Broke but workin’ it!

My skin has gone absolutely insane. Aside from a bout of the flu I have no idea what’s happened.

I’ve been using Neutrogena’s visibly even foaming cleanser. And it’s just not cutting it. My skin has been extra oily and angry for a few weeks now.

So what to do?

First thing is I will be paying closer attention to my daily water intake. After having the flu for a week and a half or so I doubt I was getting entirely enough water. And I think that the cold medication just doesn’t agree with me. Also, I think I will change up how I use my cleanser. Instead of twice a day I will use the Neutrogena at night and the St. Ives in the morning.

Lately I’ve also noticed that my dark marks have not been fading all that well. I am thinking of adding Neutrogena’s Visibly Even night concentrate.

Read some of my product reviews on MakeUp Alley. So far I’ve only reviewed Proactiv and Goldie lipgloss but look for more of those as I go through my cosmetics. Soon I’ll be reviewing Benefit’s BadGal mascara. (Purchased on Ebay for an absolute STEAL of a price.) Also a couple of Got2be drugstore skincare products.

Great deals Ahoy!

Sally’s Online web only coupons.

3 free samples with every Sephora.com order.

Enter to win a Walgreens Shopping Spree!
The Amazon Outlet.

Coming up next week buying fabulous make up on a not so fabulous budget. What works and what doesn’t. And how to try out trendy looks for less. Stay tuned folks!

I tried the Ors Olive Oil Regular no lye relaxer for the first time and I really like it. I am very wary about relaxing my hair anymore because the last two times part of my hair wound up underprocessed. However this one got my hair just about the right texture.

I think next time I might actually relax bone straight. Given that it’s been about three years since I’ve done that it’ll be a nice change.

I did miss a little spot in my nape though. I think the gloves that come with it are thicker than I’m used to using and next time I’ll use my own non latex gloves.

I also purchased myself some flexirods I got the red ones and I hope they aren’t too small. I also got another container of Elasta QP Mango Butter because I don’t find it locally and my hair just LOVES it. I still need some more Profectiv Mega Growth. I didn’t realize how low I was last night until I went to treat my hair after my relaxer. And now looking at the page I think I should’ve bought it last night that’s actually cheaper than I find it anywhere locally.

Until I get my creams I have some Pantene daily moisturizer. Not my favorite thing because it’s really heavy but, it’ll do for now.

I think I’m gearing up to try henna too. I’ve been doing a TON of research and have bookmarked the threads here at LCHF and been reading elsewhere about it. I’d be really excited to have good results from henna. I’ve been interested in trying henna for years but was always scared I’d screw up and my hair would fall out. Hopefully next month I will make henna the experiment. I keep picturing a hella cute indigo black flexirod set swingin off of my head.

Skin news.

My skin has been freaking out. All week since I’ve had the flu I haven’t had the energy to really keep up with my skin care regiment. And my skin is suffering. I’ve got a minor chin area break out and my skins been really more oily than usual. Not surprising given that I had a fever.

I’ve been using the Queen Helene’s Grapeseed peel off masque twice a week for about a month and I really like it. It leaves my skin really soft and it’s a little more refined. I actually like it better than the Neutrogena pore perfecting mask. Not only is it cheaper for more but, it actually feels better on the skin and I like the results quite a bit more.

I super exfoilated my body last night. I am still really in love with my bath brush. I also really like the new body wash I’ve been using. The Oatmeal and Shea butter wash. The unseasonably cold weather has made my skin so dry and flaky this has been a godsend. And it’s reasonably priced.

The smell is a little more perfumey than I would like. Not unpleasant though. Vanilla-ish. It goes well with my nighttime body butter.

I think that’s about all for now. Tonight I am going to moisturize my hair, and try to braid it. Try. If I get too frustrated I will bun and wrap it.

Starting point length pictures coming up soon.

I’ve abadoned you. But not entirely. I actually have decided to take this in a more personal direction.

Instead of doing nonstop reviews etc (non stop HAHA) I’ll be using this also to document my progress in growing my hair and my self care.

It is my goal this year to maintain healthy hair and skin and be consistant with my self care. So here we go. I’ll be making a couple of post that are backdated and go from there.

I will still post deals and reviews as well.

I stretch relaxers for usually about 8 weeks. I’m right around 7 post right now give or take a few days. My new growth is wild and due to a big snafu with my last wash last night my hair was really tangled and dry.

What had happened was that after I did my regular pre shampoo deep condition then shampooed I lost my wide toothed comb. And if you have a lot of hair you do not untangle with anything less unless you want to lose a lot of hair.

