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Beauty Review: Sally Hansen French Manicure Pen

June 24th, 2009 by crystal

I LOVE going to the nail salon. I try to go every 3 weeks to see Taniel, my favorite manicurist at Embellish. Taniel was recently voted ‘Best Manicurist’ in Austin. She’s amazing! Her attention to detail is like no manicurist I’ve seen before. But, even Taniel can’t make my polish last the full 3 weeks between manicures.

Before I found the Sally Hansen French Manicure Pen, my french manicure would last about 5 days before it started chipping. I hate sloppy nails, but I also hate having to take off Taniel’s great polish job. I needed a way to touch up the small chips in my manicure and prevent it from getting worse.
One of my friends told me about a great french manicure pen she’d found before a last minute trip to Cancun. Her nails looked great, so I decided to try for myself.

I found the Sally Hansen French Manicure White Tip Pen at CVS for about $5.00. It also came in a kit with a base coat and a top coat. I decided to just try the pen and top with the Sally Hansen Maximum Growth polish in ‘Innocent Nude’ that I already had. I purchased the traditional size (rather than the fine) because I like a thick line for my French Manicures. I would suggest this for everyone because you can place the pen on your nail to your desired thickness.

I couldn’t wait to try it, so I opened it as soon as I got home. The directions on the Sally Hansen website say to start with bare nails. I already had polish on my nails, so I decided to disregard the directions and try it on top of polish first.

To get the polish to the tip of the pen, you’re supposed to press the tip into the lid for 30 seconds. This didn’t work for me. After 30 seconds, there was still no polish on the tip of the pen. So, I repeatedly pressed the pen into a piece of paper until the tip was saturated with the white polish. It took me about 10 times.

Since I’m right handed, I started with my left hand. I placed the pen on one side and rotated my finger as the directions suggested. This left me with a line that was uneven on each side. So, for the next nail, I started in the center and painted to the right. Then, I went back to the center and painted to the left. This helped me make my line symmetrical. One thing I noticed was how easily the paint applied. The pen just slid on my nail and it was easy to make a mistake if I wasn’t careful. I wondered if it had something to do with already having polish on my nails, so I decided to try it again on bare nails.

Once my nails were bare and dry, I tried again. This time, I stuck with the method I’d discovered worked best for me: starting in the center and painting to either side. The pen was working pretty well and I was painting fairly straight lines. The only problem was that I was leaving messy paint marks on my skin. I hoped they would wash off easily and didn’t worry about it. After I’d painted 3 fingers on my left hand, the pen started to get runny and clear. I closed the pen, shook it a few times, pressed the tip into a piece of paper and tried again. That seemed to fix the problem and it hasn’t happened again since.

Painting my right hand was a bit trickier. Luckily, the pen is rather thick and easy to hold.

After I finished painting both sides, I decided to do a second coat. Since I had started in the middle and painted to either side, the paint was a bit splotchy. I applied a second coat to a couple of my nails and noticed the polish was clumping. It seems I hadn’t let the first coat dry enough. After allowing my nails more time to dry, I applied the second coat. Painting the tips for the second time was much easier since I had a guide to follow. I was also able to correct some mistakes I had made the first go ’round.

I let my nails dry for what I thought was a considerable amount of time and then applied a coat of my nude polish. After a couple of nails, I noticed I was leaving white streaks on my nails. Seems I hadn’t waited long enough for the white tips to dry. After they were almost completely dry, I was able to apply two coats of nude polish.

After a couple of hand washes, the extra paint on my skin came right off! My manicure lasted about a week. Pretty good for an at-home attempt!

About a week after my first attempt, I got a real manicure from Taniel. She was nice enough to not make fun of my at-home attempt (well, at least not too much) and gave me a fantastic mani. After about 4 days, I’d chipped one of my nails. Using my Sally Hansen pen, I touched up the offending spot and applied a clear coat over the top and under the tips. It looked almost perfect! I had to do this to a few other nails within the next couple of days. But, I was able to prolong my manicure to about 8 days!

Since then, I’ve used the pen to give myself a full manicure a couple more times. Each time, my nails have looked better than the time before. I’ve received compliments and surprised responses when they find out I did the manicure myself.

So, in short, I definitely recommend the Sally Hansen French Manicure White Tip Pen.

