tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59796499414749393682024-02-18T18:42:27.608-08:00Natural Product GirlReal product reviews from the girl who's allergic to everythingMeaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-54560875975328317532015-08-09T11:12:00.001-07:002015-08-09T11:13:12.916-07:00Empties!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enough time has now passed that I have a couple of products I have completely used up -- and since it takes me a while to use things up, this means over 6 months since my last blog post. I want to make this a more regular thing again, and I really have no excuses. Let's do this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My empties are all shower-related, but I am nearing the end of a few skin care products that hopefully I will remember to write about in another post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod6390407" target="_blank"><b>Organix Weightless Hydration Coconut Water Shampoo</b></a>. I bought this because I wanted to buy Organix's Coconut <i>Milk</i> shampoo after using it at a family member's house and loving it, but they didn't have it at the drugstore so I thought I'd try this one instead. It's good. It's not as moisturizing as the Coconut Milk one, which I have recently purchased. I like that Organix has so many different "flavors" of shampoo and that they are, actually, organic, and affordable at the drugstore. I always buy hair products at the drugstore since the higher-end products I have tried do not justify the higher price to me. I've tried Aveda, Bumble & Bumble, Paul Mitchell, Alterna, and others. My hair also seems to develop buildup easily from shampoos, so I usually keep two shampoos in my shower at a time and alternate them and this seems to help. This is easier to do when the bottles are under $10 as opposed to $20 or even $30.</span><br />
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<a href="http://ii.aveeno.com/fcgi-bin/iipsrv.fcgi?FIF=/images/aveeno//source/1101131.tif&wid=1000&cvt=jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ii.aveeno.com/fcgi-bin/iipsrv.fcgi?FIF=/images/aveeno//source/1101131.tif&wid=1000&cvt=jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.aveeno.com/product/aveeno-+positively+nourishing-+hydrating+body+wash+.do" target="_blank"><b>Aveeno Positively Nourishing Hydrating Body Wash</b></a>. I don't usually get my body wash/shower gel from the drugstore, but I was out, and for once was not in the mood to carefully research which one to try and go out of my way to get it. Most Aveeno products are a safe bet for me allergy-wise, and it seemed like a fairly new product. I liked all of the scents when I smelled them in CVS, so I randomly chose this "hydrating" one which had a fruity fig scent. This is a solid body wash -- not hydrating enough that you can skip moisturizer afterwards, but not stripping and not irritating, and I used it pretty much every day in the shower. I've actually already repurchased this but in a different scent to switch things up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>L'Occitane Essential Oil Shower Gel.</b> It appears that this product has been discontinued, as L'Occitane tends to do. In any case I don't think I would have repurchased not -- not because it didn't do the job, but because it didn't wow me at a higher price point. It had a unisex minty, herbal scent and lathered nicely.</span><br />
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<a href="http://img.loccitane.com.s1.frz.io/P.aspx?l=en-US&s=600&e=jpg&name=almond-shower-oil&id=29HD250A6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://img.loccitane.com.s1.frz.io/P.aspx?l=en-US&s=600&e=jpg&name=almond-shower-oil&id=29HD250A6" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/almond-shower-oil,82,1,29229,262185.htm#s=29482" target="_blank">L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil.</a></b> I am seriously shocked that I have not blogged about this before. I just went through all of my past blog posts to double check because I was that sure that I had. I've been using this on and off for years and often ending up coming back to it. I love the delicious almond scent of this oil and the other products in the L'Occitane almond line. It's very moisturizing on its own, but I like to pair it with the <a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/almond-milk-concentrate,82,1,29229,263600.htm" target="_blank">Almond Milk Concentrate</a> when I get out of the shower. This does not produce much of a lather, so if you like the intense lather that comes from sulfates in most body washes you won't find that here. I do sometimes feel like I'm not getting as thoroughly "clean" as I could be when I use this, which is why I now prefer to use a regular body wash like the Aveeno one, and use the Almond Shower Oil exclusively for shaving. YouTuber Essie Button actually gave me this idea, and it does work SO well as a shaving oil. It also makes the product last longer, as it's on the pricier side.</span><br />
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<a href="http://img.loccitane.com/P.aspx?l=en-US&s=300&e=png&id=01EC200K1&name=shea-butter-ultra-rich-body-scrub" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://img.loccitane.com/P.aspx?l=en-US&s=300&e=png&id=01EC200K1&name=shea-butter-ultra-rich-body-scrub" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/shea-butter-ultra-rich-body-scrub,82,1,29193,263806.htm#s=39164" target="_blank">L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Scrub.</a> </b>This was a great scrub that lasted FOREVER. I only used it once every few weeks most of the time, and because it's so rich, a little goes a long way. It's not like most other scrubs I used in that it has a creamy base instead of an abrasive one, so it leans more toward the moisturizing side as opposed to exfoliating. It does have "finely ground nutshells," though, as its exfoliator, so when you use the right amount of pressure it does the job. I got this as a gift but I would definitely purchase it, although I would probably try the Almond scrub first to see how it compares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Cleansing Wipes - <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4920029&skuId=2254367&_requestid=362542" target="_blank">Yes to Cucumbers</a>, <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod6430327" target="_blank">Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit,</a> <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=VP00172" target="_blank">Neutrogena Makeup Removing</a>, <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4180639" target="_blank">Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit</a>. </b>I lumped these all together in one category, but I actually only use the Neutrogena Makeup Removing wipes on my face and the rest on my body after working out if I don't have time to shower. The Neutrogena Makeup Removing wipes are surprisingly the only ones that I can use on my face to remove my makeup that do not irritate my skin. The rest - even the Yes to Cucumbers - make my face beet red. I know this doesn't make any sense because the Neutrogena ones are heavily fragranced (which I don't love) and not specifically for sensitive skin, but, that's my skin for ya. Side note -- I also tried the CVS brand sensitive skin wipes at some point and had to return them because my skin hated them the most. For my body, the Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit are probably my favorite, although they all do the job. The Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit ones are very similar in scent but the Burt's Bees scent is slightly less artificial. The Yes to ones have a crisp, clean scent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, finally, I would just like to take a moment to rant about how much I hate <b><a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod10951015" target="_blank">Eos Lip Balm</a></b>. In my opinion, this is the WORST lip balm of all time. The spherical shape intrigued me, but this thing got dirty. I actually think it was growing some kind of mold at some point. I started wiping it off with a tissue before every time I used it which was annoying and time-consuming. It also didn't moisturize half as well as other drugstore lip balms, like the Burt's Bees ones. </span><br />
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-Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-45230098245703134772015-01-25T10:57:00.000-08:002015-01-25T10:57:35.422-08:00New Year, New Citrus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Citrus is one of the strongest scents out there, and usually people have a love it or hate it opinion. I'm choosy about how I like my citrus smells -- I love fresh-cut lemons and citrus-scented cleaning products, but despise citrus candles and perfumes (unless it's mixed heavily with a floral or vanilla scent). I recently discovered another form in which I love my citrus -- skin care. I've been using my Peaches Skin Care <a href="http://peachesskincare.com/order-products.html" target="_blank">classic cleanser </a>for about a year now, which contains grapefruit and orange peel oils, and I really think the citrus scent helps to wake me up in the morning. It's a great all-skin-types cleanser that removes makeup and also works well with a Clarisonic. I've almost used up the bottle and I may even repurchase (gasp!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, this post isn't about Peaches again. It's actually about a brand I haven't mentioned before because I've never used it -- Origins. I got two Origins moisturizers in a sample pack from Sephora -- <a href="http://www.sephora.com/ginzing-tm-energy-boosting-moisturizer-P378852?icid2=Origins_revivetired_skin_carousel_040114%20%20_P378852_link" target="_blank">GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer </a>and <a href="http://www.sephora.com/high-potency-night-a-mins-mineral-enriched-renewal-cream-P297520?icid2=Origins_bestof_origins_carousel_040114_P297520_link" target="_blank">High Potency Night-A-Mins</a>. I did not have particularly high hopes since Origins gives the impression of being a "natural" brand but I suspected that their products actually had a lot of synthetic ingredients, mainly from often seeing Origins being sold in department stores. But, according to their website, Origins products are free from "parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, PABA, petrolatum, paraffin, DEA, and animal products," which are all good things in my book. When I did a little research on the brand I also learned that they are owned by Estee Lauder, which owns a host of other beauty companies including Bobbi Brown, Clinique and La Mer, to name a few. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I tried both of the sample packs (got about three uses out of each) and didn't have an allergic reaction, plus they both smelled amazing with a strong citrus scent and sunk beautifully into my skin, I knew I was going to end up purchasing the full-size versions. A few weeks later, with my Sephora gift card in hand, I bought a limited-edition Origins kit that had full-size versions of both moisturizers, plus the GinZing eye cream and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Moisture Mask. I was really excited for the mask, since Origins is known for their masks and I was hoping it would help clear up my occasional dry patches this time of year. Much to my disappointment, I had an immediate allergic reaction when I tested it on both my hand and neck (just to be sure) and had to wash it off both times. The eye cream is nice, but it was just about the last thing I needed as I currently have 4 eye creams in my rotation and I can never seem to use up a tube. I bought the kit specifically for the moisturizers though, and I've been using them on and off for a few weeks now and have no complaints -- no breakouts or irritation, just smooth, soft, faintly citrus-smelling skin. I use GinZing in the morning on days when I know I'm not going to be in the sun (which, admittedly, isn't too often here in Santa Barbara), and Night-A-Mins every night as the last step in my skincare routine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will likely be turning to Origins when it's time to buy a new daytime moisturizer with SPF, as the one I'm currently using (<a href="http://www.sephora.com/triple-performing-facial-emulsion-spf-15-pa-P283507?skuId=1318328" target="_blank">Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion</a>) is fine, but I can't shake the strong, powdery, perfumed fragrance or the taste of it if it gets in my mouth. Based on the reaction I had to the mask, I'm definitely going to be testing Origins products before purchasing, but I'm looking forward to finding other skincare staples from this brand. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-69607431634254101932014-10-19T10:11:00.003-07:002014-10-19T10:11:34.551-07:00Mascara Comparison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't bought a tube of mascara in probably over a year. And yet I wear mascara nearly every day. How is this possible, you ask? Free mini mascaras seem to keep throwing themselves at me everywhere I turn -- namely, Ulta and Sephora.