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Flaky Skin? Try Gentle Dermabrasion

March 30, 2016 by jessica 7 Comments

Origins Modern Friction Review

I didn’t know about the ins and outs of dermabrasion until I started working on this post last night. Yes, I knew it was a skin treatment. Yes, I knew it made skin smoother. No, I did not know it sounded as awful as this:

Dermabrasion is a “technique that uses a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges (called a burr or fraise) to remove the upper layers of the skin. The brush or burr rotates rapidly, taking off and leveling (abrading or planing) the top layers of the skin.”

Doesn’t it make your skin crawl just to read it? Thanks, WebMD. (At least it was my first search on the site that didn’t lead to cancer.)

Anyway, the only reason I’m enlightened now is because I’m obsessed with this gentle dermabrasion scrub from Origins. While “gentle dermabrasion” is just marketing speak for “exfoliator that actually works,” it totally lives up to the hype. I have dry, flaky skin in the winter that neither lotion nor overnight masks totally fix (even though I adore this one). The only thing that has gotten rid of it has been the brand’s “Modern Friction” scrub. I received a sample with a recent Sephora order and found that it smoothed my face without leaving behind redness, irritation, or breakouts (unlike this one). The little “scrubbers” are made of rice starch. Paired with the extracts in the Origins product, it sort of smells like Froot Loops — or at least my memory of them. (I can’t remember the last time I had a bowl.)

It’s not cheap at $39.50 for a 4.2 ounce bottle, but you’ll find that a little goes a very long way.

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Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: origins modern friction scrub

Beauty Reviews

November 13, 2015 by jessica 4 Comments

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If you’re a Sephora VIB member, it’s the day you’ve been waiting for: 20% the entire site with code VIB20! I’m using this as an excuse to stock up on the lip color, face wash, and skincare essentials I’ll eventually use next year. Unfortunately, though, I had placed a sizable order at the beauty retailer before knowing of the sale. So, I thought I’d share a few reviews:

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip: I’m now on my third tube of this pink-tinted lip balm. It adds a subtle hint of color while moisturizing your lips and giving you sun protection with SPF 15. Basically, it’s better than ChapStick. I use this on days my lips are chapped from my drying, long-wear lipstick options.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Bella: If you’re looking for a long-wear lipstick that will withstand the food and drink of this winter’s holiday soirees, you can’t go wrong with Stila’s liquid lipstick. It lives up to its claims and really does stay on all day. I wore the “Fiore” shade almost exclusively last year, but opted for “Bella” this time around. The pink shade is just a tad brighter. One word of warning: it’s very drying. I always slather on Vaseline at night to counteract it and wear the aforementioned Fresh lip balm the following day if it’s really bad. Normally, though, I can wear this each day to work without experiencing much chapping.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick in Betsey: This has the same vibrant, long-lasting color as the all-day liquid lipstick without the severe dryness. There’s even a mirror on the top of the tube to make easy to reapply on the go. The “Bestsey” version is a delightful Barbie-esque pink.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Peony: To say I was excited about this deluxe sample would be a bit of an understatement. I’ve been itching to try the Melted product for a long time, but never pulled the trigger because I love my Stila products so much and didn’t want to waste money on another lip color I barely used. The name also makes it sound sticky. (I’m not the only one with memories of long hair getting stuck to sticky gloss, right?) Well, it’s not sticky. The formula is actually quite smooth and long-lasting. The peony color doesn’t work well on me. I’m too fair-skinned, but I bet it’s gorgeous on someone with a darker complexion. The only drawback is that the fragrance is a little strong. I’d prefer if my lips didn’t smell like candy.

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Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance: Skip it. This is the first beauty product in a long time that I regret purchasing. I bought it on a whim, hoping to find a cheaper alternative to the Smashbox primer I usually buy. It goes on a little stickier than the Smashbox version and doesn’t offer as smooth of a foundation base. While it sort of delivers on the promise of a radiant glow, the Benefit Watt’s Up highlighter is so much better. Unfortunately, I bought the large 1.7 ounce size and I have a lot of product left to get through.

Origins Starting Over™ Age-Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa: I’ve only been using this for a couple of weeks, so I’m not sure if it’s actually doing anything. Like all Origins products I’ve tried, it doesn’t aggravate my sensitive skin. It also smells fresh and citrusy. Let’s put a pin in this review for another time.

Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask: I love, love, love this overnight mask. In addition to having sensitive skin, my face becomes awfully dry in the fall and winter. I’ve used this twice a week to keep my skin soft and supple. It goes on a bit thick, but absorbs into your skin overnight and doesn’t cause breakouts. I’ll definitely be repurchasing this.

 

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: fresh sugar lip treatment review, stila color balm lipstick betsey, stila stay all day liquid lipstick bella, too faced melted lipstick

Review: Irresistible Me Curling Wand

August 13, 2015 by jessica 4 Comments

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This post could really be subtitled “The Stupid Faces I Make When Curling My Hair.” Obviously, I didn’t include them in an effort of self-preservation, but Dave caught them all on camera. I look bored in some, sleepy in others, and downright angry in most! And there’s no reason for it, since this 8-in-1 complete curler by Irresistable Me is pretty amazing.