My tips are:
Get the traditional tip so you can adjust the width of the line.
Press the tip into a piece of paper until the tip is completely saturated with white paint.
Shake and press the tip again if the paint starts to get runny.
Apply to bare nails.
Start at the center of the nail and paint to each side.
Allow the paint to completely dry before applying a second coat or a top coat.
Use to touch up your manicure as it starts to chip.
Don’t give up after your first attempt. It just takes a little practice!

Have you ever tried this product? What did you think? Have any other tips?
If you haven’t tried the product, what do you think?

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What To Pack In Your Beach Bag

June 23rd, 2009 by crystal

If you’re planning to spend any prolonged amount of time at the beach, pool or lake this Summer, you’ll definitely want to be prepared. It’s the worst when you get out to the pool, are all settled and realize you’ve forgotten something crucial like sunblock.
When you pack for a day in the sun, you have to also think about where you might possibly go after your favorite swimming hole. You might need to run an errand, choose to grab a bite to eat or enjoy a frosty beverage instead of heading straight home. In those cases, you’ll need a few items to not only make you look fabulous, but help you feel refreshed and glowing from your day of sun worshipping.
As much as you can, try to keep your swim bag stocked and ready to go so there’s no need to unload and repack every time.

Must-Have Items for Your Swim Bag

Sunblock

If you’re looking to get a bit of sun without damaging your skin, apply a low SPF like Clinique’s Spray SPF 15 before you leave the house or as soon as you get to your destination. Then, 30 minutes after you’ve been in the sun, start the first of your reapplications with something stronger. Go for at least SPF 45 to prevent prolonged skin exposure.

Sunglasses

Gotta have a cute pair of shades to protect your eyes. Remember, sunglasses are more than just an accessory! Find a pair that offers 100% UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful rays.

Towel

Even if you have a favorite beach blanket or prefer the ease of using a sheet to lay on, you’ll still need a towel to dry off when you get out of the water. Instead of finding the brightest towel with the cutest beach motif, make sure your towel actually has some absorption properties. So often, beach towels are worthless when it comes to actually getting you dry. To carry your towel easily, roll tightly and place vertically in a corner of your bag.

Refillable Water Bottle

Make sure you stay hydrated! Bring a refillable water bottle full of cold water. Hopefully there will be a water fountain nearby where you can refill your bottle if you run out of fresh water.

Brush

Spending time in the water can wreak havoc on your ‘do. Make sure you have a brush on hand to pull through your tangles. Brush your hair before you get into the water to prevent gnarls and knots. Be gentle with your wet hair, starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots.

Beauty Items for Your Swim Bag

Carry all of your beauty products in a ziploc or small cosmetic case to keep sand from getting into them.

Hair Product

If your hair doesn’t dry perfectly without the help of a blow dryer, you might consider carrying a special product to use when you get out of the water. A leave-in conditioner can work, but I’m really loving the ‘Summer Hair Beach Waves’ spray from Federic Fekkai. In addition to the ingredients that help you get tousled waves, it also has a UV protectant to prevent sun damage and color fading.

Face Lotion

After some time in the sun, your face can feel pretty dry. Carry a small bottle of your regular face lotion along to remoisturize.

Lip Protectant

To keep your lips from getting dry, cracked and sunburned, carry a lipgloss or chapstick that contains an SPF. Not only will this protect your lips, it will also make your smile dewy after a day of relaxation.

Cream Blush/Bronzer

After a day in the water, you’ll skin will probably be pretty free of makeup. To add a little color, apply a cream blush to the apples of your cheeks and a tad bit to the outside of your eye crease. Even though you protected your skin with sunblock, doing this will give your face the appearance of having that sun-kissed glow. I really love NARS Multiple Bronzer because it’s in the form of a lipstick for easy application.

Extra Hair Bands or Bobby Pins

Just in case your hair needs a little help at the end of the day, carry some extra hair bands or bobby pins.

Extras

Book

Reading a book while you lay by the beach is pretty much the ultimate in relaxation. Carry a book that you can get lost in and enjoy yourself as you’re reading. Don’t bring a book that requires note-taking or reference tools. Give yourself a break!

Snack Bar

Always keep a snack bar (Luna and Lara are my favs) stashed in your beach bag. You never know when you might need a little something to snack on.

Playing Cards

If you’re hanging at the water with a friend, bring a pack of playing cards. You might want to do something more interactive then lay next to each other reading your respective novels.

Wet Wipes

It’s always nice to have wet wipes on hand just in case. You never know when you might need them. Often, there might be restroom facilities but no place to wash your hands. Carrying wet wipes keeps you prepared for whatever might come your way.

