Tag: Beauty

Sephora by OPI gelshine |French Manicure

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 28 October 2013
1 Comment on Sephora by OPI gelshine |French Manicure

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love the gelshine kit from Sephora by OPI. Gel manicures last so much longer than regular manicures and aren’t harsh on your nails like acrylics. The entire gelshine kit from Sephora costs about $160, but like I’ve told you HERE; it’s worth the price. They have 17 only 9 colors to choose from online now, but I’ve seen more of a selection in the stores.

Today, I used the French Manicure kit that I got in my last Sephora Haul. The kit comes with 2 of the gelshine colors: True Romantic and White Hot, a french tip applicator brush, and some nail decal stickers — all for $29 which is a really great deal considering that each of the polishes alone costs $17.50.

Here’s what I used to get that clean, classic french manicure look using Sephora by OPI gelshine.

After cleansing the nails, I applied the base coat and two coats of True Romantic.

After my base was cured, I painted on the White Hot onto the tips of my nails using the applicator brush.

I cured each nail after I painted on its tip and then I sealed everything in with a layer of the Top Coat. 🙂

Click HERE if you want to see step-by-step how to apply the gel polish/curing.

*UPDATE: After a few days of wearing the True Romantic pink color, the pink begins to fade. It is no longer a clear bright pink, but it turns in to a almost “opaque cream” color — not pink. It looks fine with the french manicure, but it’s definitely no longer any shade of pink. You’re better off using Bare To Be Different from the same Sephora by OPI line if you want a clear/pinky color that lasts.

Tags Beauty, classic, clean, Color, french, french manicure, gel, gel nails, gelshine, LED, Manicure, nail art, nail polish, OPI, Sephora, sephora by opi, sephora haul, true romantic, white hot, winter nails

Blog Health + Beauty

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil | REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 21 October 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Let me start by summarizing: this post is about eczema and includes pictures of terrible rashes…you have been warned!

The transition into fall and winter can be harsh on your skin. We all want balanced, and soft feeling skin, but sometimes it takes more than lotion.

Growing up, I would get dry, itchy patches on my arms and legs during the winter, but it wasn’t until I got older that it became more severe. I had reddish patches on my legs near my knees that would itch year round. This was so frustrating, especially during the summer when I would wear shorts, but my legs were flaky, itchy, and dry. 🙁

I saw my doctor when the “rash” seemed to spread to a larger section around my knees and the area around upper thigh became discolored. She told me that I had eczema and prescribed me a cream to apply daily.

The cream was thick and cold and I hated it, but I applied it every day. I started to notice results after a few days and stopped using the cream. The itching and rashes returned so I continued the cream again. The cream was just a temporary solution — I needed something healing; something that would balance out my skin and keep my hydrated.

*Drumroll* Josie Maran – Whipped Argan Oil!!!! I cannot say enough how much this has helped me. Josie does not mess around and I couldn’t be happier.

My mom gave me this jar of the Whipped Argan Oil ultra-hydrating body butter in the scent Vanilla Fig (thanks Mom!). It’s a little pricy at $35 for the .8oz size (at Sephora or QVC), but worth every penny to me for how it’s helped me. (Pictures at the end) More about the cream — it’s super lightweight and not greasy. It absorbs quickly into my super dry skin, but just as quickly all over where I’m not dry. It comes in a few different scents, but I really love the Vanilla Fig — sweet, but not overpowering.

I first used this before bed and the next morning I saw a huge difference. After a couple days, my dryness and redness were gone; my skin wasn’t itching and irritated. AMAZING! And even when I missed a couple of days, the rash didn’t come back. Finally, something that actually worked to heal and fix the problem! It’s only been about two weeks since I started using Josie’s Whipped Argan Oil, but I don’t have an issue with eczema anymore. The difference is night and day! My skin is soft and smooth; no discoloration and no itching! YAY!

I am so super happy to have found the Whipped Argan Oil. Look at the difference — the eczema was basically attacking my leg, and now my skin is calm and balanced. 🙂 This is a love love love holy grail product for me. Everyone should try this out; you will not be disappointed!

Tags argan, argan oil, argon oil, Beauty, body, body butter, butter, cream, eczema, josie, josie maran, josiemaran, lotion, maran, oil, qvc, Sephora, Vanilla Fig, whipped argan oil, whipped argon oil, yay

Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora Haul!

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

My last Sephora Haul was back in August when they were having that promotion to earn 3x’s the points for VIB’s. This time, I had a 10% off coupon code from the “Beauty Fall” promotion and a gift card that my Prima gave me for my birthday. Thanks Prima 🙂

So, I bought a couple of things, redeemed some beauty insider points, and of course got some free samples! Yay!

