I used to spend upwards of $50 per appointment to have my nails done with damaging acrylics. More for a gel nail treatment. An expensive but necessary step if I wanted to have pretty, strong, painted nails that lasted for at least a few weeks. A couple of years ago, I started to use gel press on nail kits as an alternative. They only cost about $10 per box, they’re easy to install (just add adhesive, press, and file), and they look almost exactly like a gel treatment at the nail salon. Here’s a recent installation of gel press on nails that I did:
Beauty Tips
3 Natural Soaps: Oatmeal, Goat’s Milk & Shea Soap
Having dry unhealthy skin is so unpleasant. Next to your smile, your skin is the first thing that people see when they meet you. One can spend a mini fortune buying expensive name brand skin items that don’t even work as well as natural solutions. I decided to give three natural soaps a try: oatmeal, goat’s milk and shea butter soap. Here is what I learned about each type of soap and my personal experience with each.
Oatmeal Soap
Benefits: – helps with poison ivy and bug bites – moisturising effect on skin – helps clean skin by exfoliation – can help both dry and oily skin – helps with sunburn, rashes or pain – helps reduce signs of aging My personal experience with oatmeal soap: I only use this soap when I have a skin breakout (it’s good for eczema symptoms) or a bug bite. It does a great job of soothing the area and reducing itching.Goat’s Milk Soap
Benefits: – high content of alpha-hydroxy acids like lactic acid which breaks down dead skin cells and leaves new cells behind – excellent moisturizer- soothes dry skin – contains vitamin D, C, B1, B12 & E – treats acne because of anti bacterial properties My personal experience with goat’s milk soap: I was giving this soap by someone I love and trust who swears by it. It’s extremely smooth, silky and milky as the name suggests. I’ve found it to be a good moisturizing soap that makes your skin smooth to the touch, and of course there are no harsh dyes or scents. I love the way it smells.Shea Soap (raw)
Benefits: – does not strip essential oils from skin – disinfecting skin properties – contains unsaponifiable compounds – contains vitamins A, C & E – fights germs & bacteria – added bonus: shea butter also acts as a sunscreen My personal experience: while I haven’t used raw shea soap just yet, I use shea butter in its natural form almost every day. This stuff is a great skin protectant and makes your skin supple (like butter). It can also help ease the irritation of rashes and eczema symptoms.So Are Natural Soaps Right for You?
I really feel a difference in my skin when I use natural soaps. I hardly require any moisturizer on my skin after using them because they already have moisturizing properties built-in. If you’re a person who struggles with very dry skin and other skin ailments, oatmeal soap, goat’s milk soap or shea butter soap just might work better than your usual product. They may help ease your symptoms (just make sure that you’re not allergic to the ingredients) and give you the soft, supple, clear, glowing skin you’ve always wanted.
Avon Skin So Soft – One of the Best Mosquito Repellents
I’m convinced now. Avon Skin So Soft is one of the best mosquito repellents.
After hearing about the recent mosquito concerns, I knew that it was even more important to protect myself and family from potential mosquito bites. Products advertised in stores don’t always work. In fact, if you go to some regions, like the South USA, bugs look at common mosquito repellent sprays like seasoning on their “meal.” So I decided to go back to an old-school, throw back solution for keeping mosquitoes off of you: Avon Skin So Soft bath oil. This has been the most effective solution for me this summer — especially since I do a lot of gardening.
Product Review: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit
I sometimes struggle with unwanted hair on my face, neck and chin. I don’t like using razors because I don’t like the razor bumps, irritation and minor cuts. Plus, I would have to shave at least 2-3 times a week in order to maintain these areas. I heard about wax strips and wanted to give them a try. I found a product at my local pharmacy called the Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit — it’s for the face, eyebrows and bikini area.
Benefits
– Plenty of strips (34 to be exact; 17 double sided strips in 3 different sizes)
– very affordable at around $5 per box
– strips can be cut to fix up your eyebrows or lip hair
– gets the job done quickly
Product Review: Shea Body Butter by Tree Hut
I get dry skin — especially in colder weather. Most lotions are too thick or heavy and clog the pores. Worst of all a thick, heavy lotion makes my skin feel tacky and dirty. Other products are way too thin and within minutes my skin is dry and ashy again! I finally came across a really great skin care product on Amazon called Shea Body Butter with Hawaiian Kukui Extract made by Tree Hut that I like. It’s a little bit on the expensive side at $10 per jar, but it’s worth every dollar in my opinion.
How to Protect Your Pretty Nails When Cleaning
I love to get my nails done at the salon or to do them at home using press on nail kits. My favorite thing is a pretty french manicure. But the problem with using at-home nail kits is that when you wash your hands, wash the dishes, or take a shower, the nail glue starts to loosen and the nails eventually fall off. The kit I buy (shown to the right) lasts for about a week before the nails start popping off one by one, which can be an embarrassing situation in public! So what can be done to protect your pretty nails when you’re cleaning or washing up?