Essentials

If you need to bring your cell phone, digital camera, ipod, keys, a credit card and cash, don’t bring your purse. Instead, place them all in a ziploc to keep them away from water, sand and dirt.

The Perfect Bag

I’m a big fan of the LLBean Bote and Tote bag. I have a couple of the Large sized bags. They’re the perfect beach bag because they’re made of super strong canvas that is easy to clean. Straw bags are cute, but sand and dirt make them grimy in no time. Canvas bags wash easily.

What do you keep in your beach bag?
What’s your favorite beach bag?

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Beauty Review: Revlon Self-Adhesive Lashes

June 18th, 2009 by crystal

I am a big fan of wearing false eyelashes for special events. So, for my friend’s wedding, I popped into CVS to pick up a pair. The only brand they carried (or had in stock) was the Revlon Fantasy Lengths Self-Adhesive. I chose the pair that looked most natural and headed out to the event (I was helping set up, so was getting ready there).

After applying false lashes a few times, I’ve gotten pretty skilled at the whole glue/tweezers juggling act. But, the glue inevitably gets stuck to my fingers or on various parts of my eyelid, leaving me feeling extra sticky. So, I was quite excited at the prospect of self-adhesive lashes. The box advertised that the lashes will ’stay where you want them to–even in water!’ Sounded promising to me. So promising, I didn’t even think to buy glue just in case.

Out at the wedding venue, I applied all of my makeup first and then began the false eyelash attempt. First of all, the lashes are so sticky it’s hard to peel them from the plastic box. As you do, your pulling deforms the shape of the lashes. I was a bit concerned about this, but figured I could reshape them as I applied. Application was fairly simple–the lashes stuck where I placed them and they did, in fact, reform as I applied them. Problem was, they weren’t exactly where I wanted them. So, I used my tweezers to move them as I would with regular lashes. They were stuck. So, I had to peel the lashes off and try again. By this point, the stickiness was beginning to go away. Between the number of applications I’d put them through and getting makeup all over them, they were pretty much useless. Luckily, these lashes come with an extra adhesive strip. The problem with that is the same as before–the adhesive strips are so sticky, they’re hard to manage. I finally got the lashes on where I wanted them and reapplied eyeliner and mascara to make them appear more natural. They looked great! Until about 20 minutes later… I guess the adhesive started to weaken or something because my lashes started to lift. They weren’t terribly noticeable and I could easily push them back into place with my pinky so I decided to brave it. Bad idea! All night, I was worried about my lashes. My poor husband got to hear me whisper-ask ‘are my lashes okay?’ every 10 minutes. It was a fiasco.

The only saving grace was that the lashes were still in pretty good shape when I took them off at the end of the night. The adhesive was gone, it’s true, but glue will make them work again just fine.

Revlon’s claim that the lashes will ’stay where you want them to’ was true only if you get them where you want them on the first try. And, I think it probably works better if you’re wearing no makeup and have pretty dry eyelids. That being said, I can’t imagine they’d still last ‘even in water’.

The self-adhesive is a great idea, and it’s definitely worth trying if 1) you are wearing no eye makeup or 2) you have glue on hand just in case the adhesive doesn’t work. These lashes would probably be great for a younger girl who’s wearing false lashes for the first time.

Personally, I will continue to use lashes that require glue. Worrying about my lashes all night is not something I’d like to encounter again. I really liked the shape of these lashes and luckily, Revlon makes the same pair for glue application.

Here’s a really funny account of trying to apply these lashes.

Do you have a funny or frustrating story about applying false lashes? Have you ever tried the self-adhesive lashes? What did you think?

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Tips for Younger Looking Skin

June 16th, 2009 by crystal

It seems we’re always looking for a quick fix or a miracle product to make our skin appear healthy and youthful. Though it’s true that some products and procedures can improve the appearance of your skin, there is no miracle product that will erase time’s effects on your skin. The best method to slow down the effects of time is prevention. Keeping your skin youthful by living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of yourself will keep you from needing costly procedures that can be damaging to your skin. The following is a list of tips to help you prevent unnecessary aging and keep your face looking healthy, firm and glowing.

Focus Areas for Great Skin

On a daily basis, most of us focus on our face more than anything else. Our makeups have SPF added, we wear hats to shade our faces from the sun, we apply night cream to our faces at night. But, what do we do for our other high-exposure areas? Nothing. That’s why they say you can tell a person’s true age by looking at their hands and neck. The hands, neck and chest are often the first areas to show signs of aging. They are exposed to the sun as much as your face and are usually neglected when we moisturize and apply sun protection.