BENEFIT COSMETICS – It’s A Love Fest

This set is Limited Edition and Exclusive to Sephora. All I really wanted was the POREfessional face primer (because I got a free sample in my last Haul and loved it), but for only $6 more dollars, I get a full sized POREfessional, a full sized They’re Real mascara, a mini SunBeam highlighter, and a mini Coralista lip gloss! Yay!

Such a great value. And it all comes in a cute “collector’s” tin which I can use to store things in. I’ve never used the SunBeam or Coralista so it’s nice to get to try out new products.

SEPHORA BY OPI – Gel French Manicure Kit

I selected this kit because it was a great value as well. Also Limited Edition, it comes with 2 gel polishes (White Hot and True Romantic), nail decals, and a applicator tool.

I prefer gel nail polish to regular polish because they’re easy to do and they last so much longer. (See application process HERE ). Plus, with this kit, I get everything for less than the two gel polishes would cost separately! (See what I used to create French Manicure gel nails HERE)

VIKTOR & ROLF – Flowerbomb

I redeemed 250 points to get this mini sample of my favorite fragrance. This is a great little travel size and it comes in the same signature bottle. Super cute!

Samples

I always like selecting the three free samples when ordering online. This time I got:

LANCÔME ÉNERGIE DE VIE Dullness Relief & Energy Recharge Daily Cream
Bumble & Bumble – Thickening Shampoo
BENEFIT COSMETICS – The POREfessional

P.S. I’m about $100 away from VIB Rouge.…kind of excited!

Blog Health + Beauty

What’s In My Makeup Bag?

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This is pretty much what I wear on days when I wear makeup! My go-to bag of goodies!

From Left, up, then Right, down:

Tags Beauty, benefit, bronzer, brushes, cosmetics, Eyebrow, Highlighter, Lancôme, Lip Balm, marc jacobs, Mascara, Neutrogena, Porcelaine, primer, Revlon, Sephora, too faced, Urban Decay

Blog Lifestyle

Top 10 – July Favorites

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

1. Victor & Rolf – Flowerbomb

My favorite fragrance of all time. Flowerbomb makes me happy. I first tried the ~~$25~~ $29 (prices have gone up!) rollerball from Sephora and fell in love. Try it if you haven’t already — very strong floral notes! Amazing!

2. Lancome Star Bronzer

Lancome’s Star Bronzer comes in six shimmer shades and three matte shades. I use my matte bronzer in shade 02 Sunkiss for slight conturing. This bronzer isn’t too dark or muddy and will look natural on many different complexions.

3. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

I love these cleansing wipes. With these, there is no excuse to not remove my makeup before going to bed. They remove all of your makeup and don’t leave your face feeling oily. The refill packs come with 25 wipes for about $4.50 – $7, depending on sales and where you shop. I’ve seen a 4 x 25ct. + 1x 14ct. at Costco for about $11! Best deal ever if you can get it.

Of course, it’s best to actually wash your face, but on those nights when you might be too tired, these will do the trick. You never want to go to bed with your makeup on!

4. Eggs Benedict

I’m not much of a “breakfast” person — I eat in the morning, but I don’t like “breakfast” foods….except for eggs benedict! Definitely my favorite breakfast-y food!

5. Very Berry Hibiscus Refreshers – Starbucks

I only recently have started drinking these again. I’ve talked about these before, and I still enjoy them every once in a while. Make your own!!

6. LUSH baths

Nothing is more relaxing or makes me feel cleaner than a LUSH bath. So perfect! My favorite combination is The Comforter and a Sex Bomb bath bomb. I love LUSH! See my other LUSH posts HERE, HERE, and HERE

7. Hair, Skin, and Nails pills – Andrew Lessman

I can see my nails growing and staying strong when I take these, but if I skip just one day, my nails will break. :/ But these, in combination with my B-12s help my nails to grow and stay strong. I don’t really notice a difference in my hair or skin, but I’m sure it’s helping in some way. These pills are packed with vitamins and biotin. You can get them from HSN.com.

8. Sam’s Town – The Killers

I loved The Killer’s – Battle Born, so I decided to re-discover some of their older music. I’ve been listening to Sam’s Town a lot lately and I love it.

9. Target App for iPhone

I love going to Target — I can get everything I want in one stop. Plus, it’s where I was able to find my Fitbit Fl ex when it was backordered online. Target has everything and the Target App has coupons for some of those items. Some is better than none! What’s awesome is that they can scan the coupon directly from your phone — no clipping coupons or having to remember to bring them when you shop.

10. Monster’s University

I really enjoyed this prequel to Monster’s Inc. Disney and Pixar make the best animated movies! And what’s even cooler is the website they made for the movie – http://monstersuniversity.com/edu/. How fun!

What have you been enjoying this July?

