I haven’t dressed up in YEARS! I’m thinking the last time was 1999 when I was a calico cat. Maybe this year will be the year I get dressed up again… hmmmm….
Stand out at a party with one of these hip, and easy-to-do, costumes
Halloween costumes can be tricky. You don’t want to look cheesy or lame, but you also don’t want to be so creative/weird that no one gets what your costume is. Luckily, we’ve pulled together some foolproof costume ideas for this year. The best part? Most of them don’t require you to buy a costume, just get creative with makeup and the clothes in your closet!
Nail biting. I’ve battled it all my life and still struggle with it today. If I’m really stressed out/nervous or whatever, I’ll tear apart my cuticles, nails and nail bed meat (for lack of a better term). It’s very relaxing but looks horrible, so here are some tips on how to stop nail biting.
Have a game plan. Count on caring for your nails every five days or so. This is not set in stone but you should count on it as something is likely to make this necessary. A week seems too long for most nail polish and when your nails don’t look absolutely fabulous the tempation rises to chew, mangle or otherwise uglify your nails. The nicer your hands/nails look, the better chance of them staying that way!
Keep hands and nails moisturized and slathered in moisturizers. Moisturizers don’t taste that great which works out well for passive nail biting prevention. YUCK
Decide if you’re going to be a do-it-yourself-er or a salon mani. If you can afford it, it might be a nice treat to go to the salon, but at five day intervals that means about 6 times per month which can be expensive. But this also means you don’t have to even think about the choosing, buying and storage of nail polish which can be factored in. Two minutes in front of the polish rack and you’re on your way.
There are a lot of compromises to be made, possibly once a week at the salon with at home maintenance would work well for many women.
My personal game plan is to get a pro manicure once a month to cut cuticles and shape nails. I don’t enjoy doing these things myself and have little to no skill in this area. Since my nails are uneven it helps get a good result quickly. I will remove nail polish, possibly reapply polish myself and moisturize and massage cuticles daily for maintenance.
For those of you with the skill and dedication you must obviously have diy experience so you may need motivation or a little reminder. Keep it simple and together. Keep all your mani/pedi items in a shoe box or drawer. Having one place to go to for nail care will help things move faster when you’re ready to care for your nails. Which brings us to supplies…
Things to have on hand.
A small but vast array of nail polish, start off with a signature color (or two).
Tools: cuticle cutters, nail files, orange sticks to push back cuticles, those spongy toe seperators for pedicures, nail buffer and a nail brush
Nail Polish remover (I will be hunting for low fume types)
Nail biting is very hard to get over but I’m hoping that making myself accountable not only to myself, but to this blog will help me overcome it. My goal is to become a reformed nail biter!
I’ve been missing a good exfoliant in my routine for some time now. I went through a period of trying lots of different exfoliating products and paying the price afterwards… you know red, irritated skin an that horrible raw feeling. It’s really bad and I guess I subconsciously retreated and stuck with foam cleansers which are very good but I personally need the extra push to get dead skin cells off every so often.
I really like Lancome’s Exfoliance Confort (Comforting Exfoliating Cream), it’s gentle, creamy and effective. My skin feels s-o-f-t and smooth every time I use it (which is really my end goal in life!)
My suggestions for best exfoliator use would be:
don’t use any exfoliating products too often… I like to use an exfoliant one, two or three times a week, no more
don’t exfoliate before a beauty deadline… nighttime, before bed would be best, just in case you won’t have to look all blotchy
give your skin some time on it’s own after exfoliating to see the effect on your skin, if your skin is way too dry after exfoliating you may have used too much product
Don’t over do it! it’s not a scrubbing contest, take care not to agitate your skin too much. You’ll know for next time, practice makes perfect!
I received this as a free media sample and the opinion is all mine. If you’d like to find out more, check out Lancome’s website.
On a side note…
It appears I’ve created the word exfoliantaccording to spell check so I want to clarify… Exfoliant is used in this post to mean a product that exfoliates or exfoliating product.
This is it! a very exciting opportunity for YOU to get a coupon for a FREE 4-pack of Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt.
Yoplait’s Fiber One yogurt is delicious and you can feel good about eating it because there are only 50 calories in each serving. Choose from Strawberry (fave), Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie flavors. One serving contributes 20% of the recommended daily value of fiber and is a good source of calcium, Vitamins A and D.