Face

Chances are, you already have a face routine in place. I’ve provided a daily routine below for you to consult to make sure you’re not forgetting anything when you care for your skin each day. The main things to remember are:
Washing: Make sure to wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser each day.
Exfoliate: Exfoliate once a week with a product that contains alpha hydroxy or another dermabrasion to cleanse your face of dead skin and smooth uneven patches.
Moisturize: Moisturize in the morning and at night (more on this below).
SPF: For everyday wear, make sure your lotion or face makeup has at least an SPF 15. If you will be in the sun for an extended period of time (longer than going from your car to a building), apply a stronger SPF that is made for your skin.

Hands

We often neglect our hands simply because we use them so often. Applying an SPF once in the morning seems like it would help, but as soon as you wash your hands, you’re back to square one. If you spend any amount of time at all in the sun, apply SPF to your hands after each washing. This sounds tedious, but it’s the same as applying moisturizer to dry hands in the Winter, right? Many brands are starting to make a hand-lotion that contains sunscreen.

Neck and Chest

I am very guilty of neglecting my neck and chest. After a few Summer days of working in the garden, my neck and chest (and shoulders) are definitely the first to show signs of sun exposure. Since my face lotion contains SPF, I always think I’m fine. So, what SHOULD I be doing? Each time you wash and moisturize your face, you should also attend to your neck and chest. There is no need to get a special product made exclusively for these areas. Your face products are perfect.

Lifestyle Tips to Keep Skin Healthy

Living a healthy lifestyle will make you feel better on a day to day basis, have more energy and look better, too! In addition to your waistline, your skin is one of the first areas to show how well you’re taking care of yourself.

Water

We’re always hearing how important it is to drink plenty of water each day. Drinking plenty of water keeps your skin hydrated, glowing and elastic. Water also works to flush out toxins that can be damaging to your overall appearance. How much water should you drink? Stick with the 8 glasses rule. If you live in a dry climate or are susceptible to dry skin, you may want to drink more. Another rule of thumb I’ve heard is to take your weight and half it. That is the number of ounces of water you should drink each day.

Sun Exposure

Though we all love to have glowing tans in the Summer, the sun is incredibly damaging to our skin. And, it’s only getting worse. If you look at people who are 60 or older, almost half of them have had some sort of skin cancer to a varying degree. If you’re a sun worshipper or your work requires you to spend many hours outside, lather on the sunscreen. Go for a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every 2 hours. What if you never get a sunburn? Applying sunscreen in this way does prevent burns, but it’s mostly to prevent your skin from the damage the sun creates long-term. EVERYONE needs to wear sunscreen.
To achieve that glowing tan you so desire, find a great self-tanner instead. They’ve really come a long way from the orange ones of the early ’90’s.

Sleep

‘Beauty Sleep’ isn’t a myth. Getting plenty of sleep really does help keep your skin looking healthy and fresh. While you sleep, your body works to repair the damage you did to it throughout the day. Getting too little sleep will make your skin dull, pale and puffy.

Exercise

Getting a fair amount of exercise (at least 30 minutes 4 times a week) not only makes your body healthier, it results in healthy skin as well. Exercise increases blood flow and releases toxins, both great for skin elasticity and glowing complexions.

Foods for Healthy Skin

Foods for Healthy Skin
Eating well can make a huge difference in the health and longevity of your skin. The most important vitamins for your skin are A, C and E (Just remember FACE without the F). Look for those in the foods you eat and in the moisturizers you put on your face. Eating poorly and depriving your body of the vitamins it needs is like starving your skin, making it appear dry, dull and older looking.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are rich in Vitamin A which help keeps skin cells healthy.

Citrus

Citrus keeps our levels of Vitamin C high, important for the creation of collagen.

Avocados, Sweet Potatoes

Avocados and Sweet Potatoes are great sources of Vitamin E which prevents water loss.

Berries

Berries are rich in antioxidants, necessary to flush our bodies of toxins that can damage the skin. Antioxidants also help protect the skin from sun damage.

Fish, Flaxseed

Fish and flaxseed are high in Omegas 3, 6 and 9 which are what create healthy cell membranes. Basically, if you have healthy cell membranes, more water will remain in your skin and your skin will look younger and fuller.

