Splurge vs. Save

HeaderNothing 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.

pic-6(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.)

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(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)

pic-4(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.)

pic-5(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!

Are You Going To Age With Grace?

When the weather starts to become colder, my skin always gets dry and beginning this past Summer I started using oil based products in an attempt to ward off future flaky skin. I must say I was really worried, I thought I would break out and I was weary about using these kinds of products but I haven’t had any issues with my skin and it has stayed completely hydrated! I had to share these products with you because I absolutely LOVE them and recommend them if you suffer from dry or patchy skin when the weather gets chilly!

Julep Bare Face Oil(Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil. My friend Lindsay gave this to me and I have been using a few drops each morning and night for the past 2 months and this has become a product I can’t live without)

Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil(Take 2 pumps and massage into your skin, it will remove all of your eye and face makeup on it’s own)

Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil(Wash off with warm water and pat dry. My eye makeup is gone and my face is squeaky clean)

Face Oils(Here are a few of my other favorite oil products. 1. Davines Oi Oil for hair. 2. Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizer with SPF 40, I put this on after I wash my face and before I put on my face makeup. 3. Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, I use this for everything! I put it in my hair, on my face at night, and massage into my hands, it’s a miracle oil. 4. Argan High Gloss Lip Quench is a lip gloss with Argan oil, a purse essential)

I think you can tell that I have found the light and my fears of these oil based products leaving my skin greasy couldn’t be further from the truth.