Makeup Mondays—Beauty on a Budget

I’m no snob when it comes to the products that I use, and I have both drugstore and higher end brands in my beauty arsenal. In fact, I love it when I come across an inexpensive product that does the trick—and my latest find is a real steal at only $3!

As you know, I have color treated hair that can be a bit temperamental at times, and depending on the weather and its ‘mood’ I may have to combat dryness, frizz, and static. Because of this, I tend to lean towards products by the likes of Redken and Biolage, as I often feel like drugstore products aren't heavy duty enough. However, a few weeks ago I picked up a bottle of Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Fortifying Conditioner on a whim as I was getting a bit frustrated again; I had read good reviews on this product, and I’m already fond of the Triple Nutrition spray they make, so I figured it couldn't hurt to try it out. I have to say that I was quite impressed with the performance of the conditioner after just one use—my hair was smooth, moisturized, and completely free of frizz and static (which is always an issue because of the extremely dry air here.) The conditioner has a light pleasant fragrance, and left my hair feeling soft but not too slippery or weighed down. It's also free of silicones, which can coat hair and cause it to become more dry over time (if one doesn't clarify every couple of weeks. I tend to avoid products with silicones now as I find my hair behaves better without them.) Following application, my hair was easy to set and style, and remained that way until the next washing three days later.


I have to say this product is worth checking it out; it has definitely earned a place in my hair product rotation and I plan on checking out other Garnier offerings in the future :-)

xoxo,
Amanda Lee

The Quest for Luscious Locks--Roux Porosity Control Corrector & Conditioner

For those of you struggling with dry, frizzy, or otherwise unmanageable locks, I may have found the answer! I’ve been using Roux’s Porosity Control Corrector & Conditioner for the past few weeks and it has transformed my hair , which had become very difficult to style of late (tending toward the dry and flyaway side, and just generally refusing to hold a set.) Since I’ve been using the Roux conditioner, my hair has been styling like a dream—soft and silky (but not slippery), and holding sets better than ever.

My hair is quite thick, but has only a slight wave, and I kick up my natural light ash blonde to a very light golden-toned shade. It’s always held a cold set pretty well, and due to the color process I have done (my stylist uses a high lift color) it’s quite healthy for color-treated hair. However, it suddenly began refusing to curl at all—cold sets and hot sets fell right out, no matter what styling products I used—and brushing it left me with a mess of flyaway frizz. After searching through the reviews at www.makeupalley.com, I decided to take a trip to Sally Beauty and pick up a bottle of Roux’s PC conditioner—and boy am I glad that I did! I shampoo my hair 2-3 times a week, and follow with a good-sized dollop of the Roux conditioner. I rinse this out after a minute or so, and then follow with my usual conditioner (Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner, which smells divine and is wonderful for dry and course hair types. My only complaint about the Roux conditioner is that it’s not the most pleasantly scented. ) I let my hair air dry as much as possible, then comb setting lotion through and set it on rollers. In the morning, I wake up to a head full of bouncy curls that fall right into place—even the first day after washing! (I don’t know about you, but my hair always looks its best on the second and third days following washing—usually on the first day it’s not as manageable and requires a hot roller touch up. Since I’ve been using this product this seems to be a thing of the past.)

Roux also recommends using this conditioner before you have your hair colored, as it fills in the porous sections of hair so that the color processes more evenly. I can’t say I’ve noticed a difference with my hair, but it definitely lives up to the other claims for me! Oh, and Roux has been around since 1932, so it has a fab vintage appeal as well :-)

I highly recommend this product—if you’ve been struggling with dryness, frizz, or if your hair no longer holds a curl, this is well worth trying out!

xoxo,
Amanda Lee

Beauty Finds

The beautiful Dolores Moran primping for the camera

I've been obsessed with cosmetics for many years; I've always suspected this had something to do with my mother not allowing me to wear makeup until I was a teen. She and my sisters are beauty minimalists (and are quite beautiful in their natural state, I might add, and of course being brunettes they were blessed with eyebrows that need no help), but I've been a glamour girl for many years! For me, applying makeup is an enjoyable experience, one that makes me feel feminine and well, glamorous, and I am always searching for the latest and greatest product (I attribute this to my grandmother, who was always trying the newest magic potions--it's got to be an inherited trait!)

A vintage look by Kryolan

So, I thought I would share a couple of my newest finds with you today! The first is a fantastic foundation made by Kryolan, a cosmetics company that started in 1945. As someone with very pale skin, finding a color match has always been a challenge. Because of this, I much prefer pro “stage” makeup lines, as they offer much wider color ranges (and I think we can all benefit from a greater variety of shades). Though they have a rep for being thick, “pancake” heavy makeups, the finishes and textures are actually quite lovely when properly applied. One needs a much thinner layer of product due to the higher pigment-to-filler ratio, and the high pigment concentration also means that the products wear very well (they need to survive under hot stage lights, making them great for hot/humid days.) I tried Kryolan’s TV Paint Stick on a whim, and have been thoroughly impressed with it for the few months I’ve used it. The finish is fantastic; it has lovely, buildable coverage; and the color TV White is a perfect match for my skin tone (which is about a MAC NC/NW5-10, if MAC made that color.) You can’t beat the $11 price tag, either! I've strayed a couple of times, but I always come back to this foundation--and dare I say it *gasp* I've lost all interest in trying more foundations!

The second product that I’ve recently tried is Proclaim Foaming Wrap Lotion. I cold set my hair using perm rods, and on occasion use setting lotion for extra hold (though on the whole, I set my hair with water only.) In the past I’ve been very loyal to Lottabody, but I may now be a convert to Proclaim! My hair is thick and fairly straight, and though color treated, it's in very good condition and now more reluctant to take the curl than it has been in the past. Enter Proclaim Foaming Wrap Lotion--and bam, my hair is curling like a dream! And the set lasts even better and longer than before--I am very pleased with my new solution. A mere $4 at Sally's sets you up with a generously-sized bottle that is easy to use (3-4 pumps of product, no diluting required) and pleasantly scented. Call me hooked!

So there you have it--my two latest beauty "wins"! What beauty finds have you come across lately, dear readers?

xoxo,

Amanda Lee

The Peek-a-boo 'Do

I recently had the opportunity to write for the all-things-vintage Web site Queens of Vintage, and my first article covers one of my favorite 1940s hairstyles--The Peek-a-boo 'Do, as I like to call it. It's inspired by Betty Grable's famous updo, and as I've received many questions about how to create such an updo, I've written a tutorial to show you how I do it.

Check it out here--I hope you enjoy it!

Spotlight on Style--My Sweet Corazon

A few months ago I had the opportunity to model two hair flowers by My Sweet Corazon, and what a pleasure that was! The two flowers I modeled--a cream gardenia and red berry cluster and a dramatic pink tropical clip--were absolutely gorgeous. My Sweet Corazon uses top quality flowers and takes great care with attention to the every little detail--these are showstoppers, for sure! I definitely recommend them to any gal looking to add a little glamour to her hairstyle :-)






Outfit Details
Gingham Blouse with Eyelet Collar--Bebe
1940s Black Wool Pencil Skirt--Matilda's Closet
Narrow Black Patent Belt--Bebe
Fully Fashioned Stockings--Christel's
Black Patent Shoes--TwoLips
1940s Bakelite Cherry and Log Brooch and Earrings--eBay

Hawaiian Sarong in Blue and Pink Hummingbird and Floral Print--Whirling Turban
Stockings--Christel's
1940s Cream Linen Peeptoe Slingbacks--eBay
1940s Pink and Yellow Flower Earrings--Purchased at the Reading WWII Weekend ages ago