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Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

May 18, 2015

Skincare struggle

May 18, 2015

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with my skin.  I have naturally oily skin and high levels of stress, which always led me to break out.  I also have hormonal acne (which camps out on my face about once a month, you know what I’m sayin’?)  Today is the perfect day to talk about skincare and current struggles for Blogger, May I.

I've struggled with skin issues for so long, I almost gave up trying. With clean(er) eating and new skincare products, I finally have skin I'm proud of.

I have tried just about every skincare solution on the market (except Proactiv) all throughout high school and college.  I really tried lots of things in college; that is when my skin was the worst it has ever been.  I blame it on the awful water in the PSU dorms.  Ugh, just terrible.  I even tried washing with purified water from my Brita, that’s how bad the water was there!

And of course, makeup makes a difference.  The worse my skin got, the more makeup I used, and the less it could breathe and heal itself…and we begin again.

Fast forward a few years.  I finally have skin that I’m getting proud of and I attribute it to eating fresher, drinking more water, and finding the right things for my skin.  Oh it was a struggle to find, but I did it.  And I did talk about some of my favorite skincare items recently – they still are, but I added a few new things to the mix.

A while ago, a fellow Local Levo leader, Kelly, sent me a message asking if I could help her with something she does on the side, Rodan + Fields.  Developed by two dermatologists, there are specific product lines for adult skincare concerns: acne, aging, dark spots, and overall skin health (look up).  I haven’t really ever committed to only using one line (I still mix and match), but I was definitely interested because her before and after pictures are crazy-awesome.

After taking the skin profile quiz and going back and forth with Kelly, I decided to try the Redefine line.  This line is made to diminish the appearance of fine lines, large pores, and loss of firmness.  Now, I don’t have tons of lines, but sometimes my skin looks dull and I want to get ahead of the curve and start giving my skin good things now before it is too late.

In the Redefine line is a cleanser + mask, pore minimizing toner, treatment + spf day cream, and a restorative night cream.  I’m not a huge fan of the cleanser + mask because when I wake up in the morning, I don’t want to spend 2+ minutes letting it sit on my face first before I actually wash, but I do love this at night.  And when I do use it, I notice an instant brightness in my skin.

The toner is so refreshing and gentle; it doesn’t tingle or sting (sometimes I actually like that because you know it’s working).

The creams are what I love most.  They actually get the job done but they aren’t greasy or heavy.  I feel super moisturized throughout the day without having extra oil production.  There’s a before-and-after skincare progression at the bottom.  Damn, that camera picks up ev.ery.thing.

Kelly warned me that the Redefine line isn’t for treating acne, but I do notice that if I get a breakout, it’s definitely not as long-lasting as it used to be.  Another benefit of the Redefine line is that spots fade quickly now that I’m using something with a little oomph to it.

She also warned me that I may notice an increase in breakouts right after I started to use this.  I’ve been through enough with my skin to know that any skincare switch will always “get worse before it gets better.”  I honestly didn’t notice an increase in breakouts when I started to use these products, so we’re in the clear there.

In addition to Rodan + Fields, I have been loving the Mary Kay Botanical Effects line.  There’s a gel cleanser, toner, gel “hydrator,” and a mask.  The gel cleanser is great in the summer to really tackle oil and makeup.  And the mask..oh the mask.  Mary Kay made a clay mask years ago that’s been pretty much my only skincare constant and they discontinued it.  The Botanical Effects mask has finally replaced that.

Guys, I’m seriously all about the masks.  I have Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty and I just bought Cupcake.  I can’t say good enough things about how they’ve made my skin feel bright and pretty.

And of course, I’m still forever in love with Philosophy.  Their Microdelivery Peel is my weekly treat to myself – my skin feels smooth and fresh after I use it.

I love makeup, but I love having to use less of it, especially in the summer.  The less I can do to a) get out the door and b) feel not caked in makeup all day long is a victory in my book.  Right now, I’m just down to wearing concealer and MAC Mineralized Skin Finish or a light dusting of Bare Minerals.

Just a little makeup and clear skin. It's possible!

There’s still some work to do, but I’m happy with the progress.

What are your skincare struggles?  Please tell me I’m not alone!

An InLinkz Link-up



Rodan and Fields skincare transformation.

Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge? Gotcha covered. Want to use your own prompts? No problem! Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan. Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Kelly sent me Rodan + Fields Redefine kit at a reduced rate, but I wouldn’t be sharing it if I didn’t use it, love it, and believe in it.  Other products mentioned are just because I love them and they work!

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5 Comments · Labels: Blogger May I, Makeup & Beauty Tagged: all natural, lush, makeup, mary kay, philosophy, rodan and fields, skincare, skincare products

May 4, 2015

Never Have I Ever – Beauty Edition

May 4, 2015

The older I get, the harder it is to play Never Have I Ever.  It’s also been quite a few years since I’ve had to play Never Have I Ever.  Never have I ever had a Big Mac, broken a bone (knock on a huuuuuge pile of wood), operated a chain saw..

Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is Never Have I Ever.  Since it’s Makeup Monday, I’m sharing health and beauty things that I’ve never done.  When I was sitting down to write this, I realized there are a lot of things I’ve done when it comes to “beauty” stuff – I’ve waxed, dyed, permed, and just about everything in between.

There are very few things I haven't done when it comes to makeup and hair. But there are a few. Read on to see what "Never Have I Ever" done. #BloggerMayI

Never have I ever…

Successfully teased my hair.

I have a Spornette Little Wonder and it’s great but I have no idea what I’m doing with it.  I kind of just push hair around.  It looks messy instead of..BAM look at my big hair don’t care, which is what I want it to look like.

Gotten a French pedicure

For the longest time, I always wore red polish on my toe nails.  I can’t make up my mind when it comes to finger nail polish, but toe nails were always red.  Finally, I managed to break out of that rut, but as experimental as I get with my nails, I can’t bring myself to do the French style on my toe nails.  My little baby toe nail is soooo small, it would basically just be entirely white.  And look weird.

Successfully used home wax kits

I’m Italian and as expressive as we are with our hands, our eyebrows are just as expressive.  I have dark, heavy brows and they need to be controlled.  So I figured I’d get an at-home wax kit and try to use that instead of tweeze.  Fail.  Fail all over.

I ended up getting about a quarter of my eyelashes stuck to the strip.  I did not realize that before I pulled it off my face.  I just realized how many waxing blunders I’ve made.  I should just leave that to the pros.

And that’s all she wrote.  This headache is getting worse the longer I concentrate.  Time to zone out with Netflix and Parks & Rec.  Leslie Knope heals all wounds.

What have you never ever done?

An InLinkz Link-up


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10 Comments · Labels: Blogger May I, Makeup & Beauty Tagged: beauty fails, blogger may i, makeup, makeup monday, mistakes, never have i ever

April 6, 2015

Easter Hangover

April 6, 2015

Happy Monday, Gardeners!  I didn’t want to NOT write something, but I also have nothing to write – it happens.  I’m the first to admit it.

This weekend after spending a great time in Columbus (where #AngelicaAteColumbus hardcore), lunch with family, and running to prepare for the Pittsburgh Marathon (just the half, thanks), I didn’t get a post written for today.

If you’re missing a dose of my Monday beauty advice, check out my #LipStockChallenge on Instagram and Twitter – I’m rotating through my stash of lip products, one per day until I run out.  Follow the fun and join in if you want to share your #lotd (lip of the day).

How was your weekend?

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6 Comments · Labels: Makeup & Beauty Tagged: easter, lipstick challenge, lipstock challenge, makeup monday

March 30, 2015

Spring clean: makeup organization

March 30, 2015

A few weeks ago, I spent ages (okay, a few hours) rounding up all of my makeup and sorting through it.  I have a problem hoarding all the makeup seeing and storing what I have.  I’ve been trying to do #365DaysofEmpties to lighten up my collection, but it’s still raging out of control, so I had to find a better way to sort and store things.

Easy secrets to sort through and organize makeup for a spring clean! Use these tips to organize and store your makeup using things you probably already have around the house.

To get rid of what I had:

It pained me so much, but I asked myself these five questions.  If it was old, I didn’t like it, and/or just hanging out for the sole purpose of hanging out, I did my best to get rid of it.

How old is it?

If you’re unsure if something is still good, check out this post to know when something is telling you, Hey, I expired.  Or just do a search on Pinterest for “makeup expiration;” all of the recommendations are mostly the same.

Do I have this already in a similar shade?

If so, the older one or the one I like least has to go!  If it’s a backup for a product I love and use, though, it’s definitely staying.

Could I give it to someone else?

If it’s a new product (or mostly new and has been cleaned properly) and I can give it to someone who will use it, I will!  Anyone want to do a blog makeup swap?

Is it hanging around because I don’t use it and I feel bad throwing something away?

I’m so guilty of this.  I can’t throw away something if it’s still usable, even if I don’t use it.

Is it half-finished and I just have to make a point to use the rest of it up?

Guilty of this, too.  I can’t throw something away if it’s usable AND I still have product left to use.

To store what I have left:

What will allow me to use this the most?

I’m so guilty of “Out of sight, out of mind.”  If I don’t see it, I’ll forget about it.  So I pulled out a few of my favorite lip sticks/glosses and have them in their own holder outside of the sorted boxes of lip balm, stick, stain, and gloss.  I just pick the color I want for the day and go without having to paw through endless boxes (or yesterday’s work bag).  Then I’ll swap/rotate out weekly to start playing favorite with others and as the seasons change.

Can I group/store this with similar products?

I have a Quirky Zen Cosmetics from Jonathan that I love and was going to use for eyeliner, but I know liquid eyeliner should be stored on its side and I have pots of gel liner that wouldn’t fit.  It doesn’t make sense to have eyeliner stored in different areas, so I use an empty Birchbox box to corral everything and the brushes stay in the Makeup Zen nice and neat.

Quirky Zen Cosmetics for holding brushes, eyeliner, lip liner, anything!