Whole Grains

Whole grains, particularly whole wheat, contain Selenium. Selenium makes your skin more resilient against damage from sun and other environmental factors.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal contains Gamma Linolenic Acid. ‘What’s that’ you ask? GLA is an essential fat that depletes as we get older. It works to restore the skins plumpness and elasticity and is found almost exclusively in oatmeal.

Green Tea

Green tea is a great anti-inflammatory. If you’re someone who experiences puffiness, try having a cup of green tea each day.

Vitamin Supplements

Eating well is definitely important, but we don’t always get adequate levels of the vitamins we need from food alone. That’s why it’s a safe bet to take supplements as well. A multi-vitamin will probably cover your bases, but you’ll probably need to also take a fish oil supplement to get your Omega 3 and 9 fix.

Moisturize to Keep Skin Looking Young

Now that we’ve talked about nourishing your skin from the inside out, let’s focus on surface level solutions. Moisturizing your skin at least twice a day is so important. Remember your grandma’s cold cream routine? She was onto something (but she probably didn’t use enough sunscreen).

Morning

In the morning, apply a light moisturizer that contains at least SPF 15. Follow with a moisture-rich eye cream. Apply with the ring finger and tap eye cream all around the eye to hydrate this delicate area.

Night

For night, apply a thicker cream that will firm and hydrate as you sleep. Use eye cream again here, but you can wear a thicker one since you won’t be applying makeup.

Balance

The main thing to keep in mind as you work with your skin is to find a balance between oiliness and dryness. Find lotions that help you maintain a balance.

Daily Routine for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Here is a daily routine that you might choose to follow or use to adapt your current routine.

Morning

Rinse
If you are taking care of your skin, your skin will naturally create the oils it needs to be healthy. Excessive washing can dry your skin and cause more damage than good. Washing your skin at night is usually plenty. Rinse your face with cool water in the morning.
Tone
Use a gentle toner to smooth your skin and remove any stray dead cells, makeup, etc. Make sure your toner does not contain alcohol since that will just dry your skin.
Moisturize
Apply a gentle moisturizer (one that contains SPF) to your face, neck and chest.
Eye Cream
Tap a small amount of eye cream under your eyes and along your brow bone.

Night

Wash
Use a gentle daily cleanser on your face and neck. If you’re prone to acne, you might choose a cleaner that is more stringent, but don’t get too carried away. Lots of chemicals on your face usually makes it hard for your skin to regulate itself. Many products contain Benzoyl Peroxide, an ingredient that’s great for battling acne. If you don’t have an acne problem, using such a harsh product on your face can cause sensitivity to sunlight and dryness (besides the fact it tends to discolor the collar area of your clothes and your towels).
Exfoliate
If your cleanser doesn’t include a light exfoliation, use a daily exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and smooth skin.
Moisturize
Moisturize with a firming night cream.
Eye Cream
Apply a firming, hydrating eye cream around the eyes.

To Have Younger Looking Skin, Prevention is Key!

If you’re 18 or 48, prevention is key to achieving and maintaining healthy looking skin. Eat well, sleep well, exercise well, apply that sunscreen and dote on your skin (including your hands, neck and chest). You’ll be happy you did!

What do you think of these tips?
What do you do to take care of your skin? Any homemade remedies or practices that you’ve found make a huge difference?

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Beauty Tidbit: OPI and Paige Denim Collaboration

June 10th, 2009 by crystal

Two of my favorites, OPI and Paige Denim, have collaborated to create a line of 6 matching nail polishes and colored jeans. Called ‘Bright Pair’, this collaboration is super fun and chic! The jeans are available in shorts (meh) and ankle length skinny jeans (wow). Match the polishes with the jeans or mix and match like the models in the picture!

These jeans are so amazingly cute for Summer, I wish I had all 6 pairs. Instead of dropping a ton of dough though, I tried the polishes instead. First, I tried the light orange called ‘In My Back Pocket’. Usually a pink or nude girl, I loved being a little daring with this neon shade. And, I received tons of compliments. It’s a striking color that definitely draws attention to your digits. Next, I’m going for the purple, ‘A Grape Fit!’. I tried it on one of my nails when I was at the salon the other day and decided I definitely need to go for it! ‘No Room For The Blues’ might be a good option for Fourth of July pedis. Or, if you’re not feeling the bright crayon colors, go with the more neutral taupe, ‘Over the Taupe’. Gotta love new shades for Summer!

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