great reviews on. Now, I definitely don't expect any of these products to erase stretch marks, but they can help diminish the appearance and texture of them. And, remember, be patient, these won't fade or go away in a week or even a month..it's a gradual process. Also, you have a better chance of getting rid of stretch marks that are "fresh" or new. so get to it and good luck!

Body Focus Stretch Mark Improver, The Body Shop: $42.90

This cream is from The Body Shop and runs about $40.00 for 150 ml. The description states it "diminishes the appearance and improves the texture of stretch marks. A light, non-sticky yet richly moisturising cream that sinks in to leave your skin feeling instantly soft, smooth and supple all over. With regular use the appearance of stretch marks is visibly improved or reduced." From reviews and research I've done, a lot of women really like this product and started noticing a change after 4 weeks of use.

**UPDATE: I found Body Focus Stretch Mark Remover for much cheaper, only $13.95 on this site: http://gunera.auctivacommerce.com. Click here to purchase

Maderma Stretch Marks Therapy Advanced Cream Formula: $39.99 (Drugstore.com)

I discovered this product from a TV commercial and I instantly started researching it. It came out awhile ago, but I wanted to wait until I gathered enough research on product reviews to list it. Maderma's a great brand and I've used it a lot in the past for scarring, so I would think this would hold up to it's name, but a lot of reviews are just average. Most poeple have said it works best on new stretch marks and doesn't do much for existing or old marks. Most see results after 8 weeks of use.

Save Money on Your Mascara!

Every gal loves long, thick, full lashes and most of us are up for paying a pretty penny to ensure we achieve the end goal. Listed below are a few drugstore brands that match up to some high-end mascaras. All this is from personal opinion and research I've done on these particular products. Also, this is probably the biggest and best tip I've ever learned when it comes to mascara: all mascara is virtually made with the same ingredients, it's the brush or wand that you use that really makes the differene. So, if you really love your high-end mascara. Just save that brush applicator and switch it out with a less expensive drugstore brand. It's worth a try!

I still wanted to provide some alternatives to pricier, name brand mascaras. The most requested brand to copy has been find a good drugstore mascara that compares to Dior Show (pictured below):

DiorShow Addict Mascara: $24.00 (Sephora)

DiorShow is described as "a cult-followed mascara that leaves lashes ultra thick, long, and curled". Most research I've done on this leads to a few drugstore brands that compares to this pricier mascara. I've listed them below with descpriptions and price:

Almay One Coat Mascara: $6.99 (Walgreens)

I was surprised to read so much great stuff on Almay One Coat Mascara, especially as being a comparable product to DiorShow. It just seemed to "clean" or "natural" to give vavavoom to your lashes, but it seems to be the best for thickening your lashes. One con is that it won't add a lot of drama but a good choice for daytime wear. Also conditions lashes with aloe & vitamin B5 and rarely smudges or flakes.

CoverGirl Last Blash: $4.85 (Amazon)

Considered to be one of Cover Girl's best mascaras, this not only thickens lashes but really does lengthen them and holds that eyelash curl in that not all of us are blessed with. My eyelashes are stick straight! Apply more than 1 coat to achieve that "false lashes" look. One downside is that the brush is big so it may be hard to apply to your lower lashes, but you can always use another, smaller applicator for this area. I usually like to save some mascara wands from previous mascaras that I find easy to use. Just store them in your makeup arsenal. This mascara has been known to be stubborn when trying to remove, so it may require a little more attention than usual

Neutrgena Healthy Volume Mascara: $.7.74 (Walmart)

This is an awesome mascara. Provides great volume and thickness. If you get the blackest color it's very comparable to DiorShow. It's known for that fanned-out lash look without feeling crunchy.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto: $6.98 (Walmart)

This mascara definitely helps give your lashes length. It doesn't seem to give as much volume, but if you have that and only seek longer lashes, this is a great option.

Loreal Double Extend Mascara: $12.99 (Walgreens)

This mascara comes with a primer on one side and a mascara on the other. I just recently started using this and haven't noticed my lashes any thicker and longer yet but it claims to lengthen lashes up to 80%. A lot of customer reviews I've read say that it really does work and lengthen for good. I personally feel like this product gives me more volume than length though.

At-Home Hair Color

Revlon Color Silk: $3.99 (drugstores)
Click here to be directed to the Revlon color match chart

I generally get my hair colored and highlighted professionally, but there are those times when I just can't get to my hairdresser! When I'm in desperate need of a quick hair color fix, Revlon ColorSilk is awesome...and, boy is it cheap! I've found that brunette's generally have a harder time finding the right color to match when out of a box. Often times, it can be too severe or dark or a lot of red is added to your overall color, even if you started with brown or black hair. The cool thing about this particular brand is that it just gives you a subtle color change without being too dramatic. Even for women with really dark black hair, one application of this will gently highlight your hair. You might not notice the results immediately, but you definitely will over several washes and when out in the sun. It's semi-permanent, ammonia-free and is pretty good at covering stubborn grey hairs. I have naturally dark brown hair and use "Light Ash Brown" which gives me that perfect medium, golden-brown color.