Group similar kinds of makeup together to make it easier to store. You use it more, too, because you can see it all!

Use what will work for you

Maybe you have an extensive collection and need more drawers/containers that I need.  Maybe you only need a three-drawer container with one drawer for eyes, another for lips, and a final for face (at one time I could fit everything into a small storage tower like that.  Oh the days).

Use these tips to organize and store your makeup using things you probably already have around the house!

Use what works for you.  If a large organization project makes you shake, don’t do it!  If you need clear drawers instead of closed boxes, go find them!

Try other sections of Target

I found a clear desk/mail sorter in the clearance stationery/desk supplies section.  I was going to try using it for brushes and corralling small items.  That didn’t work, so I figured out something else to do with it.

Store eye palettes in an office organizer so you can see them all and easily reach for them.

But my point here is to think in terms of other sections of the store.  If the makeup caddies aren’t what you’re looking for, maybe another organizational section will have something you like.  Or try a totally different store, like Marshall’s or even Staples.  There’s nothing a little spray paint can’t make prettier!

Take unused items out of the collection

Weed out the new items that are waiting to get opened (like mascara, lip gloss, etc) to lighten up what is in the visible places.  It also helps me to use up what is left in an old container before I move on to something new.  I have a bad habit of wanting to use something the second I buy it.  Even toothpaste.  I’m like, “Yes, I want to try that Wintergreen flavor now!”

Store extra makeup items in boxes that can easily stack away in a closet and you know where it is when you need it in the morning.

So by sorting unopened makeup into groups for eyes, lips, and face, I can take out exactly what I need (new blush? mascara?) without having to paw through everything and make a bigger mess.

Also, join me for the #LipStockChallenge – a different lipstick every day until I run out.  Post your photos with the hashtag to play along!

Those are my secrets for taming my makeup collection.  What are yours?

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7 Comments · Labels: How To, Makeup & Beauty Tagged: beauty products, how to, makeup, makeup monday, organization, storage

March 23, 2015

What’s in my bag – eyes

March 23, 2015

Eyes and lips are my favorite part of makeup.  I have way too much of it and I love it.  Throughout the years, I’ve used all kinds of shadows, liners, mascaras, glitter, matte, normal colors, and crazy ones.  So I know a little somethin’ somethin’ when it comes to eyes.

Last month, I went a little crazy listing my favorite skin care, so I tried to keep this short(er) and sweet.  While my collection rotates, somethings stay the same.  Here are the essentials in my makeup bag when it comes to eyes.

Eyeshadow is the best part of makeup! Must have products that you should have in your makeup bag for eyes.

Primer

I have oily skin which means oily eye lids.  I have tried all kinds of primers and I love Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and Urban Decay primers.  Usually I still get a little break down by the end of the day because I haven’t found the EXACT right product that’s bullet proof on oil slick eyes like mine, but these are pretty close.

Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer is fantastic and so worth it.

Eye Liner

I have been using gel liner for a while.  It was one of my first makeup breakthroughs.  I love MAC in Dipdown.  It’s a perfect brown that’s great for day and can be darkened up for night.

But if I want a dark eyeliner, I reach for L’Oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black.  It lasts for ages and the wear on it is fantastic.  The tip is flexible and creates a super thin line.  It’s perfect for a cat (or kitten) eye.

If I want something a little more smudged out, I reach for a pencil liner.  I love Bare Minerals, Urban Decay 24/7, and Stila Smudge Sticks.  These all smoke out nicely and last for a while.

The best eyeliner and mascara.

Mascara

I’m not picky with mascara.  I love Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes.  Bare Minerals Flawless Definition, or good old fashioned Maybelline.  Covergirl also makes great mascara.  I love the Lashblast line.

A girl's best friend is eye shadow, liner, and mascara.

I do like the Maybelline colored mascara to use on my lower lashes instead of liner.

Eye Shadow

I play favorites with my eye shadows.  I’ll get stuck using one palette.  I’ve been using Urban Decay Naked 3 a lot recently, but if I had to choose, I would give that up and keep the original Urban Decay Naked palette.

I love Lorac eye shadows, too.  They’re so silky and insanely pigmented.  I was looking at the Unzipped gold palette, but I love the original Unzipped palette.

Oh man Wet n Wild is seriously underrated.  I love their eye shadow and it’s super cheap. $5 for an 8-pan palette?  Holla.

Urban Decay Naked palette, Lorac Unzipped, and Wet n Wild palettes are amazing. Never giving them up.So that’s what’s in my makeup bag.  These are things that I love and use on a regular basis.

What are your favorite eye products?

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10 Comments · Labels: Makeup & Beauty Tagged: bare minerals, eye liner, eye shadow, eyeliner, lorac, makeup, makeup monday, mascara, maybelline, urban decay, wet n wild

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Who’s Angelica?

Life Un-styled Blogger, Gardener, Shoe Lover..among other things

I'm here to encourage and empower you to grow where you're planted and embrace the weeds that sometimes pop up. I'll share inspiration, products I like (and you may too), and stories from the garden.

Gardening In High Heels is for badass babes who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Want to learn more? Start here.
           

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