It's been a MINUTE!

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase "it's been a minute" when referencing something they haven't seen/done in a while? Absolutely doesn't make sense.  "It's been forever," yes. "minute," no. 60 seconds is not a long time in my book. Unless you're running a 400 meter dash.  in which case, friend, you better find a new sport.

ANYWAY, my apologies for neglecting you, my personal life has been crazy busy, blah blah blah. On to the good stuff!

Since starting my new job I've realized that the old 'roll into (work, school, dates) with wet hair and a layer of mascara' thing won't cut it anymore.  I'm a really low-mantainence person (get ready in 35 minutes including shower and picking out an outfit), so I've been on the hunt for products that get the job done quick and easy.  I thought I'd review some of my favorites!

(Note: super ghetto pictures to follow. I'm on my lunch break and only have a cell phone...)

First up, Cover Girl Natureluxe Gloss Balms. These are amazing.  As someone slowing creeping into the lipstick world, I love these because they impart more color than a chapstick or gloss, but don't have that thick lipstick-y feeling or taste. Just the right amount of color, and I find them very moisturizing.

These are not mine--I couldn't get a product picture?!

The downside is that, as a balm and not a lipstick or stain, you have to reapply more frequently than other products. But I don't mind since, like I said, I use it kind of like a chapstick. I have two: peony and pinot. Pinot is a gorgeous deep red/dark berry color, and Peony, although it looks bright, intimidating red in the tube, looks more like a brighter red berry (blue undertones), which I actually love.

If you're not the type to want to reapply, here's my other favorite product for your perusal: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. It's a stain, with a balm! Duh. I love these because the color really does last forever and the balm is nice, although it wears off right away.



These are the product images...I don't think the colors are very accurately depicted, so here's my ghetto shot from my desk:

Top to bottom: Revlon Honey, Revlon Smitten, Covergirl Pinot, Covergirl Peony


The Honey is marketed as a "my lips but better' color, which I don't really agree with.  And now I come to the downside of the product: at first Honey is a MLBB color (if your skin tans easily--for my pale, pink-toned skin it was a little too mauve/brown at first). Then, once the balm wears off, it turns into a really very pretty pink color, which is noticeable not subtle. It's still really pretty, so it's not a problem for me as long as that's what color I planned to wear.  If you're looking for a natural color, this isn't it.  As for the Smitten color, it's BRight! Bright pink.  Starts as a lovely berry color, then once the balm wears off it's a fuschia (how the eff do you spell fuisha?!) more or less. So the downside of these sticks is that the balm color is different from the stain color--stain is still pretty, just something to be aware of.  I look forward to them expanding their color selection, too.

(Tip I just discovered that everyone probably already knows: Rite Aid and CVS both have 100% guaranteed returns on makeup. So I've been bringing things home to try and if they're hideous/I will never ever wear them I return them and try another.)

Next up, mascara.  I've never really understood the hullabaloo over different types of mascara. They all seem to work the same for me. I like Almay products, so when I ran out of my regular kind (the One Coat Nourishing type), I just grabbed the first Almay mascara I found, which was this:


And HOLY LORD now I get it.  Almay Get Up and Grow is amaaazing, makes my lashes look thicker and longer.  At the end of the day it does smudge a little, but all my mascaras do so I don't care.

And last but not least, with the crazy-hot weather assaulting Salt Lake City lately, my hair has gotten sooooo dry!

I did a little internet digging for hair help, and discovered this gem:

I found it in the 'ethnic hair' section of my local Rite Aid, and was initially worried that it wouldn't be good for my non-African hair (sorry if that's really naive--I didn't know!), but after reading a few reviews I gave it a whirl.  I put it on the ends of my hair and immediately noticed a difference.  The next morning after my shower I put a little pool in my palm and ran it through my damp hair then styled as usual.  It was a bit softer, but not crazily so.  Then last night I put it in my dry hair (I put too much in, made it look oily which if used properly it shouldn't), and this morning after my shower I didn't put any in (because I was worried that the greasy look would come back) and holy goodness my hair has never been so soft. Seriously. Wonder drug, and only $8!

My last trick has been using this:

My Supercuts stylist (who I go to for just trims--I have a fantastic girl, Alison at Bladeworks, when I'm getting an actual hairstyle rather than a trim) recommended biotin or prenatals for hair growth and strength. Since my hair's been growing soooooo slowwwwwwly I gave it a whirl.  I'm not sure if it's working--I started using the argan oil a few days after I started taking biotin and noticed more of a difference after the oil--but maybe it's the magical combo of both that's doing me good?

Anyway, these are things I've used and loved.  What are your favorite products? Are you a low-mantainence person (read: somewhat lazy about makeup routine and sleeps in till the last possible minute) too, or are you one of those people I strive to be who are fantastic at making lots of makeup look completely natural (and HOW do you DO it?!?!)

OH and your input plllleeeeease! 2 Augusts ago I did this to myself:

Chopped off basically all my hair so I could donate it and subsequently had personal image issues for a good two months (sad but true--although I met my now-boyfriend the day I chopped it off, so it couldn't have been as awful as I felt it looked ;). I've been growing it out ever since and have finally reached this status:

(why yes, yes I did take this in the bathroom at work.  Funny you should ask.  What's that you say? Did I feel like a big creeper and do I now feel extremely narcissistic for posting this? Right again! Is it a terrible photo that probably should never reach the internets? Yesssssss)

So Here's the deal.  I am TIRED of trying to grow this shiz out. Then I (and everyone else and their mother) saw this on Pinterest the other day....and I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it. Haircut today at five.  So I need YOU, lovely readers, to tell me if you think it's a good idea!

Your thoughts?!?!