See my favorites from last month! (Top 10 – June Favorites)

See my August Favorites HERE

Tags andrew lessman, B12, bath, Beauty, bronzer, Costco, disney, eggs benedict, flowerbomb, fragrance, hair, Hibiscus, iPhone, Lancôme, lush, makeup, monster's university, Music, nail, Neutrogena, pixar, refresher, remover, sam's town, Sephora, skin, Skin Care, Starbucks, Target, the comforter, The Killers, very berry, Viktor & Rolf

Blog Health + Beauty

Sephora by OPI – gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 16 July 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Sephora by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System is do it at home gel nail kit. It costs $160 and you pick your own color to include with the kit. Additional colors are $17.50.

The kit comes with:

0.29 oz gelshine™ Base Coat
0.29 oz gelshine™ Top Coat
0.29 oz gelshine™ Gel Colour (must add to cart separately)
gelshine™ LED Light
25 x Nail Pads
3 x Removal Nail Wraps
2 oz Nail Cleanser
Buffing block
2 oz Nail & Gel Colour Remover
0.3 oz Brush-On Cuticle Oil
Cuticle pusher
3 x gloves
Instructions

Prep the nails

Gently buff the surface of the nails with the Buffing Block

Spray some Nail Spray onto one of the Nail Pads and clean the nails

Apply Base Coat

Apply a thin layer of the Base Coat to your thumb. It’s super important to use a thin coat!

Cure the gel polish under the LED light

Cure the thumb first, then apply Base Coat to the other finger nails and cure them. The polish isn’t going to “dry” on it’s own, so you’ll want to do the thumb separately so it doesn’t smudge before it cures.

Apply Gel Polish

I used a super pale pink “Bare to be Different”, but Sephora offers 14 different shades on its website.

Thin coats! If you apply the polish too thick, it won’t last as long. Your manicure should last up to two weeks. Cure after each application of polish

Apply Top Coat

Cure your top coat and clean nails with the Nail Spray again to remove the tacky feeling.

Follow up with Cuticle Oil

This Gel Nail kit is awesome! You no longer have to wait for your nails to “dry”. After 30 seconds under the LED light, your manicure is safe. You can tell by the formula that it is professional quality. Use thin coats of polish to get a professional, long-lasting manicure.

I would like to see Sephora offer more colors of gel polish, but really you can use any LED gel polish you want.

In fact, I’ve done a gel base coat, a layer of regular nail polish, and then sealed it with a layer of gel top coat. Just make sure that if you’re going to layer in a “regular” nail polish, you let it dry completely before applying the gel top coat.

Tags Beauty, Color, gel, gel nails, LED, Manicure, nail, NailPolish, OPI, Sephora, summer

Blog Health + Beauty

Summer Hair Don’t Care – 5 Tips to Protect Your Hair

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 22 June 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve been wearing my curly hair naturally — no flat ironing or curling. Even though I always use a heat protectant when styling, I’ve noticed my hair looks healthier without added heat. No surprise there, but I started reading about other ways I can protect my hair.

Here are 5 ways you can protect your hair during summer….and all year long.

1. Use a wide-tooth comb

It’s summer time — you’re in and out of the pool, relaxing at the beach or the lake, or just showering the sweat away — your hair is getting wet possibly more than usual. It’s important to be gentle with you wet hair; it’s weaker when it’s wet. Brushing through your wet hair with a brush will pull your hair and can cause breakage. Using a wide-tooth comb is more gentle. Start combing from the bottom and work your way up to the roots. If your hair gets very knotty, use a detangling spray to help you comb through.

This detangling comb from The Body Shop is $7.

This Wide-Tooth Comb from Silk Elements is infused with olive oil and wheat germ. $4 from Sally’s Beauty Supply

2. Avoid heat styling

Like I said before, added heat can be rough on your hair. Of course a heat protectant can help, but especially during summer, try to avoid extra heat.

3. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase

A silky pillowcase will allow your hair to slide and glide freely. Standard cotton pillowcases can absorb the natural oils from your hair, drying it out. Cotton can also cause your hair to stick and with your head turning, your hair could snag and break.

A silk pillowcase can also be hydrating to your hair because of it’s natural amino acids.

Sleepnbeauty.com highlights some things to keep in mind when searching for your silk pillowcase.

4. Ribbon Hair Ties

If you’re like me and you wear a lot of ponytails, you should try Ribbon Hair Ties. When I wear my ponytails in the same spot, I notice some breakage where I tie the usual Goody hair ties. Nothing is wrong with traditional Goody hair ties, especially if you adjust the height of your ponytail regularly, but ribbon-type hair ties are much more gentle on your hair.

They’re basically an elastic ribbon, tied in a knot. You could make your own or you can buy them from a number of retailers.

5. Don’t wear you purse on your shoulder

If your shoulder bag rests on your hair, it could be causing breakage. Constant tugging on your hair on the same spot can make your hair weak. Try switching up your bag placement, or being mindful to move your hair out of the way before taking your bag.