I curl my hair almost daily, so I was pretty jazzed when the company offered to send over the Holy Grail of curling irons. The kit includes a heating handle, eight wands, and a heat-resistant glove to keep your fingers from burning (safety first!), and it all comes neatly rolled up in a nylon carrying case. (I felt like a serious beauty addict with this thing in tow.) I used it for the first time when we visited Louisville and have continued to style my hair with it since.

PROS

  • So. Many. Choices. Anyone with hairdo A.D.D. is going to love playing with the different size barrels.
  • Fast and even heating elements. Seriously, it took less than 30 seconds to heat up. You’ll also notice there’s a LED screen on the handle. This shows you the exact temperature of the wand. Through a bit of trial-and-error, I discovered I need to bump up the heat to keep the curls in my hair longer. I’m never able to hold curls for long with fine, straight hair, but my locks were still wavy at the end of the night.
  • No frizzy hair. Honestly, I don’t understand how “the tourmaline technology with negative ions” keeps hair shiny and smooth, but it does. (Magic, probably.) The ends of my hair usually look dried out and frizzy when using a traditional curling iron with the clamp. I didn’t have that problem with this wand.
  • One-year warranty.

CONS

  • It’s an investment at $200. This works out to $25 per wand. If you have a particular barrel size and shape you never stray from, this might not be the best way to spend your money. It seems better suited for ladies who like to switch up their hairstyles on the regular.
  • The kit is bulky to travel with. Pick one or two barrels and toss those in your luggage instead.
  • No clamp makes burning your fingers a very real possibility. This is where that heat-resistant glove comes in. Use it.

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Dress: Dee Elle ($29!) | Bracelets: Hermes, c/o Julie Vos (similar on sale) | Rings: Lulu Frost, c/o Vrai & Oro | Curling Wand: c/o Irresistible Me

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: beauty, irresistable me, irresistable me 8-in-1 curling wand, irresistable me curling iron, review, sponsored review

Facial Favorites

August 4, 2015 by jessica 9 Comments

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I rarely talk about beauty on my blog because I think others do it so much better than I ever could, but these face care essentials are worth a mention: Origins Checks and Balances face wash and the brand’s Clear Improvement charcoal mask.

I received a sample of the mint-scented face wash with a previous Sephora order and fell in love with it. I use it after removing makeup with a face wipe to leave my skin ultra clean and smooth before following up with lotion. I was hesitant to spend $22 on a face wash when I had been using drugstore brands for as long as I can remember, but just a tiny bit of product lathers beautifully. I bought this bottle back in the middle of May and I’ve probably used an ounce worth.

I use the charcoal mask almost every week or whenever my skin is being problematic. I’ve found that it helps ease breakouts, leaves my skin feeling smooth, and brightens my complexion. It gets a little itchy when it’s drying — at first I worried that my skin wasn’t reacting well — but it leaves my skin incredibly soft.

I’d love to hear about your favorite skincare products. I’m on the hunt for a great wrinkle-reducing eye cream. Any suggestions?

 

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: origins checks and balances review, origins clear improvement charcoal mask review

Weekend Guide

June 6, 2015 by jessica 4 Comments

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IDENTIFY
If there’s one thing women are good at, its keeping menstrual products hidden. Here are some insights into why we’re ashamed to be seen with a tampon.

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FOLLOW
Wally has received quite a bit of Internet attention lately and for good reason: he’s pretty much the cutest thing on Instagram. I’ve never wanted a pet rabbit as much as I do now. I just don’t think Bacon would play nice.

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SAVE
Tory Burch’s resort collection is so good. It has many of the same artisanal elements as her most recent work, but with a bit more southwest textures and design elements.

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LEARN
One of my majors was in English and I was always a bit surprised by our culture’s decision to sexualize the child in Nabokov’s Lolita. This essay explores the influence of Hollywood on our perception of the iconic novel.

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BUY
Bath & Body Works is bringing back six classic fragrances from the 1990s for a limited time. Now’s your opportunity to smell like Juniper Breeze again. (I was more of a Freesia girl, myself.)

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FIGHT
Sudara provides jobs for women in India to keep them out of slavery and sex trafficking. Pajama pants come in at $44, a small price to pay to be part of such a noble cause.

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// additional image via //

Filed Under: Beauty, Lifestyle, Style Tagged With: the weekend guide

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Hello!


Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry.

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I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog of travel photos before we book our next trip. First up, photos of the gothic York Minster. I’m not religious in the slightest but I can’t resist stunning architecture and the opportunity to climb hundreds of cathedral stairs for a city view. This one only had a single rest stop about halfway up the flight of 275 steps for a closeup view of the flying buttresses — and a waiver you had to sign before your ascent to promise you’re healthy enough to make it.
Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone nook to good use.
Christmassy mornings. Christmassy mornings.
Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake f Thanksgiving Bake: Flourless Chocolate Wave Cake from Dessert Person by @csaffitz

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Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Hal Visiting York earlier this month put us in the Halloween spirit. While it claims to be the most haunted place in Europe and is dubbed the city of a thousand ghosts, we only encountered the wire-mesh sculptures of Ghosts in the Gardens (@the_york_bid) and the family of souvenir ghosts I brought home from @yorkghostmerchants. 

#ghostsinthegardens #york #hauntedyork #yorkmuseumgardens #yorkghostmerchants
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