Category: make-up

Look Again

Something happened yesterday morning that really got me thinking. It was my first morning back to work after Thanksgiving break, and I was getting dressed, brushing my hair, leaning into the bathroom mirror to dab on make-up. I was tired, not ready to be finished with our break yet, and my mind was churning out non-stop, harsh commentary on my appearance.

“Do my pants feel tighter? I must have eaten too much for Thanksgiving. Pig. God, I look so tired. I look like I was dug up and reanimated this morning. Just look at the dark circles under my eyes! Worse than a raccoon! Gah, I look like crap.”

I am sure I am not the only one whose internal dialogue can get brutal, right? I sighed, wishing I could crawl back into bed instead of being seen in public, and just then my husband walked into the room.

He glanced at me, smiled, and said, “Oh, you look so good today.”

I was stunned. I actually blurted out, “I do?”

Now he looked confused, like he didn’t know what he said that was wrong. I told him I just felt like I looked awful, and he simply said, “Well, look again.”

So I did–through his eyes, as best that I could. Sure, I looked like I could use some rest, but that’s because we stayed up late every night of our break, spending as much time together as we could. And yeah, my nails are filed much shorter than I like, but that’s because the two of us not only worked in the yard as usual this past weekend, but we also demolished our deck, hauled off the old wood, and selected new boards, carrying and loading them all by ourselves.

No, I don’t look like I just stepped out of a salon or a spa. I have been too busy busting my ass, working on our home, and getting shit done. I know that one of the many things he loves about me is my willingness to leap in, get dirty, and work hard at his side, for him to have a true partner, something he hasn’t had in the past.

I’m no princess or prima donna, and it shows sometimes, like right now, with the scratches on my legs from the rose thorns in our garden, or the scrapes and spots on my hands and arms from unloading rough wood boards. My hair is in dire need of a color and cut, but I just haven’t had time, because we’ve had so much to do. Visiting the kids and helping my husband with these projects were far more important to me, and always will be.

I ended up thinking about that exchange with my husband later that day. Jeez, I really need to learn to cut myself a break! Why would I possibly pressure myself to look immaculate and energized after a busy and manual-labor-filled weekend? I am glad my husband walked in at just the right moment to place everything into perspective and deliver a crucial reality check. I am glad he sees me through the lens of love, and I am glad he is teaching me to see myself the same way, too.

Add to Cart

Blame it on the sunny, beautiful weather the last few days, the promise of spring right around the corner, or the gift cards burning holes in my wallet: I have a serious case of the shopping bug today.

A friend of mine invited me to her daughter’s birthday party in a few weeks, which is another reason I need to go shopping. I like shopping for gifts. I try to find something that will make the person opening it smile and feel special. This particular little girl likes to color, so I already found a toddler coloring book and chunky crayons that will be easy for her to hold, but I want to find something else to add to it, something that will make her rush to tear off the rest of the wrapping paper and want to start playing with it right away.

Another hour or so of being chained to my desk…I feel like being outside for a bit after work. It’s too nice to be inside all evening. Maybe my husband will feel like a bike ride, or going for a walk, or just eating dinner outside on the deck. I can’t wait to head home!

Ulta Package

One of my Valentine’s Day gifts was a gift card for Ulta. Have I mentioned that I love make-up, skin care products, face masks, nail polish, all of that girly stuff? The gift card didn’t last very long, and I happily sorted through my online wish list and placed my order.

I wasn’t expecting my Ulta package until Friday, but I got a notification this morning that it’s out for delivery today. Yay!

After being sick for the past week (sniffling, sneezing, coughing), I am looking forward to testing out new products and colors to feel a bit more alive and a bit less like a sleep-deprived, stuffy zombie. I happened to order when they had a gift with purchase, so bonus, I get to try out a few new items for free, too. If I really adore something, I will review it here and share the love. ♥

Review: Almay Biodegradable Eye Makeup Remover Pads

I have been meaning to write more product reviews on my blog, but just as quickly as I think about it, I forget about it. Not today!

I have been using Almay eye makeup remover pads for quite some time for a simple reason: they work. I hate scrubbing and scouring at my eyes to get eyeliner and mascara off at night, and the Almay pads were quick, gentle, and got the job done.

At least, they used to. Almay changed the formula to the new biodegradable packaging, and quite frankly, they suck.

The biodegradable makeup remover pads are disgustingly greasy. We’re talking cooking oil consistency. It’s like rubbing Crisco on my eyes to remove my makeup. It leaves a shiny, thick, oily ring around my eyes, and I can’t wash my face fast enough to remove it.

The pads used to be a soft, slightly textured material. Now they are some sort of cheap-feeling, scratchy material. Definitely not pleasant on the eye area!

I find myself having to use two pads to remove all of my eye makeup now, and it’s not like I cake the stuff on like Tammy Faye Baker. At least that means I should go through this jar faster so I can finally throw it away and move on to a much better product.

My review in a nutshell: I hate the new formula for Almay eye makeup remover pads. They are absolutely awful, and I do not recommend them!

More Insanity, and Eye Liner!

As promised, last night I did the 55-minute Insanity workout called Max Interval Plyo.  It was a piece of cake, a walk in the park, and I barely broke a sweat…just kidding!  I seriously need to remember to grab a towel before I start these workouts.  I end up snorting sweat up my nose, which I’m sure you’re glad to know all about, but hey, this is an honest review!

There are a lot of push-ups in this workout.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned I hate push-ups.  And mountain climbers.  There are a lot of those too, as well as other exercises that require my head to be upside down, a huge pet peeve of mine.  I just don’t like it.  But I know the moves are in this workout for a reason, so I do my best to just do them, though I have to admit I take more breaks during the moves I don’t like, like this one:

This move is called the “What the Hell are We Doing, and Why Would We Even Think About Attempting This?” move.  Okay, that’s what I call it.  I believe Shaun T calls it something else, like side to side hops or something less inventive like that.  I hate my shirt wadding up around my ears like that.  Refer back to “I hate moves that require my head to be upside down”.

I adore Shaun T, so I grit my teeth and do my best, until I just have to yank my shirt back down or catch my break or swear at Shaun T, constructive things like that.  As much as I hate some of the moves, there is absolutely no denying that these workouts are intense, working my body like crazy, and making me stronger, even though during the workout, sometimes I feel like this:

I hadn’t intended for my workout review to turn into a make-up review, but I noticed that when I went to wash my face after the Insanity workout, all my make-up had of course sweated off, except my eyeliner.  Granted, it wasn’t as prominent or neat and tidy as it was pre-workout, but it was still there, and still looked pretty good, which was impressive, given all the sweating and face-wiping.

So here is a shout-out to L.A. Girl Glide Gel Liner, which I picked up for something like $3.99 at Ulta.

Today’s workout is done already, since I got up at oh-my-god o’clock to hit the gym.  I’m leaving work early today to head to my older stepdaughter’s awards ceremony at her school, and since the kids’ schools are an hour drive each way, we won’t be home until late, so I had to fit in my workout this morning.  My stepdaughter has straight A’s, and has carried that most of the school year.  She is intelligent and works hard.  She texted her daddy last night to tell him she is excited to see us there, so I wouldn’t miss this for the world.

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