Be sure to check out the yogurt section of your local grocery, look for the Hungry Girl on the packaging and you’ll know you’ve got the right one. Yoplait’s Fiber One is the first nationally distributed yogurt to get the Hungry Girl’s Seal of Approval by the way. The better the taste the more likey you are to eat it so find things that are healthy and that you enjoy.
The first 50 get a FREE coupon, the rest get a $1 off download. Click on the “try me free” on the image below. Enjoy.
Visit www.pajamamom.com right now for FREE coupons for Yoplait Fiber One. The free ones are gone but you can still download $1 coupons or come back to www.SteepingBeauty.com to try and get a free.
Keeping that body healthy is a top priority so I’m sure you’ll want to get in on this offer! This yogurt is Hungry-Girl approved so you know it’s good…
The first 50 readers will receive a coupon for a FREE 4-pack of Fiber One yogurt! Readers thereafter will get $1 downloadable coupons and great tips!
This giveaway opportunity has been offered by Yoplait.
Here’s my take on Jurlique’s Love Balm. I LOVE a good multi-tasking product, one that fits cutely into a purse no matter how small. Not to mention it will take care of any problem you may come across while out and about. It will take care of you from head to toe but I often use it at my waist and I will have to confess why… my jeans never fit right – I should have them taken in at the tailor but instead I wear too-tight belts, inevitably the belts find their way to my skin and the leather against my skin is r-e-a-l-l-y irritating. When I feel dry and chapped while I’m on the go I’ve been reaching for my Love Balm.
This is one product that I can use on myself and infinitely more important to me – my kids without hesitation since it is free of Parabens, PEGs, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), and SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate). It has a fabulous scent on the citrus side but very light and fresh.
If you’d like to learn more about Jurlique’s Love Balm, visit www.jurlique.com
Attn Please: I received this as a free media sample.
Be sure to join the PINK Nation for exclusive discounts and shopping events. You get emails with coupons for cheap deals, example: right now you can download a coupon to get a limited edition tee for $5 instead of $10 for non-members (with PINK purchase).
There will also be a PINK Shopping Event October 11, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 for members only. The email says there will be prizes, music and special offers. Once you get to the site you can find out if/where there are events in your state (of course not being held in Maine) grrr… and print your invite.
I received some VS beauty samples and hope to have those reviews up for you soon.
The first Tuesday of the month is “College Day” at an Ulta near you. Just bring your college ID to get discounts and exclusives like…
5 FREE samples with any purchase when you show your ID! (While supplies last)
Get 25% off ALL ULTA brand products, including cosmetics, bath & body, hair care and accessories!
Salon at ULTA: START A TREND! Show your ID to reserve your appointment for a FREE Runway Your Way Styling Lesson. Learn more about our exclusive haircut trend collection by Rodney Cutler, Redken Expert and Celebrity Runway Stylist.
I’ve only been in ULTA a few times (there are none in Maine!) but hopefully this can help someone out there.
Well don’t we most?!? François Nars will be making a special personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue – signing copies of his books X-Ray and Makeup Your Mind as well as the limited-edition NARS Loves New York Set. What’s the occasion? 15 years of NARS is pretty special so don’t delay. Four classic products named after iconic city spots.
Sephora is offering a $10 off $50 purchse for bring in 5 beauty clunkers.
You must have the email so be sure to check your inbox…
Subject was: Trade up: $10 for your old makeup
In the subject it states that it can be any beauty item and that they will recycle. HO HUM In my opinion, 5 items is going a little overboard for a $10 off $50 Sephora. Valid through October 12, 2009
Once upon a time, not too long ago, a lady was tired of talking heads that didn't get her lifestyle. She longed for one place where she could record her thoughts on the many wonderful products that came into her life and made it better (or worst).
Far from obsessive, cosmetics are only an enhancement to an already full fruitful life.
Originally inspired by the tea she drank and steeped constantly, now the best part of waking up is a steamy, frothy espresso. So she may be a little fickle with her beverages!
Steeping Beauty has a soft spot for all things beautiful.
skincare
fragrance
hair care
nails
As well as all things culturally significant to her favorite far far away lands... France, Brazil, Japan, USA. Let's see where this less than perfect princess will step...
Well don’t we most?!? François Nars will be making a special personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue – signing copies of his books X-Ray and Makeup Your Mind as well as the limited-edition NARS Loves New York Set. What’s the occasion? 15 years of NARS is pretty special so don’t delay. Four classic products named after iconic city spots.