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have gotten two minis of Benefit's cult-fave <i><b><a href="http://www.sephora.com/they-re-real-mascara-P289307?keyword=BENEFIT%20COSMETICS%20They%27re%20Real!%20Mascara%20P289307&skuId=1343938&_requestid=44407" target="_blank">They're Real! Mascara</a></b>, </i>which I think is my favorite. Everyone raves about this one, and I get it. It lengthens without clumping -- what more can you want? It also works pretty well if you're one of those gals who likes to apply multiple coats. In terms of volume, I would say it's not the best choice. It gives you so much length, though, it makes you forget about volume. Interesting story -- I recently had my makeup done for a wedding by a woman who has been in the biz for years, and she absolutely hates They're Real! because she said it clumps. She also said they always use disposable wands and not the wands that come with the mascara for hygienic reasons, so the wand might be the key to They're Real!'s success (although it looks like any ordinary wand to me!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another luxe fave is the mini I recently got as a free gift with my Tarte BB cream purchase -- their <i><b><a href="http://www.sephora.com/gifted-amazonian-clay-smart-mascara-P286101?skuId=1328913" target="_blank">Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara</a></b></i>. I know their <b><i><a href="http://www.sephora.com/lights-camera-lashes-P111902?icid2=Tarte_Bestsellers_Carousel_P111902_link" target="_blank">Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara</a> </i></b>gets a lot of love, but I've never tried that one so I can only speak to Gifted which is part of their Amazonian Clay line. Like They're Real!, this mascara gives amazing length with a single coat. It can be a little quick to clump when applying multiple coats, but not too bad overall. I also feel like it gives much more volume than They're Real!, which is a big plus for me. It can be a little stubborn to remove with just my face wash, but a few swipes with eye makeup remover usually does the trick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My third favorite mini that I have in my makeup drawer right now is the <b><i><a href="http://www.sephora.com/noir-couture-P375170?keyword=GIVENCHY%20Noir%20Couture%204%20in%201%20Mascara%20P375170&skuId=1442607&_requestid=41175" target="_blank">Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara</a></i></b> by Givenchy. I never buy "designer" brand makeup, so this is definitely not something I would've purchased on my own, but I was pleasantly surprised. I like the three-bulb wand style for reaching all my lashes, and it also doesn't clump and gives good length and volume. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My least favorite mini that is currently in my rotation is the <b><i><a href="http://www.sephora.com/smoky-extravagant-mascara-P379925?skuId=1520329" target="_blank">Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara.</a></i></b> It's bleh. Doesn't do much in terms of length or volume, but is an OK basic mascara. The cone-shaped brush also doesn't do anything for me. Pass. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And finally, I have to mention a drugstore mascara that I love and have actually repurchased in the past: <b><i><a href="http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/eyes/mascara/07353.html" target="_blank">Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara</a></i></b>. This is, honestly, the one I'm most likely to buy the full-size off once my minis run out. It's less than $10, natural, and does what most of the above mascaras do. I first bought this a few years ago after asking a coworker what she used on her fabulous lashes, and I just noticed they have a couple new formulas in the Organic Wear line that must've come out in the past few years. If the above mascaras are a bit on the pricey side for you, I would definitely recommend starting with this one and seeing how you like it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does anyone else have a problem with knowing when to throw mascara out? You can't easily see what's left in the tube, and unless there's clearly no product on the wand, or it's clumping like crazy when it didn't use to clump, how do you know? I've never had a mascara do any of the above, so usually I just toss it after I can't remember how long I've been using it. I know different makeup products have different shelf-lives, but I usually don't follow these as I like to use things up to the last drop (or, as my husband would say, I have a <i>compulsion</i> to use things up to the last drop :). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also wanted to mention that I gave my blog a little facelift since there were some technical issues with the layout I was previously using. I don't love it, but I'm considering upgrading to a nicer blog as soon as I have the time and resources. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-25263413535878430242014-09-13T16:56:00.000-07:002014-09-13T19:16:55.014-07:00BeautiControl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few months ago a friend of mine started selling BeautiControl products. For those of you (like me) who are completely unfamiliar with the brand, BeautiControl is primarily sold through representatives and catalogs, like Avon or Mary Kay. BeautiControl has a smaller product line (as far as I can tell) and everything I've tried has been high-quality, better than I remember Avon or Mary Kay products being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've actually been using two BeautiControl moisturizers as my main moisturizers -- the <a href="https://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=95402&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=81101&top_category=69601" target="_blank">BC Spa Facial Defend & Restore Moisture Lotion SPF 20</a> in the AM (only on days when I know I'm going to be outside the majority of the day) and <a href="https://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=95405&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=81101&top_category=69601" target="_blank">BC Spa Facial Defend & Restore Night Creme</a> in the PM. Both don't irritate my skin or cause breakouts (yay!). There also isn't any noticeable fragrance, even though the website doesn't specifically say that they are fragrance-free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Starting with the day moisture lotion, I like that it has SPF 20 from titanium dioxide and not one of the more chemical sunscreen ingredients that usually irritate my skin, like octisalate. It comes in a squeezable plastic tube, which is my favorite kind of packaging because it protects the ingredients from destabilizing due to exposure to light and, more importantly, means you can use it up to the last drop! The consistency of the lotion is not my favorite. It looks like greasy sunscreen when you squeeze it out of the tube. When you put it on, however, it absorbs quickly and does not look shiny. I've noticed that my skin tends to get shinier throughout the day when I use this, but I should probably invest in an oil-absorbing powder to wear that would take care of this problem. And while it's certainly not drying, it's also not particularly hydrating. I should note that BeautiControl sells a heavier version </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for drier skin </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of both of the products I'm reviewing in this post, and I have not tried them. I got the lighter versions since it was the beginning of summer when I bought them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The night creme is also light and fast-absorbing, and does a much better job of moisturizing than the day lotion. At the same time, I feel like it's just an ordinary night cream. And it comes in a tub, which is not ideal. Both of these products are also on the pricer side at $30-35 each. While it's certainly not that extravagant (ahem, <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2014/02/i-bought-100-moisturizer.html" target="_blank">$100 moisturizer post</a>), I think you could find similar products at a drugstore in the $10-20 range.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While we're on the BeautiControl topic, I've also tried their sensitive skin line which, naturally, irritated my skin, and some of their makeup products, which, on the other hand, I love. Cute, innovative packaging (their lip glosses have a mirror on the side and a light inside the cap -- genius!) and good colors. I also finally found my holy grail brow pencil from their line, in the most perfect, easy-to-apply shade of brown.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overall I've been pleasantly surprised by BeautiControl and would recommend checking them out if you have a rep in your area.</span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-32318709943931493332014-08-20T10:24:00.003-07:002014-08-20T10:24:44.552-07:00Tarte CC Primer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEnbWLyHwEhXEq_y1xbp-pXBkwT1ZqiIwHXapkro1xSyyXdm7fqm7xm6VQtJTPQWUbFa9OnVF8joCQyOMVX5fFB6FK6t4qEZpAJlWw5Jl0yD8qhcO7BYOnrROYM2I_grM66zJ9R0Zs57q/s1600/s1577857-main-hero-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEnbWLyHwEhXEq_y1xbp-pXBkwT1ZqiIwHXapkro1xSyyXdm7fqm7xm6VQtJTPQWUbFa9OnVF8joCQyOMVX5fFB6FK6t4qEZpAJlWw5Jl0yD8qhcO7BYOnrROYM2I_grM66zJ9R0Zs57q/s1600/s1577857-main-hero-300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, time for a traditional post about just <i>one</i> product that I've been using recently and am happy with: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/colored-clay-cc-primer-P384569" target="_blank">Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer.</a> I bought it on a whim one day at Ulta to use up a coupon I had that was expiring (always a sound reason to make a purchase, right?) and I've been using it almost every day for about a month now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was intrigued by the little color wheel on the stick that includes green and pink that is supposed to help correct redness, which is certainly a problem for me. I usually draw a flat line across my cheeks, chin and forehead, trying to press down evenly, and then use my fingertips to blend out the line. When I read this in the instructions I was a little skeptical, but it blends really easily and beautifully. I would suggest that if you have combination-dry skin like mine, you start with a good moisturizer, because the "stick" nature of this product means that it's not packing much moisture and I've noticed on days my skin is a little drier it can kind of bring little flakes or just make my skin look drier in general. This product is supposed to be a primer, but for me it's all I wear unless I have an acne scar or small pimple that needs some extra coverage, in which case I spot-apply my liquid foundation. That said, it is definitely light coverage and nothing more, which I personally think is the way to go unless it's a special occasion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd be interested in trying out my Tarte products based on my positive experience with this one, and because my good friend <a href="http://ruthadelia.com/" target="_blank">Ruth</a> uses Tarte products for her makeup routine (even for her own wedding!) and always looks glowing. <3</span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-31272903376175388132014-08-09T20:17:00.000-07:002014-08-09T20:17:02.073-07:00August Beauty Update <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello loyal readers (all 2 of you)! I know it's been a few months since my last post but I do have a few new products I've been using and loving that I hope to share with you on a semi-regular basis going forward. I just ran a 5k yesterday for the first time without having to stop to walk at all, so, in my world, that means I can do anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First off, a followup to <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-acne-post-revisited.html?view=classic">The Acne Post - Revisited</a>. I am still loving <a href="http://peachesskincare.com/">Peaches Skin Care</a>. I have been back since then for a third facial and have been consistently using their Flawless Exfoliator, Classic Cleanser, Perfect pH Toner, and, more recently, Perfecting Polish. Every morning, I use the Flawless Exfoliator, wash off, then the Classic Cleanser, wash off, and (only every other morning or 2-3 times a week depending on how often I'm using my Clarisonic at night -- don't want to over-exfoliate!) then a tiny bit of the Perfecting Polish, which is one of the most unique products I've ever used. It's a white paste with just a little bit of something rough (I think it's the sugar) that dissolves once it hits your damp face and really seems to get any remaining dead skin off. It's one of those products that the first time you use it, you'll be amazed at how soft your skin feels. The same thing happened to me when I first used my Clarisonic (which I have mixed feelings about, but, I'll leave that for another post). It may seem like a lot of steps for washing your face if you're used to just cleansing, but it goes pretty quickly and I've found that the results are more than worth it. And in the evenings it's much simpler -- just cleanse, tone, and moisturize. