Nothing gives me a bigger thrill then a good deal, that is no secret. When it comes to my skin and hair, I have tried all kinds of products from cheap to expensive and the results are all over the table. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite products that range in price and give you some details on how I think they work best for me. I thought I should start by letting you know my skin and hair types to give you a better idea of why they may or may not work for you! First off, I have what is referred to as combination type skin. This means that my forehead and chin can be oily while my cheeks are often dry. My hair is naturally wavy and dries out at the ends (something I have a hard time managing) which can weigh down my hair.
(I use foundation every day, along with an SPF moisturizer. I have to say that this Rimmel London BB Cream ($7) works about the same as Smashbox’s Liquid Halo ($42). However, Smashbox lasts a lot longer and isn’t as greasy. I love them both but prefer Smashbox. But on a budget, Rimmel is a great option.)
(Face wash is tough for me because of my combination skin and it’s also super sensitive. A friend of mine gave me this oil face wash by Julep ($28) and I absolutely LOVE it- the only catch is that I have to order it by mail and it’s a tad pricey. I pick up my Clean & Clear sensitive skin cleanser ($7) at any local drugstore and it does the trick just as good as the Julep wash. Both are great but for the price, I have to recommend Clean & Clear)
(I put on my night cream right before I go to bed. I am very particular about it because I can’t stand thick heavy creams, it irritates my skin and is uncomfortable. I was religious about L’occitane’s Immortelle Night Cream ($70) because it works miracles. But at that price point, I decided to try something new and that’s when I discovered Pond’s Hydrating Cream ($12) I was shocked by how great it works. For a sixth of the price I was seeing the same results as the L’occitane cream. It’s great for sensitive skin and keeps my skin feeling smooth and hydrated.)
(The ends of my hair are always dry and I have tried all kinds of tricks but they just leave my hair feeling greasy. My hairdresser recommended Davines Oi Oil ($41) and I haven’t looked back. I only use a small drop when I get out of the shower; in fact I have had it for 2 years and have only used 1/4 of the bottle. I have tried products like Pantene and L’oreal ($7-$12) but they just don’t produce anywhere near the same results. Hands down, Davines is great for my hair type.)
I hope this insight was helpful to you. I honestly feel like there are things you have to splurge on in order to get quality results but not everything needs to cost an arm and a leg. There are products out there with a mild price point that can give you amazing results, we just have dig deep to find them!
I love to eat. I’m kind of a picky eater, I generally won’t try things that look squishy, slimy, or different. So, you can imagine it took years for me to try an oyster and they’re actually pretty good. But Saltwater has this magical mixture made of shallots, garlic, champagne vinegar, and lemon juice that adds something special to the already tasty oyster. I wanted to do a mini-review of the restaurant that focuses more on the ambience than the food itself.
(First off, they change their menu daily! We went two days in a row and had amazing meals both times)
(A mini patio is lit with Edison bulbs in antique looking wired frames)
(The restaurant itself is in a home restored to serve as a dining area complete with a porch)
(It is dimly lit with dozens of tea lights)
Quaint places like this are my favorite and in the city we certainly don’t have a shortage! But some of the best places are tucked away not so far from home.
iflunch.com 