Obviously, the healthier your hair, the less likely it is to break. If you already have dry hair or split ends, a good hair cut can give you a fresh start and always looks great for summer.

Tags Beauty, grow, hair, hair journey, haircare, protect your hair, summer beauty, summer hair

Blog Health + Beauty

Summer is Coming! 5 Tips to protect your skin

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 19 June 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

With summer just around the corner, it’s extremely important that you are protecting your skin from the sun.

Here are 5 ways to protect your skin.

1. Stay out of the sun.

“But it’s summer! I want to be outside!” You can still be outside, enjoy the pool, have fun at the beach — whatever you want to do, but be smart about it.

The sun’s rays are most harmful between 10am and 2pm, so avoid being outside at those times if possible.

2. Wear SPF clothing

If you’re going to be out and about, cover up your body to prevent sun exposure. Coolibar makes clothes with UPF 50+ fabrics. SPF clothing is great because it is lightweight and breathable; it’ll wick away moisture and protect you from the sun.

3. Wear a hat and sunglasses

Wearing a hat will keep you cool but also protect the sensitive skin on your face. Plus, don’t forget about your scalp and hair; you’ll want to keep them protected too! Same goes with your sunglasses — wearing them will protect your eyes from wrinkles due to sun exposure and from squinting in the brightness. And don’t just wear any old pair, make sure you use a pair that has UV protection.

4. Wear SPF lip balm

Dry, burned and peeling lips are no fun for summer, so prevent that with a nice SPF lip product.

This balm from Jack Black protects against UVA and UVB rays.

This balm from Kiehl’s come in different tints for sun protection with a touch of color!

5. Wear sunscreen!

Of course you should wear a sunscreen everyday, but especially in the summer when you’re more likely to be outside. Ensure you are using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30. Apply it generously and often — especially if you’re going to be in and out of water. Make sure you use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.

I use Neutrogena Dry Touch Broad Spectrum SPF 70 because it’s light and not greasy. It almost has a powder-like feel to it when it’s rubbed in.

Don’t forget to apply it on your hairline, and your ears too!

Tags Beach, Beauty, glasses, hat, Neutrogena, pool, protect your skin, SPF, summer, Sunscreen, Ultraviolet, UVA, UVA UVB, Wear Sunscreen

Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Sephora 1000 point gift – Is it worth it?

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 1 June 2013
3 Comments on Sephora 1000 point gift – Is it worth it?

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve been a Beauty Insider at Sephora for years which has been cool because, for every dollar you spend, you accumulate one point and you can purchase “perks” with your points. There are perks for 100 points and 500 points and you’ll get a complimentary birthday gift.

Lately though, none of the perks have seemed that interesting to me and my points have been accumulating. On my last trip to Sephora, I was offered a 1,000-point perk — a 20% off coupon to use on my next purchase. It seemed cool at the time so I accepted.

But is 20% off really worth it? A one time use coupon — to reward me for spending over $1,000? I love Sephora and they have most of the brands that I’m looking for — more of a selection than say Ulta, who also has a similar loyalty program. The differnce between Sephora and Ulta’s loyalty programs though is all in the rewards. I get dollar-off discounts on my purchases at Ulta when redeeming my points and I regularly receive 20% off coupons in the mail that don’t cost me any points at all.

Plus, with all my spending at Sephora, I’m a VIB (I spent at least $350/year) , and as a welcome, I got a 10% off card. That’s awesome, but for spending over $1000, I’d like to see a little bit more than 20%.

What do you think? Is the 1000 point perk worth it?

Tags 1000 point perk, Beauty, insider, Loyalty program, perk, point, rewards, Sephora, vib

Blog Health + Beauty

Night Time Skin Care Routine

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 27 May 2013
1 Comment on Night Time Skin Care Routine

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Clarisonic Mia is my favorite skincare tool! I love it. The Mia is perfect for travel and everyday use because of its size — it’s Clarisonic’s smallest skin cleansing system. The Mia runs for one minute on one setting. I’ll use it twice — once for my face and once for my neck & décolleté.

I use my Clarisonic with Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple cleanser. This cleanser is so gentle, yet it is strong enough to remove all of my makeup. With purity and the Clarisonic, I know I am removing all of the impurities from my skin.

After my skin is clean, I’ll apply Lancome’s Advanced Génifique serum. I love this because it absorbs quickly into my face, neck and décolleté. My skin looks youthful and radiant after using this serum and I feel that it preps my face well for the final step to my night time skin care routine, Lancome’s Visionnaire

This cream has a pleasant smell and is essentially, a skin corrector. It fixes visible pores, wrinkles, discoloration, and makes your skin feel soft and healthy.

See my UPDATED night time skin care routine here. 🙂

Tags Beauty, Clarisonic, Cleanser, complexion, facial, Health, Lancôme, Mia, purity, regimen, review, Sephora, skin, skincare