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The one area where Peaches falls short for me is moisturizers -- I'm allergic to their only moisturizer. So I've been trying a few other new brands and having good results, which I will share with you soon once I've had a little more time to evaluate. I'm still scraping the bottle of my <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2014/02/i-bought-100-moisturizer.html">$100 moisturizer </a>and realizing the green recycled glass packaging, while pretty, makes it also pretty impossible to use it up to the last drop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another Peaches product I received a sample of and will probably purchase is their Retinol Night Creme. I'm starting to think more about preventative skin care to fight wrinkles and I've heard that retinol-based creams are the best. This one is non-irritating and very light, almost like a gel, and I put on a tiny bit at night a few times a week instead of my moisturizer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you don't live in or visit Santa Barbara often, Peaches has a location in Montgomery, Ohio, and you can also buy their products on their website. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-17249916464393660722014-05-17T10:22:00.001-07:002014-05-17T10:22:27.073-07:00What's in my Bag?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been seeing these posts a lot lately and I thought it would be fun to do one myself. In order for this post to have any meat to it, though, I have to describe everything that could <i>possibly</i> be in my bag at any given time. (I do usually carry a large purse, so it's actually pretty likely that everything listed here could be in there at one time.) So, besides my phone and wallet, here are my must-haves:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1) Hand sanitizer. </b>Doesn't matter what brand, just needs to be there. Especially if you are not carrying #11, so you can use this and a napkin or one of #7 in a pinch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2) Mints. </b>Usually Altoids, the small ones. The wintergreen flavor is my fav, but since they sell only Original in the smalls at Trader Joe's that's usually what I have. I made the mistake once of thinking I could live without having mints on my person at all times, and am pretty sure I traumatized a young child with my garlic-onion breath. Never again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3) Compact folding hair brush.</b> You know what I mean; the little round ones that fold in and pop out like a sea anemone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4) Compact with pressed foundation with mirror</b>. Even though I have not been wearing foundation as of late, I do not want to be stuck with a zit on my face or some redness when I have a work meeting or something of the like. And a mirror is always useful. Use the foundation sparingly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5) Hair ties.</b> At least two.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>6) Bobby pins.</b> Again, at least two. The boppy pin monster and hair tie monster are actually much more lethal than the better-known sock monster. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>7) Tissue pack.</b> I like <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/kleenex-pocket-pack-facial-tissue/qxp310896">these</a> from Kleenex because they come in fun, chic prints, but they aren't as pricy as those fancier, but awesome, tissue packs from Sniff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>8) Lip balm. </b>See <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2013/03/lip-balm-nostalgia.html">this post.</a> The L'Occitane one is still my favorite, but I actually am more likely to have Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, untinted, in my bag. The SPF makes me think I'm doing the right thing for my lips during the day, even though if I listen to my own/Peaches' advice in my <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-acne-post-revisited.html">previous post</a> I should probably be thinking otherwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>9) Lip gloss.</b> How have I not done a post about this topic yet? More to come, but <a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom">Buxom</a> glosses are my go-to. I also am dying to try Burt's Bees new line of tinted lip balms and glosses. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>10) Hand cream. </b>See <a href="http://naturalproductgirl.blogspot.com/2013/04/hand-cream-addict">this post.</a> Lest you somehow find out on your own and I lose all trustworthiness, neither of those hand creams are actually in my bag right now -- a Johnson's body care, lavender & chamomile scented one is. I don't love it. In fact, I don't even really like it. I just am irrationally determined to use it up before throwing it out, because I don't want my $2 to have been wasted (or even....was this a stocking stuffer from my mom?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>11) Lemon-scented wipes.</b> <a href="http://usa.loccitane.com/verbena-refreshing-towelettes">These ones</a> from L'Occitane are a fancier version of the ones I usually use but can't find online. I got them at Target in the travel cosmetics bins section. These aren't always in my bag, and when they're not, I without fail find myself in a situation where they are gravely needed, like eating tacos with grease running down my arms. (If you're grossed out, you clearly haven't been to <a href="http://lillystacos.com/">Lily's</a>. The grease is totally worth it.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Only 11 items...I would say that's less than average for a young woman, no? Am I missing anything essential? Please tell me so I can go out and buy it immediately! :) Something I would like to add to the list is food, maybe in the form of a granola bar or nuts. I've definitely found myself out and about and hungry but not hungry enough for a full meal, and end up eating more than I needed to at a restaurant or at least spending more money than I needed to. For some reason I never think ahead to bring a snack in my giant purse --- going to work on that! :)</span><br />
<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-22858191425502528212014-05-03T21:26:00.000-07:002014-05-03T21:26:20.447-07:00The Acne Post - RevisitedIt's been a while since my last post, and that's mainly because my skincare routine has been in a transitional period after I made some drastic changes about a month ago. I wanted to wait at least one month to write this post so I could give you some honest and time-tested feedback. <br />
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I decided to get a facial at a place I've been going for years for bikini waxes called <a href="http://peachesskincare.com/">Peaches Skin Care</a> here in Santa Barbara. My skin was majorly breaking out after I switched to a heavy daytime moisturizer with a high SPF (FYI, it was Boscia Restorative Day Moisture Cream SPF 15 -- heavy and greasy, ugh) and I was feeling desperate. I knew from doing my usual extensive online research that precedes any kind of beauty-related service that Peaches makes their own products, uses microcurrent and microdermabrasion (say what?) in their facials, and boasts on their website and social media sites that they can clear up any kind of acne, with before and after photos that seem too good to be true. So I had high expectations, and also high doubts that my uber-sensitive skin would do well with the two M's that I thought were reserved for "medical" spas (i.e. places you can get Botox but say you're going to the spa--or so I hear).<br />
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After a facial that was a little over an hour with a friendly and concerned esthetician, my face was looking a bit battered (she did <i>very</i> thorough extractions), but I was feeling hopeful. Here are my main takeaways from Peaches:<br />
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<li><b>Regular facials with extractions, microdermabrasion, and microcurrent</b> are important for skin maintenance. The extractions get all the acne-causing gunk out, microderm brings up layers of new skin, and the microcurrent lifts and tightens (they call it a "face lift without surgery"...which I think is more than a bit of a stretch). A second facial a few weeks after the first is the most important to make sure the new skin that was brought up by the first facial stays clean (or maybe this is a ploy to get you to buy a facial package at Peaches...which gives you a small discount if you pay for 3 facials at once. Either way, I bought it).</li>
<li><b>Only pure antioxidants</b> penetrate the skin and make a difference. I didn't feel pressured into buying their products, but the way the esthetician seemed to honestly believe they were the best out there and that they could change my skin sold me. I bought a cleanser, exfoliating wash, toner, and mask. (Full disclosure: I would've bought their moisturizer except that after testing it on my arm I had an allergic reaction.)</li>
<li><b>Yeast infection cream</b> can cure your acne. The esthetician also insisted I put Monistat 7 (yes) on my face morning and night after toning. She said that acne is often a fungal problem and so the Monistat helps with that.</li>
<li><b>Milk of magnesia is a fabulous face mask.</b> They recommend you sleep with it on your face like a mask or at the very least in problem areas, as it calms skin, curbs oil production and helps acne. I've been leaving this on overnight on areas where I feel like I might have a zit coming on, and, sure enough, I wake up zit-free in the morning!</li>
<li><b>Wear sunscreen on your face only when necessary.</b> This probably shocked me even more than the vag cream. According to Peaches, sunscreen ingredients are pore-clogging and cause breakouts. She recommended a titanium dioxide sunscreen to use only as needed, but since wide-brimmed hats are for sale in the Peaches lobby, I think it's safe to assume they prefer hats to sunscreen.</li>
<li><b>Makeup is the devil. A</b>bsolutely NO liquid foundation. Pure mineral makeup with no fillers is OK (i.e. no Bare Minerals) but they really hate foundation, saying it causes acne. </li>
<li><b>Even worse than the devil: Wearing the devil while working out. </b>Sweat will cause your makeup to clog your pores even more. </li>
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All of this might seem pretty extreme and weird to someone who has not tried everything to clear their skin and had no luck. But people like me, think, hmmm, this actually kind of makes sense.<br />
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Was it instant omg-this-skincare-is-a-miracle? No. Have I had any breakouts? Yes. Have they been smaller than usual and few and far between? YES. They also go away quicker and without using any targeted acne treatments like the ones I reviewed in my original Acne Post. In fact, most of these minor breakouts happened while I was traveling and not following the routine to a T, and since I got back and had my second facial (3 weeks ago) those breakouts cleared up super quick and I have not had a single breakout since.<br />
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The main issue I am dealing with now is minor irritation that may or may not be related to the Peaches products and routine. After my first facial, my skin was definitely more sensitive and reactive, and I was also flushing at the littlest cause. Since my second facial, it's been a lot better. Some days I can feel my skin flushing more easily than others. I also suffer from bad seasonal allergies that always affect my skin, and it's prime season right now. Since my skin is looking so great otherwise, I am really hoping it's not the products. I will probably be in denial at least for another 6 months until I use them up anyway. :)<br />