So I had only marginally untangled hair and put it up best I could until I got a new comb yesterday. But by last night my hair was a dry tangled angry mess.

Here’s what I did:

I use Freeman Papaya and Seaweed deep conditioner. Add a squeeze or two of Doogro oil (or if I have it jojoba oil), shake the tube.

Part your hair into a manageable section. I did my hair in six sections. Then I worked the mix of conditioner/oil and added a little Profectiv break free into the roots and new growth. I untangled with my fingers first, then with two combs until I got it tangle free. I then used a bigger dollop of the conditioner, with an extra squirt of oil, worked it through that section, made a mini bun with terry cloth elastics.

I did that all over my head, made sure I sealed the ends. Tied it up for the night I got up this morning it looked like I’d either relaxed or did a really good job with a straightner of some sort.

Bonus my hair is soft, shiny and silky.

However, if your hair is thin this would probably be too much for it. My hair is extremely thick and thirsty usually and this did a wonder. I was about in tears when I started combing my hair out last night because the new growth was so tangled and I was really afraid I was going to break out big chunks.

Now, for folks with hair that’s fine, normally oily I suggest doing this but, wash it out in the morning. Also you can substitute the Doo Gro I use with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, packs of hot oil from the drug store, jojoba oil as mentioned above, sweet almond oil, castor oil. Look in your pantry and you probably have something suitable. Remember, the main point of doing this is to ask your hair to forgive you after treating it roughly.

This is also a good daily treatment for hair that’s been bleached or otherwise fried. Do this for a week or so and your hair will start feeling much much better.

Here we have Sally’s monthly coupon. And more Sally’s coupons right here.  For those of you who are rolling with a bit more money MAC is offering free shipping on orders over 55$.  Need to buy someone a fabulous present?  But your wallet is hurtin?  Shop Sephora for fantastic gifts under 25$. 

 Buy me Beauty is a great website with good prices.  Get your favorite high end and drugstore brands at good prices.

Need something other than make up?

If you’re anything like me you don’t have the time to run around searching out the golden deal.  You know what you like, you know what you need and want to accomplish your mission with a minimum of hassle.  My personal favorite way to get my basics (shampoo, various hair stuff, vitamins etc) is to buy via Walgreens online.

The fantastic thing about Walgreens online is that they have a massive selection of products.  And they offer free standard shipping on orders over 50$.  So you waste less time running from store to store and it gets delivered.  Also another big plus is the ability to pay via Paypal if you like.  Two big thumbs up.

Financially, I feel it breaks down quite well.  I like to make a big (over 50$) purchase just about bi monthly.  That way I keep my stocks of vitamins, pain relievers and other sundries topped up. 

Another good tip is to join the mailing list of a particular store or manufacterer you like.  Many reward email list participants with exclusive sales, early notice of sales, online specials and the like.  If you already get a ton of spam create yourself a special email address just for your mailing lists. 

I like big capacity providers (I *heart* gmail) but there are free services with ever expanding inbox sizes.

If you’d like a gmail account let me know where to send an invite along.  I’ve got a ton of them and i like to share.

That’s all for now folks.  Go save some money and look good doing it!

Last night I braided my hair to attempt my first braid out.

Now I didn’t do the instructions entirely as listed. This weekend was not a wash weekend so, I did my braids after treating my scalp with Doo gro stimulating growth oil and Profectiv Mega Growth cream. A tip I found on a forum told me to roll the ends in a foam roller to protect them.

We’ll see how it turns out. I think this one won’t be a hair style I wear out because I made some of the brads a bit too big at the base.

I’ve been stretching time between relaxers (read here to see what a relaxer is) because I’ve been very guilty of over processing my hair and leaving it fragile and damaged. What I noticed is that a.)I should lessen my time between relaxers so I don’t break my hair trying to comb it and b.) my hair grows faster than I thought.

Something I’ve learned is that despite my frustrations over my hair (including much wailing, tearing of said hair and cursing myself while staring down a flat iron) I am doing okay with it.  Granted I feel like I’m a bit behind the curve when it comes to styling my hair but I’m learning.

Lately I’ve been jonesing to do things with my hair to show off my fantastic new growth.  To tell the truth when I showed a coworker the notorious baby butch purple brush cut then showed her my hair now when she said my hair is so pretty, and petted it lovingly I nearly wept.

Not since I was a little kid has someone really meant that in a way that made me feel very nice.

After I relax my hair I will post some before and after shots.

I’m also going to post a few actual reviews.  Tomorrow Sally Hansen Cream hair remover and maybe even Nads Cream Hair remover.

Goodnight and GoodHair.