<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-10731287735228988992014-02-09T09:47:00.003-08:002014-02-09T09:47:45.524-08:00I bought a $100 moisturizer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been wanting to write this post for a while now but wanted to be fair and give myself enough time to use the product before reviewing. And now it's finally that time -- and I have a lot to say, so bear with me. It's been about two months since I bought <a href="http://www.tataharperskincare.com/repairative-moisturizer">Tata Harper's Repairative Moisturizer</a> for a whopping $100. To be honest, I only paid $80 since they were having a limited time 20% off sale and I jumped on the opportunity. But still, $80 is a hefty price to pay for a 1.7oz bottle of cream. And the overall verdict: worth every penny, if it won't break your budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had never heard about Tata Harper before I had a facial at the spa at the Four Seasons here in Santa Barbara. The esthetician explained to me how her products are 100% free of chemicals and synthetic products, and how Tata Harper created the line after her father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and his doctor highly recommended eliminating harmful chemicals from his products. I was literally stunned after the facial when I looked in the mirror and saw dewy, glowing skin, free from the redness and blotchiness that I always have after a facial. I immediately thought, "I'm going to buy every single product she used on my way out of here," then when I saw the price of most of those items was over $50, I changed my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few weeks later I changed my mind again when I saw Tata Harper's 20% off promotion. Another plus of buying directly from their website is that they include 3 free samples with every order, and shipping is free on all orders over $40. I'm also loving all of the samples I've gotten, but I'll save my reviews of those for another post. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Repairative Moisturizer is Tata's dry skin moisturizer, and after using it morning and night for about a week I started noticing a difference. My dry patches and flakes started to disappear. I should also note that while my breakouts have not disappeared completely, I have fewer, smaller pimples than I've had in the past. The moisturizer has a light, silky consistency that absorbs into the skin easily, and it has a pleasant but strong floral scent. It lacks SPF which is probably my main complaint, as I have to layer my SPF over it in the mornings and it doesn't mesh flawlessly with the moisturizer. As far as packaging goes, it comes in a light green glass bottle that is beautiful and I definitely plan on reusing it after I use up the product.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past week, as part of my ongoing efforts to use up the beauty products I have before buying new ones, I started using my old morning combo of Philosophy's Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer with Weleda's Soothing Almond Lotion to create a more moisturizing tinted moisturizer. After a few days of using this combo the dryness started creeping back in. There hasn't been any changes in weather during this time, so I think it's safe to say it's likely the lack of my Tata Harper. I made the heartwrenching decision to dump the Philosophy and go back to using Tata twice a day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As much as I love this product, I don't think I will stop looking for something somewhat comparable that costs less than half as much. $100 is nothing to sneeze at. It's almost a cell phone bill or 2 Anthropologie sale tops. It's a vet visit for Dexter. Maybe someday spending $100 on a cream won't seem selfish and wasteful, but not today. </span><br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-39440089507347642082013-11-10T22:21:00.000-08:002013-11-10T22:21:51.817-08:00Sometimes it just doesn't work out...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it's no one's fault. It's true in life and it's true when it comes to beauty products. I've been really struggling with which night cream to purchase (an old fave? a possible new fave from a trusted brand? something completely different?) and luckily the return policies at my favorite stores Sephora and Ulta make it easy for me to test out different ones before settling on the best. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While killing time on a lunch break in Ulta last week, I used up every available space on my hands and arms testing different moisturizers. When I left the store, only one spot (other than the abhorrent reaction I am about to describe below) was irritated -- from a Dr. Perricone cream, and I don't remember which it was. Luckily Dr. Perricone is a pretty expensive line, and I'm OK with crossing it off my list based on just that one experience. Of course, crossing something off my beauty list doesn't exclude it for life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Case in point: Clinique. Some time ago, I had a bad allergic reaction to one of their face sunscreens, and we called it quits. Last week in Ulta, I decided to give it a go again. I dabbed on Moisture Surge, Moisture Surge Intense, and Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer. Almost immediately, and I mean literally within about 10 seconds, the skin where I had applied the Intense version of Moisture Surge was itchy. 20 seconds later it was red. 30 seconds later it was itchy, red, and blotchy. A minute later small hives were visible. A minute and 30 seconds later the small hives were white mountains in a red sea and I couldn't resist scratching it. Even after washing my hands, the reaction area was itchy and visible for a few hours, and 8 hours later (after showering, mind you) there was still little dots and blotches that provided evidence for what had occurred earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Clinique is 100% fragrance free and "allergy tested," and yet this product somehow caused the worst allergic reaction I have had in a long time, and at the same time the other two Clinique products showed zero signs of irritation. I actually went ahead and purchased the regular Moisture Surge and used it for two nights, only to return it. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm "allergic" to it, it made my cheeks slightly red and blotchy, and I'm just not comfortable dealing with that at $40 a pop. In comparing the ingredients lists of the regular Moisture Surge and the Intense, there are so many different chemical ingredients that I wouldn't know where to begin in guessing which one caused the reaction. The Super Rescue is my next try, and seems to have the best online reviews for effectiveness and gentleness, so we'll see if that means anything for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also tried Ole Henrikson's sensitive skin moisturizer, Nourish Me, only to return it after a few uses. For one, it smells like a cross between fruit loops and a creamsicle, and it's a very strong fragrance. It didn't do much in terms of adding moisture and it made my skin just a little itchy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All of these products have high-quality ingredients, minimal preservatives and harmful chemicals, and thousands of reviews from loyal users online. But they just weren't for me. Time to move on. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-22255672477715083182013-10-19T17:43:00.000-07:002013-10-19T17:43:04.934-07:00New Weleda Favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaY70dF8lIlFbZTJCy-wRmN-iL4yY0L2VhmkwIJBfD_dMP96L9lHpC3bfH4HHQNE_czMe_jr6S4DTxXFySbFJ8hyphenhyphenFWEGGAI0R5Py8cyL7hbyCAWqrBDSpDHdVq6iUt03RQtsbbSC849wg/s1600/skin-food1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaY70dF8lIlFbZTJCy-wRmN-iL4yY0L2VhmkwIJBfD_dMP96L9lHpC3bfH4HHQNE_czMe_jr6S4DTxXFySbFJ8hyphenhyphenFWEGGAI0R5Py8cyL7hbyCAWqrBDSpDHdVq6iUt03RQtsbbSC849wg/s1600/skin-food1.jpg" height="320" width="134" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bUen7Ytgeh5Qc1tA-sgKfqg9CKsAG0XYtfV84EgU8tUVzOep-ZX0eAtFh6X7AMBQlmgpOid-5BJ2pEzRzH9dU9rqOWzmngo1kYFW8u8i4MI0EIXtJedC4hbD4qUuO3z9UkwqIf3trqij/s1600/weleda_iris_hydrating_day_cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bUen7Ytgeh5Qc1tA-sgKfqg9CKsAG0XYtfV84EgU8tUVzOep-ZX0eAtFh6X7AMBQlmgpOid-5BJ2pEzRzH9dU9rqOWzmngo1kYFW8u8i4MI0EIXtJedC4hbD4qUuO3z9UkwqIf3trqij/s1600/weleda_iris_hydrating_day_cream.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
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A few months ago I dedicated an entire post to Weleda, and --don't hate me-- I'm about to do the same thing.<br />
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I recently added two new Weleda products to my repertoire, Skin Food and Iris Hydrating Day Cream. I bought Skin Food as a hand cream after I ran out of my Neutrogena and L'Occitaine favorites, and have not been disappointed. It's thick, creamy, and a little bit goes a long way. It has a strong scent which I wasn't expecting, and it's not bad, but I don't love it either. It kind of has that generic "I bought this at a natural foods store" smell, if you know what I mean, and I tend to dab some perfume on my wrists quickly after I apply it. I've also used it on my dry knees and dry spots on my face. All-in-all it's a solid multi-purpose heavy moisturizer that would be great in a carry-on to be used as a hand cream, body cream, and night cream. I'm only being nitpicky about the scent so I have something to say about a Weleda product other than "OMG I love this!"<br />
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Even though today was in the '80s here in Santa Barbara, it's been slowly starting to get a little more fall-like with cooler nights and mornings, and my skin is feeling it. Some flakes and tight dry spots have already appeared, and the Almond Soothing Lotion I've been using just wasn't cutting it. I've switched to using Iris Hydrating Day Cream on cooler mornings, and it's much more moisturizing than the Almond. Unfortunately I have to say again that it has a strong scent, clove-like, that I don't particularly enjoy, but it wears off quickly once it's absorbed. I wouldn't say that it's the most moisturizing cream I've used, but it does the job.<br />
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I admit that I'm getting a little bored with all of these Weleda products, regardless of how fabulous they are. They're simple, affordable, natural, and non-irritating, but the world of skincare is vast and tempting. My tube of Iris Hydrating Night Cream is getting towards the end and I will likely replace it with something from a different brand ... stay tuned to find out what I choose!Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-34875892523772327292013-09-14T11:17:00.000-07:002013-09-14T11:17:57.716-07:00No-Shower Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since we moved and I started a new job back in January, I have finally followed through on my promise to myself to bike to work more often. Before January, we lived downtown and my old office was a 5 minute bike ride from our condo, but now that distance has multiplied to a whopping 7 miles or 35-minute+ bike ride each way, with hills. I think it is understandably intimidating, especially when my job often involves coordinating events and I need to look presentable. We had a pretty hot summer, so when it got down into the low '70s last week, I decided to seize the opportunity to get some bike commutes in before I lose daylight savings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a sweaty mess when I work out. Whether it's yoga, running, hiking or biking, I am always drenched by the time I'm done, usually regardless of the temperature. So I knew that when I started biking to work I would have to refine my routine so that my coworkers wouldn't politely stay far away from me on days I biked to work. Here's my No-Shower Shower routine that's been working well for me so far:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part 1: Before you Bike</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prepping for your ride correctly can make the post-bike ride clean up go a lot more smoothly. For one, I don't bother putting any makeup on before I leave. I wash my face with my normal cleanser, and then apply my favorite facial sunscreen, Coppertone Oil Free Faces SPF 30, and put a swipe of untinted <a href="http://www.sephora.com/sugar-lip-treatment-spf-15-P57002">Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15</a> on my lips. Then I put sunscreen on my shoulders, chest, back, and arms, depending on what's exposed that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wear my hair in a low bun so that my helmet can sit comfortably and my hair is kept off my back. Then I use bobby pins to pin the sides of my hair back off my face. This minimizes the amount of sweat that gets in my hair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part 2: Post-Bike Ride</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About 7 miles later I'm in my office and sweating bullets. I find that most of my sweating happens <i>after </i>I stop moving, and so it's key to work quickly to stop that nasty sweat in its tracks! I'm lucky in that I have my own large, private office, so I can walk in, lock the door, pull down the shades (sometimes...I have a second floor office and the windows are pretty hard to see into from outside, but knowing me I already have a stalker) and get to work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 1: Hair</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first thing I do is take off my helmet and let down my hair, flip my head over, and liberally pour dry shampoo all over the underside of my hair. I use <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/No-Drought/9999903589,en_US,pd.html?start=26&cgid=liquid-shampoos">Lush No Draught Dry Shampoo</a> but I've heard that plain old corn starch works well too. I like the citrus scent of Lush's. I massage it in as well as I can, then I flip my hair back over and put more dry shampoo on the top of my hair and massage it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*Note: Your floor will likely look like you are trying to hide a coke habit after all of this. I keep Lysol wipes in my office, and usually push one around with my foot to clean the white powder off the floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 2: Body Clean Up</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next step is probably the most important for feeling fresh: cleansing wipes. I spent a good amount of time in Ulta looking at the ingredients lists of different cleansing wipes before settling on <a href="http://www.yestocarrots.com/product/yes-to-cucumber-facial-towelettes?product_id=1023">Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes</a>. They have a clean scent and are non-irritating. I use one wipe on my face and another one or two on whatever parts of my body are feeling grimy (you can use your imagination here). After I'm cleaned up, I swipe on some deodorant and spritz myself with my favorite body spray, <a href="http://www.philosophy.com/spray-fragrance/inner-grace-body-spritz,en_US,pd.html">Philosophy's Inner Grace Perfumed Body Spritz</a>, and put on my change of clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 3: Face</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like to simplify my usual morning routine when I have to do it at the office. To do this I use a tinted moisturizer. I own Philosophy Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer, which is one of those products I'm trying to use up, and after googling it it looks like it's been discontinued. It's not very moisturizing at all, so I mix it with some of my usual morning moisturizer, <a href="http://usa.weleda.com/our-products/shop/almond-soothing-facial-cream.aspx">Weleda Almond Facial Cream</a>, to make it more substantial. (On a side note, I've heard good things about <a href="http://www.sephora.com/argan-tinted-moisturizer-P379438?icid2=Josie_Maran_Editors_Picks%20_P379438_link">Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer</a> and am excited to try it once the Philosophy runs out.) Then I apply some mascara, a few dusts of foundation from a compact (I'm currently liking Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Compact Powder Foundation) and some lip gloss or balm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step 4: Finishing Touches</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My last step is brushing out my hair. Dry shampoo works better the longer you leave it in, which is why I like to leave it in while I'm doing everything else. I make sure all of the powder is gone, and either leave my hair down or put it in a pony. Usually it looks fine down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eh voila! Not only do I get a workout, some endorphins, and a chance to really appreciate and enjoy being outdoors in beautiful Santa Barbara, but I can go about my work day feeling fresh and focused.</span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-16335313647058616642013-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:002013-08-10T10:50:12.626-07:00On female body imageThis post is inspired by the beautiful <a href="http://www.missconductinthecity.com/">Miss Conduct</a>, who wrote such an honest and inspiring post on a topic that is somewhat taboo and a challenge to write openly about as a young woman.<br />
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When I was 14 I signed with a New Jersey modeling agency. The back of my comp card (a modeling business card) had 4 pictures of me in different poses and settings, all arms and legs, and underneath in small writing: Height: 5'10", Weight: 105 lbs. It also included waist, hips, and bust measurements, which I'm sure you can guess. I was friends with a girl slightly older, about 17, and I remember reading the back of her comp card and seeing "Height: 5'11", Weight: 125 lbs," and thinking <i>wow, she's fat. </i><br />
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My best friend at the time was also a model and also quite thin, like me. She lamented about her wide hips and how she couldn't model bikinis because of them. Nonetheless, while the other girls brought carrots and celery or nothing at all for lunch, we would go to a local diner and get chicken fingers and fries.<br />
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I was never chubby. Not even as a baby. My long legs, arms and everything else started when I was born and the doctors called other doctors in to marvel at the length of my fingers and toes. Through mid-college, I never weighed more than 125 and never wore larger than an extra small or size 2. I ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted and never, ever worked out or did any form of exercise other than walking two blocks from my apartment to get groceries and back. Walking up the stairs always left me winded, but I didn't think much about it. I was skinny. I was always thinner than my friends. I couldn't comprehend why people spent so much time and money at the gym or running on the Commons. Were they crazy, or did they just really like pain? It had to be one or the other.<br />
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One of my closest friends in college was overweight, and had diabetes. We never talked about weight; in fact, it's safe to say I was terrified to bring up the subject with her. The only time it came close to coming up was when we went shopping for a dress for me for my 21st birthday, and we went to what seemed like a hundred stores and she patiently watched me try on different dresses in each of them before I settled for a hot pink, strapless, Betsey Johnson number. I was hit with an immense feeling of guilt on the subway ride back to our apartment for not once asking her if she wanted to shop for a dress too, or even just asking her where she went shopping, since we all know plus-size women have very limited options just about everywhere. But I didn't say anything. Our friendship was built on a love of weird movies, celebrity gossip, and a shared love of cooking and baking. And it worked. If I dwelled on it any longer, things would start to get uncomfortable.<br />
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Fast forward 5 and a half years: I'm no longer a size 2. The scale hovers between 140 and 150 and I'm usually a size 6, but sometimes a 4 or an 8. I run at least a mile a few times a week and also do yoga or pilates. I also eat until I'm full and indulge slightly more than I probably should with sweets and alcohol.<br />
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So when did it all change? At my first job out of college one of my coworkers warned me "Once you hit 25, it all goes downhill." Meaning that you can no longer eat a pint of ice cream at 9 at night and expect it to not leave a mark on your body. And she was right. I got older, wiser. I started reflecting on weight, health and exercise, and my years of dabbling in modeling and the damage they had done.<br />
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For one, the average age of a model is around 17. This means that the ideal female body image is based on a 17-year-old girl. Yes, there are older women in the spotlight and out of it that have the bodies of 17-year-old girls, but there are reasons. Basic science tells us that if we eat more calories than we burn, we gain weight. The foolproof way to make sure this doesn't happen: eat less. Super skinny women don't eat what normal-looking women eat. It's that simple. I'm sure there are a handful of women over the age of 21 out there who truly just have a high metabolism and can eat a lot and still be thin, but this is a rare exception. The "age when it all goes downhill" might not be 25 for every woman, but no matter when it is, we're still expected to look like that 17-year-old model.<br />
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Although acceptance of larger women as the beauty ideal is slowly starting to happen, I doubt we will ever truly accept them. Too many of us, myself included, are "uncomfortable" with accepting that body type when it's so different from what's ingrained in our minds from birth, and changing that way of thinking is a challenge. I read an interesting <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/jennie-runk-plus-size-model-nothing-wrong-with-my-body_n_3684575.html">article</a> about a plus-size model who said that she didn't realize there was anything wrong with her body as a child. That sentiment is something we should carry throughout our lives, it shouldn't be shut down the moment we open a magazine or turn on the TV. For me, by the time I was 14 I already knew that "fat" was not something I wanted to be and started applying that label to others. How can we work to push the age that that happens back a few years until eventually it's nonexistant?<br />
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I'm slowly starting to accept that I'll never be a size 2 again, and that I don't have to be because forcing my body to that ideal through extreme diet and exercise is not something that's on the top of my list at this time in my life. I'm glad I'm still the girl who eats chicken fingers and fries.<br />
<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-18491549638964205922013-08-03T11:11:00.003-07:002013-08-03T11:11:33.727-07:00Would you light my candle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not only is this blog post a reference to one of my favorite musicals of all time, RENT, it's also a true question I would ask if they're aren't any Zippos around. I have a somewhat irrational fear of using matches and I never have even tried. The sound of a match being lit makes me cringe. I'm terrified I'll burn my fingers. But, I love candles. So if that situation ever arises, let's just hope there's someone around to light my candle.<br />
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I walked around our apartment this morning and counted how many candles we currently have out: 7, plus tealights and an extra scented pillar candle waiting in the wings, and 3 "holiday" candles. This is actually a surprisingly low number for me. My love of candles undoubtedly started with my mother (like a lot of things) who always has a candle in every room of the house and goes around and lights them after she's done with her Saturday top-to-bottom, no-surface-left-unscrubbed cleaning. To this day I always light them when I'm cleaning or done cleaning. It makes everything somehow seem cleaner and more serene, and I love that.<br />
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The difference between my love of candles and my mother's is that my mother had no choice but to love candles. As an elementary school secretary for almost 20 years, she has gotten hundreds of candles as gifts from students. Like me, she hates waste, so she uses them. Open the cabinets in the bathroom and laundry and what will you find -- more candles. What usually gets regifted -- candles. I have taken a couple of hers over the years, but, as you would expect, the candles she gets are a mixed bag. 90% of Yankee Candle's scents make me gag. If the packaging is ugly and it can't be removed, I'll say no thanks, even if it has a redeeming scent.<br />
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I spend my hard-earned money on fancy candles. Granted, I have learned to say no at times when a $42 organic soy candle at a boutique in wine country just isn't in the budget, but it's hard. I go back and forth regretting the decision. I write blog posts like this one to help me cope.<br />
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<a href="http://www.voluspa.com/">Voluspa</a> is one of my favorite brands (gorgeous packaging and scents), but if you're looking to NOT spend the majority of your paycheck on candles, Target actually has an impressive selection to choose from. A friend and I recently spent a good 20 minutes in the candle aisle, sniffing and selecting, and I bought just two and was very proud of myself. Be forewarned that they have some duds in there, but if you allow yourself enough time to really sniff through them and choose wisely, you'll be a satisfied candle shopper.<br />
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Scent-wise I tend to lean towards light, clean, floral scents, but I also like a bit of a musk every now and then. I light my patchouli pillar candle from Pier 1 when I do yoga. Voluspa has a scent called Moso Bamboo that's dark and earthy but it makes my heart sing when I'm in the right mood. Nothing signals the start of the holiday season for me like breaking out the heavy evergreen and pine candles.<br />
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I realize that a lot of people might think that candles are a frivolous thing to spend your money on. But when you consider the atmosphere they create, that elevated feeling of "clean" and "home," plus the number of burning hours, with a scent you enjoy and something pretty to look at, I don't think you can go wrong.Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-83588013467488533702013-06-30T11:54:00.001-07:002013-06-30T11:54:59.724-07:00The Routine<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been over a month since my last post, and, believe it or not, over a month since I bought my last beauty product. I have realized that I have enough stock at home to last me through a zombie apocalypse and am determined to use what I can rather than buying more to replace something that I feel "eh" about. I've also been feeling like my wallet's a little tight lately, so that probably has something to do with it, but I also just hate waste of any kind, whether it's products, food, clothing, or just leaving the lights on when you leave a room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought this would be a good time to share my current beauty routine with you. One thing that has noticably improved in the past month is my skin. I can't remember the last time I had a pimple that stood out on my face or dry flakiness, and I think a few new products that I have added to my routine have something to do with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Wash face with Boscia Clear Complexion Cleanser (this is an example of a product I've had for a while and am trying to use up; the bottle seems bottomless. It works well as a cleanser and makeup remover, but I don't think it does much on its own for acne and it's slightly drying)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Moisturize with Weleda Almond Lotion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-SPF it up with Dermalogica Ultra Calming Super Sensitive Shield SPF 30 (good for sun protection and doesn't make my skin break out or have an allergic reaction, but does zilch for moisturizing) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-L'Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer under my eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, spot applied on any blemishes with my fingertip or a brush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">bareMinerals Original Foundation, </span>followed by Mineral Veil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Eyelashes curled and Benefit They're Real! Mascara applied</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment applied in a color, topped with Smith's Rosebud Salve or a Buxom gloss if desired (or a different gloss I'm trying to use up)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's it! I only put eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, etc. on if I'm going out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Evening:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Wash face with Peaches Skin Care Blueberry Coffee Bean Exfoliating Cleanser (another cleanup item from a facial over a year ago, smells yummy but other than that it's "eh")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Exfoliate with Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (only every other day, LOVE this stuff)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Weleda Iris Hydrating Night Cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Badger Sleep Balm on lips</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shower:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Shampoo twice with L'Occitane <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Aromachologie Soothing Shampoo </span>(another never-empty bottle)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Aveda Be Curly Conditioner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Philosophy Field of Flowers Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Peony Blossom. I only use it as a shower gel, but have used other scents of this product in the past and it is OK for shampoo in a pinch, doesn't create nearly enough bubbles as bubble bath. I loved the Peony Blossom scent at first, it's an extremely strong floral that conjured up some nostalgia for me, but I'm getting a little sick of it and I have a giant 16 oz bottle to use up :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Lush <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Ro's Argan Body Conditioner</span></span><br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-50422421517669362602013-05-26T11:04:00.000-07:002013-05-26T11:05:07.322-07:00The Acne Post<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05aWz9Nq3qP1w1jClJvnkmbjAnWS3ewTfWMON7ti_tPFjHmGRM0CCcblDUdRwEakdixZbDiK2e2GJyM5MIJa-TSc_oegn1HFh3eHm84gtfCHGP55mN93Bv9OmQMm6q6Wu4Tk645VC-rNc/s1600/willowbark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05aWz9Nq3qP1w1jClJvnkmbjAnWS3ewTfWMON7ti_tPFjHmGRM0CCcblDUdRwEakdixZbDiK2e2GJyM5MIJa-TSc_oegn1HFh3eHm84gtfCHGP55mN93Bv9OmQMm6q6Wu4Tk645VC-rNc/s1600/willowbark.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOjNemUGfk9PvLNTPFa-NAVYz4eR50-9GOGLXENgIIL0TyIICdrizPBMq3PDwo8nCYtO1v9de03BbzKsXgggA16ut8hC1jJwR4PbxW5H9FfhBT-8Ilwzr8HUQ-LVyq25G6ecrOw58QmND/s1600/kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOjNemUGfk9PvLNTPFa-NAVYz4eR50-9GOGLXENgIIL0TyIICdrizPBMq3PDwo8nCYtO1v9de03BbzKsXgggA16ut8hC1jJwR4PbxW5H9FfhBT-8Ilwzr8HUQ-LVyq25G6ecrOw58QmND/s1600/kate.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been battling acne since I was 15. And while it comes and goes in hormonal waves and is not half as bad as it was in high school, it's still the bane of my existence. I have tried literally hundreds of acne products. In high school I mainly used Clean & Clear and then Proactiv, followed by a more aggressive approach recommended</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by a dermatologist that involved some kind of oral medication I can't remember combined with 2 creams I can't remember. More than one dermatologist has prescribed Ziana gel for me. I've switched birth control pills more than once. And then I've tried the natural approach with tea tree oil and also dabbing on a spot of toothpaste. And nothing, NOTHING has been effective over the long run. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a minor health problem, but it has majorly effected my self esteem over the years. In high school it was mainly why I didn't talk to boys. Post-high school I can think of several occasions on which I've rearranged my schedule because I was having a bad skin day. I even had a pimple on my wedding day, and acne is something I never thought I would have to be dealing with at this time of my life, at 26. The bottom line is that it sucks. There is no "cure." And for many people, it doesn't stop when you leave your teens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are products that can help, and the point of this post is to tell you about two of them: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/willow-bark-breakout-treatment-P61210">Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment</a> and <a href="http://www.sephora.com/eradikate-acne-treatment-P232903">Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment</a>. I've been using the Boscia treatment for about a year now and it's gentle, unscented, and goes on clear (pretty much the opposite of the Kate Somerville product). It's effectiveness varies, but with smaller pimples it has made a noticeable difference overnight. For bigger pimples I reach for the EradiKate. This stuff is potent. It's Pepto Bismol pink, with a sticker on the top telling you "DO NOT SHAKE," and it smells very strongly of sulfur, its primary blemish-fighting ingredient. Be forewarned that this stuff is a man-repellant, so be choosy with which nights you apply it. The pink sediment will separate from the clear oil in the bottle, and you're supposed to stick a cotton swab directly into it all the way to the sediment at the bottom. I usually do this but add in a swirl with the q-tip, to make sure you get the sediment and not just the clear stuff, which does nada. You want to make sure the pimple is completely covered in pink after you apply it. It usually stings a tiny bit when you first put it on, but that quickly fades.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would estimate that my success rate with EradiKate is 90%. It almost always reduces pimple size. It's more effective on the over-the-skin pimples like whiteheads than the more frustrating under-the-skin pimples. But, I'll take it. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-88316361415787366962013-05-19T21:33:00.000-07:002013-05-19T21:33:09.891-07:00Sunday Night Hair Woes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMfkXBhyphenhyphen5YOGkqZDL8Tx6fsdP4rsVMnuFBnJ2zjKyhOKMiUAQEED2xB_nu69l4Hz3jfRCPdecdNsJozvCWo2HYnQfNGn-1ETx8OygXhoWBFbBIsVodMMRPskNCn4L2en6NlNgRgqvXNX_/s1600/av_A3GW_254.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMfkXBhyphenhyphen5YOGkqZDL8Tx6fsdP4rsVMnuFBnJ2zjKyhOKMiUAQEED2xB_nu69l4Hz3jfRCPdecdNsJozvCWo2HYnQfNGn-1ETx8OygXhoWBFbBIsVodMMRPskNCn4L2en6NlNgRgqvXNX_/s1600/av_A3GW_254.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm very curious how long it takes most women (or well-coiffed men with long hair) to use up an entire bottle of conditioner. I have only used up a bottle of conditioner to the very last drop once in my life, and it took almost two years. It never made sense to me why they sell conditioner in the same size bottles as shampoo, since you use less than half the amount of conditioner than shampoo every time you wash your hair (at least I do?). The only plausible reason I can fathom is, as likely is the case, the greed of cosmetics companies. Because of convincing marketing campaigns, most women think that shampoo and conditioner have to go together, and you can't use one without the other (I say most women because my husband says he has never used conditioner and stubbornly refuses to try mine). Shampoo companies tout, "Use together for best results" in the marketing copy on the back of shampoo & conditioner bottles (I read every single word on any beauty product I buy, in case that was ever unclear). Why spend $22.99 on some Bumble & Bumble shampoo when you can drop another $20 for the "best" experience? After all, if you just buy one, your hair will undoubtedly be inferior. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which brings me to my latest hair conditioner purchase: Aveda Be Curly. A new hair stylist suggested this to me after a recent hair trim, saying something about it being a "protein" moisturizing conditioner, and since my hair seemed a little dry she thought it would help. (She wasn't at all pushing products and actually only suggested this after I asked, which as a side note is a very refreshing experience at a spa or salon and I wrote her a glowing online review later.) I've been using the conditioner for about two weeks every time I shampoo (which is usually every other day) and it does seem to make my hair softer and less "dry" feeling. I had been using Lush's American Cream, which was the weakest excuse for a conditioner I've ever tried, but on the plus side it smelled nice. Be Curly also smells nice, in a clean, mild grass-like kind of way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also don't have just one, but TWO bottles of shampoo in my shower currently. And that's not all -- I have two more bottles waiting patiently in line in my bathroom closet just waiting for their chance in the spotlight. (Do you see now why I started this blog?) In my shower is Lush's Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo and L'Occitane's Aromachologie Soothing Shampoo. I am underwhelmed by both, but determined to not be wasteful and use them up. The Lush shampoo I think might be partially responsible for my dryness (but it is cool that it's made with beer), and the L'Occitane one doesn't lather AT ALL, which is frustrating, since I feel like I always miss spots. A couple of times after drying my hair, I've noticed that the underside of my hair, closest to my scalp towards the back, is greasy, like it was never shampooed. Has anyone else had this problem? The only method I've found to ensure it doesn't happen is to flip my head over and put some shampoo directly on the back of my scalp, lather it and then rinse it thoroughly. I suppose this would only be a problem for people with long hair, but it drives me crazy. Sigh. First world problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've clearly been ranting about shampoo for long enough. If you've made it this far and could let me know if I'm not the only person who has a beef with conditioner and misses spots when they shampoo their hair, my sanity will thank you.</span><br />
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Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-37861423878830288002013-05-04T10:42:00.002-07:002013-05-04T10:45:15.154-07:00Weleda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">It's been an insanely busy week. A huge part of my job over the past 3 months has been planning for a big conference that just took place on May 1 & 2. I also had two smaller events on the days before and after. Everything went smoothly over all but working 12 hour days really took its toll on me. I didn't eat right, didn't get enough sleep, and didn't work out. I did yoga for the first time since last weekend this morning and I was shocked at how stiff my limbs left. Poses that were usually easy were surprisingly challenging. It reminded me of the importance of having a daily yoga practice, even if it's just 10 minutes, something to get your muscles working. I'm going to try harder to do that, even on days when it seems like there's no time for anything other than vegging on the couch and eating some takeout.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But on to one of my favorite natural brands: Weleda. Like another one of my favorite natural brands, Dr. Hauschka, Weleda is a German brand, and their products are made with ingredients that are sustainably farmed. While still on the pricey side, they're more affordable than Dr. Hauschka, and with very similar ingredients. I'm currently using their Almond Facial Cream, Iris Hydrating Night Cream, and Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream, and I love them all. I have a bad track record with having allergic reactions to almost all of the eye creams I've tried, and this one is lovely. The night cream is super hydrating on my parched skin, and I alternate between Almond Facial Cream and Almond Facial Lotion during the day, using the cream when my skin is feeling drier, and then top it off with an SPF not from Weleda (they don't make any sun protection products). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weleda is also well known for Skin Food, an all-purpose rich moisturizer, which I have not yet tried. They also have an extensive line of natural baby products, which I have also not yet tried but I'm sure I will at some point in the future! As I was cruising around their website earlier I also noticed they have a "Medicines" section with both OTC and prescription medicines. I'm certainly intrigued. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-14596140607504710552013-04-23T19:50:00.001-07:002013-04-23T19:50:03.260-07:00Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuQh6rAVPzasxCRoRsbxtf9X1dQQNpuyi0R_F1k2vbqnsy3C1bKEoeZRxDfCb9TmFtGzNwA5ORZDn8UxoKeP6S6qKyiv0CuMqmJ6pxbMnjicA_VNlTtNlfjsG0oUay60fFWKV2cxzzE-h/s1600/daily-microfoliant_11-01_590x617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuQh6rAVPzasxCRoRsbxtf9X1dQQNpuyi0R_F1k2vbqnsy3C1bKEoeZRxDfCb9TmFtGzNwA5ORZDn8UxoKeP6S6qKyiv0CuMqmJ6pxbMnjicA_VNlTtNlfjsG0oUay60fFWKV2cxzzE-h/s1600/daily-microfoliant_11-01_590x617.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been having mixed feelings about this post. Dermalogica isn't a "natural" brand, nor does it claim to be. It's developed by the The International Dermal Institute and while the ingredient lists are long with mostly names you can't pronounce, the difference to me is that 99% of those ingredients are high quality (or so my trusty esthetician and the Internet tells me). I've tested several of their products for an allergic reaction, and their Age Smart line is the only one that doesn't like me (which is OK with me for now, since my battle is mainly with acne and sensitivity and wrinkle prevention is merely a dot on the horizon). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant is one of the products I purchased after my most recent facial. The $52 price tag was a little hard to swallow, but my esthetician assured me that if I was going to splurge on a product, this should be it. So far, I'm not disappointed. This is one of those products that wows after one use. It's a powder that you dispense into your palm, rub around with a wet hand to make into a thick paste, and slather all over your skin. I like to use it in the shower and leave it on my face while I'm doing something else to give it some extra time to sink in. After you rinse it off, your skin will be super soft and smooth. And the more I've used it, the softer and smoother it seems to be getting. Although "daily" is in its name, I use it every other day since I'm a bit cautious about over-exfoliating, and so far I'm seeing great results. My skin is overall looking clearer and more even.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My one complaint is that the small holes in the top to dispense the powder make it challenging to put some of it back in if you pour out too much, which I almost always do. At least it's a small complaint. I wouldn't be complaining at all if it was less that $52, which truly makes every ounce count. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something else that's cool about Dermalogica: they have fun how-to videos on their website for most of their products, so if you're not sure you're using something correctly, you can just watch the video! I actually watched the video for their Special Cleansing Gel and realized that I had been lathering up incorrectly, putting the product directly on my face rather than lathering a small amount up on my fingertips first. The More You Know. </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-83821704015448263602013-04-06T11:01:00.000-07:002013-04-06T11:04:06.914-07:00The "Describe Your Skin" Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8GsUAVjUNq9FNTspiXvFPcQEnoGyrx-nyI16ZM_dkHU6i2wonhZx6cj-Y6j1V2YtUs5tdXDklEqT_TYQVbKz2TVRgjLLHbps8sjQgUSQsDGOCPpVMVjNSTIhJt9Lix8Czb8EDFPfWQpu/s1600/mira02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8GsUAVjUNq9FNTspiXvFPcQEnoGyrx-nyI16ZM_dkHU6i2wonhZx6cj-Y6j1V2YtUs5tdXDklEqT_TYQVbKz2TVRgjLLHbps8sjQgUSQsDGOCPpVMVjNSTIhJt9Lix8Czb8EDFPfWQpu/s1600/mira02.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm always perplexed by how much to go into detail on that question on those forms they make you fill out when you're a new client at a spa. Often, I find myself fibbing ever so slightly, mainly for the sake of brevity. After all, they only give you two lines, if that. I most recently put "sensitive, combination to dry, acne-prone." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's start with the first one: sensitive. My skin is not sensitive in the traditional sense. I have not always had sensitive skin. As far as I can remember, up through the end of high school when I went on the pill, I could put just about anything on my skin and be fine. This had led me to ask more than one doctor if going on the pill could have something to do with it, and they usually respond, "well, it's unlikely, but maybe, the pill can really change your body." No shit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another doctor randomly scratched my arm with his pen cap during the middle of an examination. Because it wasn't still red a few minutes later, he ruled out hypersensitive skin, then proceeded to talk about some extremely rare type of cancer that I might have simply because I was turning red because I was nervous and didn't like the way the examination was going. Needless to say I never saw him again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Products labeled "sensitive skin" 99% of the time do not work for me. It could just be that "sensitive skin" products generally contain harsh chemicals despite their misleading labeling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving on to "combination to dry." My skin is dry and flaky, pretty much everywhere. But, I still get shiny fairly easily (lucky me). Two estheticians within the past few years have told me that my skin is "dehydrated." One offered no explanation, but the more recent one blamed my cleanser, a lack of proper exfoliation and dead skin building up, which can also cause acne. I guess that's plausible. I bought the exfoliant she suggested and we'll see if there's any changes in my skin over the next few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And finally, the dreaded acne, which I am still getting at the ripe old age of 26. I've been told that what I have is hormonal acne, since it's mainly around my mouth and chin, and that switching to a different pill or going off it completely would probably make a big difference. Well, I kind of love being on the pill. What's a girl to do? Try every skincare product out there for acne -- check.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All that said, I feel like my esthetician never really gets an accurate picture of my skin because there's only so much I can fit on that card and I don't want to scare them away. But then again, maybe that's all they need. It's not like I'm expecting them to "cure" my skin. I'd rather save my miracles for the bigger fish to fry, anyway.</span><br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-18324021727563188332013-04-03T21:35:00.001-07:002013-04-03T21:35:23.641-07:00Hand Cream Addict<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8JYd7u0ipLlRh-6OVGvoZQC-3S4UNQ2IZdxCTe475KDwju1V8TtewW-U-B9Ci2mp12VxGewVX2gCHRYVoMyQ19HcQQPVT-2-8w5sJp3S7xalrRiMZarLZ63M1HBTeGFALHzPXPPrP0F2/s1600/lavande.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8JYd7u0ipLlRh-6OVGvoZQC-3S4UNQ2IZdxCTe475KDwju1V8TtewW-U-B9Ci2mp12VxGewVX2gCHRYVoMyQ19HcQQPVT-2-8w5sJp3S7xalrRiMZarLZ63M1HBTeGFALHzPXPPrP0F2/s1600/lavande.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkd10ZWUIJfCAIfIzEv7aN_zQ1s1_Skn-h0mUuzebW3mgE9IgnrfDCFPnCPsw7tfcPhbpL0Gc6VMSlJwoz3nsT0zOPixvRKuDOr1OTqkS_Jocb2wZ3Mx0qAttsAJ0OK8RO1DLHwaSr1BT/s1600/norweg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkd10ZWUIJfCAIfIzEv7aN_zQ1s1_Skn-h0mUuzebW3mgE9IgnrfDCFPnCPsw7tfcPhbpL0Gc6VMSlJwoz3nsT0zOPixvRKuDOr1OTqkS_Jocb2wZ3Mx0qAttsAJ0OK8RO1DLHwaSr1BT/s1600/norweg.jpg" height="320" width="186" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The word "addict" is not used extraneously in this post title -- I actually have withdrawal symptoms when I don't apply hand cream immediately after washing my hands or even just after getting them wet. My hands immediately feel dry and tight. It becomes distracting. Sometimes I try to tell myself, well, since you're going to be doing something within the next hour that will likely get your hands dirty, might as well just wait to apply lotion, but it NEVER works. I apply. And reapply. Probably an average of 10 times a day. And unless I work up the courage to try and wean myself off this addictive product sometime in the future, I should probably carve out some funds for hand cream indefinitely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess I lied about Argan Oil being my one repurchase. When I wrote that post I was thinking about facial products, but I've actually repurchased these two hand creams several times: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream and L'Occitane Lavender Hand Cream. The Neutrogena is an old favorite, dating back as far as high school, and even my hubby loves it for his dry knuckles. It's a rich, concentrated, unscented cream, and just a pea sized amount does the job. I finish up my morning beauty routine with this stuff. If I skip it, I'm wondering why my hands feel so dry 10 minutes later as I'm gripping the steering wheel. It's a no-frills, drugstore-available cream. I used to get really dry skin patches on the palms of my hands, and this cleared that up completely. No brainer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few years ago I was given a small tube of the L'Occitane cream by a friend. I would call it more of a lotion than a cream. It has a light, slik-like feel that's surprisingly moisturizing. My favorite part about it is actually the scent. I love lavender, and this smells strong. I feel fresher when I put it on because of the scent. A coworker once told me the smell of lavender made me think of me, and I'm OK with lavender being my signature scent. Lavender, fresh jasmine, and Fresh's Sake perfume are probably my three favorite pretty scents. I'm also a fan of gritty scents, like gasoline and airports, but that's probably enough of my weirdness unveiling for this post. :) </span>Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-42908650560035705372013-03-30T10:55:00.001-07:002013-03-31T10:31:40.852-07:00Spa Mecca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgU2_Hf2efzzqYVQ246z3FUdvzGkC_no1BhMEdBLmYPNt6YiLkW-jIU6CCLNQ4l4IycqzicqPVlW6Lmf8td9aKjKxqX4efkx2JPf9uWLAloR1HJySnC4IcCDnDW79OqGyvBze9Ko3U349/s1600/Studio-M-Salon-and-Spa-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgU2_Hf2efzzqYVQ246z3FUdvzGkC_no1BhMEdBLmYPNt6YiLkW-jIU6CCLNQ4l4IycqzicqPVlW6Lmf8td9aKjKxqX4efkx2JPf9uWLAloR1HJySnC4IcCDnDW79OqGyvBze9Ko3U349/s1600/Studio-M-Salon-and-Spa-.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I live in Santa Barbara, which could easily be referred to as The Spa Mecca. There are so many spas and salons here, ranging from the super-high-end spas at The Biltmore and Bacara to tons of small, one-person operations. I have been to five different spas since I moved here, the most recent being just yesterday, and there's still so many I want to try. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read <i>a lot</i> of online reviews before deciding on a spa. After all, you're going to be getting naked there, getting touched all over, and they're putting stuff on your skin, so it's a big investment. I've been going to spas on and off for years, starting when I was 14 and my modeling agent told me that I <i>had</i> to get a facial before a photo shoot (please note that this was primarily bullshit). Anyway, I'd say I have some amount of cred when it comes to choosing a spa. Aside from generally good reviews, I also look for a relaxing atmosphere, product lines I like, reasonable prices (hopefully), and extras. I'm a sucker for extras. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For example, the spa I went to yesterday offered a complimentary foot soak and tea before the treatment. I got there early, and had about 10 minutes to sit in a cushy chair, sip some green tea, and soak my feet in a warm minty soak that smelled heavenly. The room was decorated with a zen, eastern Asian feel, and that typical "spa" music played softly in the background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The rest of the facial was pretty relaxing, aside from the extractions, of course. I envy those acne-free women (and men) who can get a facial without that 20 minutes of agony. For those of you who have not yet experienced this, I don't want to ruin your visions of facial bliss, but you should be aware that if you have any kind of acne, no matter how mild, your esthetician will shine the brightest light you've ever seen over your face and poke and scrape until all of those little buggers are brought up to the surface and thrown away. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">f you're fair- and sensitive-skinned like me, be forewarned that your face will look like a pizza afterwards,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> so make sure you get a facial on a day when you can relax at home and only have to face the judgmental and slightly scared looks from your dogs and husband. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I will say that a day or two later you'll notice smoother skin and less or no zits popping up for a good week or so. The point is to get all of the impurities out of your skin, and it works. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also like a good scalp, shoulder, and arm massage with just the right amount of pressure, which this spa delivered. You need that to counteract the pain of the extractions, trust me. For products, this spa used two lines, one I'd never heard of before called Image, and the other is Dermalogica. While they are both pharmaceutical brands, they use high-quality ingredients and Dermalogica in particular is very highly regarded by dermatologists and estheticians alike. I picked up their Special Cleansing Gel & Daily Microexfoliant, and Image's SPF 30 Matte Moisturizer. I will let you know the verdict on those in a few weeks. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sure this won't be the last time I post about spa experiences. I generally get some kind of treatment every 6 months and I definitely recommend trying a basic facial or Swedish massage if you're new to spas. It's addictive, and definitely fits the bill for "me" time. </span><br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-29343244933869061612013-03-23T11:45:00.003-07:002013-03-23T11:45:54.610-07:00Lush<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDhqdxDmndLy3UCoXTGWHsKeXEirrusldJZk6e-BaQw6imz6JkUqXtUJdGmu3dPIAAdUTNSB7pW9WDLMKzrQGSQ7NsRKjq30o5M0zwPM6t9sIReFupCxnfsV7ZyCvWt7gqlWvE4b6UHhE/s1600/03590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDhqdxDmndLy3UCoXTGWHsKeXEirrusldJZk6e-BaQw6imz6JkUqXtUJdGmu3dPIAAdUTNSB7pW9WDLMKzrQGSQ7NsRKjq30o5M0zwPM6t9sIReFupCxnfsV7ZyCvWt7gqlWvE4b6UHhE/s1600/03590.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a long time I had never really thought about going to Lush for anything other than bath bombs, hand scrub demonstrations, and to be bombarded by pushy salespeople. Then, back in September when I was in New Jersey for my wedding, one of my good friends (and also a bridesmaid, Meg) was staying with me and I tried her Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo and Veganese conditioner from Lush. My hair was super, super soft, maybe softer than it had ever been from just a shampoo & condition, and I was sold. Shortly after I got back to California from my honeymoon I went to Lush and bought the shampoo, a different conditioner called American Cream that was recommended by the salesperson, a shower gel/oil called The Olive Branch, and samples of Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, Angels on Bare Skin face cleanser, and Celestial face moisturizer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's start with the hair products. While phenomenal at first, both Meg and I agreed that after a month or two of use, they start to loose their steam. The shampoo starts to get drying, and the conditioners don't seem half as moisturizing as they did during the first week of use. I was talked into buying a big bottle of the shampoo for the value (boy are those salespeople convincing) and since I now have a little less than half left, I am determined to use it up. I alternate it with L'occitane's scalp soothing shampoo, and my hair is decent looking. Luckily I bought a small bottle of conditioner, but since conditioners can take FOREVER to use up, I don't think it will run out for at least a year. It smells really yummy, but it does nada for frizz and smoothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like The Olive Branch. You shake it up before using and it comes out like a thin oil, but actually lathers. The smell is nice and different and leaves skin lightly scented. I like it. I might consider buying it again in the future or trying one of their other shower gel scents. I LOVE their Grass shower gel for men and have been trying to get my hubby to use it for a few years now, but he's pretty attached to his Dove for Men bars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Angels on Bare Skin "cleanser" is more of a scrub in my opinion since it has a gritty paste-like consistency. I've used the sample a handful of times and it's nice. It leaves my skin very soft. I'm not sure whether I'd consider buying the full-size of this or not. I think it might be a little abrasive for everyday use, although at Lush they claim that's what it's for. I'm more likely to consider purchasing it to replace my current scrub when it runs out. Let's put this one on the long "maybe" repurchase list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Celestial face cream is Lush's sensitive skin moisturizer. I was definitely underwhelmed by it. It's very light and my skin tends to be dry, so it wouldn't be good for everyday use. I also detected some mild irritation. I used it twice and threw out the sample. Oh, same with the Eau Roma toner water that I almost forgot to mention. That stuff was definitely drying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this brings me to the grand finale....Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. My FAVORITE Lush product by far. I used up the sample, and went back to Lush to buy a giant tub that I see myself taking years to use up, but oh well. It's pretty amazing. I like to slather it on my arms and legs after shaving, and pretty much everywhere else, right before I'm getting out of the shower, so it gets only very slightly washed off. This way the delightful rose smell lingers, and my skin feels SO soft and moisturized and best of all, my legs usually don't feel irritated after shaving when I use this product. I'm feeling less picky about my shower gel now because I have this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only downside: it's pricey. $32.95 for a 7.9oz tub which is the only size it comes in. I would definitely purchase a smaller size if they sold it since you only need to use a minimal amount with each shower. Is anyone else sensing a trend here where Argan Oil is pretty much amazing? :) </span><br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-75263458286434912342013-03-20T20:31:00.000-07:002013-03-20T20:31:00.448-07:00Relapse WednesdayDo you ever have those days where all of your beauty/health/wellness resolves break down and in your mind you file it away as a loss and resolve that tomorrow you just <i>have</i> to do better?<br />
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Today was one of those days. Here's why:<br />
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1- Didn't take a lunch break. I know that I should force myself to take a lunch break every day (and no, sitting at my computer while eating and catching up on personal emails and the news doesn't count) no matter how busy I am or lazy I'm feeling. Just taking even a short walk outside makes me come back to the office feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the afternoon.<br />
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2- Picked my skin. I am a closet compulsive skin picker. I know I know, it's gross and weird but I can't help it, and I've been doing it for years, starting with peeling sunburnt skin when I was a kid. I know it's probably the major cause behind my acne scarring, and yet I<i> still </i>do it. Some days I'm better than others, and of course it doesn't help that my super sensitive skin is also often itchy, so that's usually how it starts. My skin gets itchier in the spring here with everything growing and getting stirred up, and today has been super windy, so it was a bad skin day.<br />
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3- Binged on trail mix in the afternoon. I bought this super expensive trail mix yesterday from this hippie grocery store, and while amazingly delicious and probably the best trail mix I've ever had (it has walnuts, almonds, dates, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, yogurt chips...can you get any more yum?) it is seriously addictive and every time I open it I find myself eating way more than I should and even getting to that point where I start to wonder "why am I still eating this when I feel slightly sick from eating so much already?" and eventually put it away. I still feel slightly sick 3 hours later.<br />
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After I got home from work, things got slightly better. I weighed myself and realized I didn't gain 400 pounds from eating a boatload of trail mix. I forced myself to do pilates and some stretching. I painted my nails. Coated my skin with argan oil to calm it down.<br />
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Maybe it wasn't such a loss after all.<br />
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<br />Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979649941474939368.post-36251773458783602032013-03-16T13:49:00.003-07:002013-03-16T13:49:55.144-07:00Weekend Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia6HpbdY6lyT7tHt_01sMampg-aXz2Dhtyit_veVszikLvlVb3XxXSdX_juuIbmk2GWhfMe5vr5CQmKUn97BOKvoxwYmzKxUuoQTd6lQWsU7-6h5oywkNDC6o1yepo6WeL_K0FoAKAtBw/s1600/LW6681S_9362_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia6HpbdY6lyT7tHt_01sMampg-aXz2Dhtyit_veVszikLvlVb3XxXSdX_juuIbmk2GWhfMe5vr5CQmKUn97BOKvoxwYmzKxUuoQTd6lQWsU7-6h5oywkNDC6o1yepo6WeL_K0FoAKAtBw/s1600/LW6681S_9362_3.jpeg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
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As I sat here thinking about what beauty product to write about this lazy Saturday morning, my mind starting wandering to my plans for the rest of the day or lack thereof, and that led to thoughts of what I'm going to wear when I eventually change out of my pajamas. The usual answer on a weekend day when I don't have any real plans other than grocery shopping, cleaning, dog walking, yoga, etc. are my favorite weekend pants (or maybe lack thereof): Lululemon's <a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/wunder-unders/Wunder-Under-Crop-9362?cc=9362&skuId=3476966&catId=wunder-unders">wunder under crops. </a><br />
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I know what your first reaction might be (that was also mine): $72 for yoga pants? Let me assure you, these are no ordinary yoga pants. I actually got them as a gift, and I'm so glad I did, because I was contemplating buying them before that but I'm not sure if I would've actually made the plunge. They're super stretchy and comfortable, and are basically like a thick tight, but thick enough that you can confidently wear them with nothing over them. I've paired mine with a hot pink running zip-up (right now) for a more sporty look, or a cotton v-neck ruched tee for a more casual, everyday look.<br />
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What I really love about these pants is that you don't have to constantly pull them up. Once you get them on and have everything where it should be, these pants are staying there until you take them off, which will be many hours or even days later (I admit, I've worn them all day and then been too lazy to change into something else for bed, but really, why not?). There's also NO camel toe, and they make your butt look pretty fantastic. There's also a little pocket in the wide waistband where I sometimes hide doggie poop bags when I'm walking the dogs. The wide waistband also means that you don't have to worry about your thong sticking out the back (unless that's the look you're going for...I don't judge) or your stomach overflowing over the top.<br />
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I think it's safe to say that I am highly unlikely to ever buy any other yoga pants. I'm also a fan of their <a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/groove-pants/Groove-Pant-Slim-Regular-010176?cc=10176&skuId=3489968&catId=groove-pants">groove pants</a>, but I definitely prefer the wunder unders. Another plus is that for tall ladies like me, their tall size inseam is a generous 35.5," which is perfect for me, and they also offer complimentary hemming at Lululemon stores.<br />
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Bottom line: yes, their high-end yoga wear is quite expensive, but everything I've bought (I also have a stretchy tank top) has been well worth it, and their pants also hold up well in the washing machine.<br />
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Also, how cool-looking is <a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-sports-bras/Flip-Your-Dog-Bra?cc=6669&skuId=3467283&catId=women-sports-bras">this bra</a>? WANT.Meaghan Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02060748585808541813noreply@blogger.com0