How to Save Time & Money

We all know that time (and money) is of the essence. Nowadays, people do not have much time to get all that needs to be done in a day. Many wish that they could have an extra hour or two in the day to get things done. People (myself included) know that convenience is an important factor in our everyday lives; many don’t even have time to read the newspaper in the morning for gosh sakes!

Because of the economic downfall that has happened in the past few years, people also do not have the financial resources for luxury products and services. Everyone is struggling. This post focuses on how you can cut your time and money in half.

How to cut costs

* Before testing out a beauty product, the golden rule is to always try a sampler. You might think that this is obvious; but because labels and ‘guarantees’ on packages, people will automatically think that the product is worth buying. This usually sets people up for disappointment. Companies would be happy to give consumers free stuff to try out. If you want to try the expensive brand names, go to your department store and ask for some samples to take home. Go to company websites like Loreal and Cover Girl and click on their ‘specials’ section for samples as well. Speaking of coupons, check out save.ca – you can pick and choose specific coupons to your liking and have them mailed to you each month.

*If you are happy with a certain brand or product, buy 2 or 3 at a time (especially if it is on sale).

* Many products can be used in multiple ways. Did you know there are 50 different ways to use Vaseline? Not only is it good to put on your nose when you have a cold, but I also use it as lip balm and as a lotion to put it on extremely dry and cracked skin in the winter months.

How to cut time

* Wash and blowdry your hair the night before a big event (or if you know you won’t have time to do it in the morning). Be sure to wrap your hair in a scarf to keep from getting messy while you sleep. Better yet, let your hair air dry while you sleep to save on energy and to avoid heat products from scorching your hair.

* I know many people have a hard time waking up in the morning, but if you can, try getting up at least 20 minutes to half an hour before you usually do in the morning. This will allow you time for your beauty routine, as well as to eat breakfast.  

* Make sure to fully remove makeup the night before. This will make putting on makeup much easier in the morning, and it will improve your complexion.

I hope these tips will help in your purchasing and daily routines. Please feel free to share any tips and stories on how we can get the most of our time and money.

Beauty Call: Bye Bye Blackheads

 

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips - $14 for a pack of 14

Other than removing unwanted hair, blackheads can be a pet peeve. Blackheads are little bumps embedded into the pores of skin and usually develop when the skin produces too much oil. If you are still unsure of what a blackhead is, see for yourself. Take a mirror (preferably a magnifying mirror) and look on your nose, forehead and cheeks for tiny dark dots. Chances are you probably have them; if not, then I envy you. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of blackheads. Regular cleansing of the face can help prevent an over abundance of blackheads and pimples.

To get quick results, however, I use Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. I’ve been using Biore Strips for quite some time and I have always had a positive experience with the product. The thing to remember is to wet the area so the strip has some grip to it. Once the strip has dried on your nose (it will feel like paper mache), it is ready to be ripped off. I usually count to three and then peel off the strip in one motion, which is a tad painful. But in the end, it’s worth to see the blackheads on the strip rather than my nose. After, I use my toner to close the pores, and voila!

According to acne.org, the product got an average vote of 3.8 out of 5. Some said that the product opened up pores (which is why I use toner afterwards to close them), and the glue stays on the nose after the strip is ripped off. Others said that they love the product and it does the trick. The Biore Strips get a thumbs up in my books. Although a tad pricey, it is worth the money and you can do other things while waiting for it to dry (like write a blog, perhaps?).

Try This:

*Dab Visine or Pepto Bismol on pimples or red spots on your face to reduce redness.

* Use a teabag on skin, especially for puffy eyes. The antioxidants in the tea will help reduce inflammation.

Feel free to share your experiences with Biore Strips, face masks, or any other cleansing products.

Beauty Call: The Divine Disaster

Nair Cire Divine - $15

Hair removal – a tedious task that no woman (or man) likes to do. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if there were a way to get rid of hair permanently (or at least for longer than a week)? Well, since life cannot be perfect, we must settle for other ways to get rid of hair. While preparing for my last trip, I decided to try Nair Cire Divine – a microwavable wax that helps remove unwanted hair at ease. The difference between this product and other depilatories is that Nair Cire Divine does not require cloth strips to help remove the hair; instead, you pull the wax off your skin directly.

After reading the directions carefully, I thought I finally have found a product that would be easy to use and would work effectively. Boy was I wrong. After stirring the wax with the applicator, I tried scooping some wax out of the bowl, but the wax started getting goopy and stringy and created a big mess. Frustration began to kick in and finally I managed to get some wax on my leg. Once the wax was ready to peel, I tried pulling the wax off but it crumbled when I did so. To make matters worse, no hair was pulled off in the process and it hurt a lot.

I did some research to see if others were as frustrated as I was. Many had the same problem that I encountered. On average, consumers gave the product a 1.7 out of 5. I give this product a thumbs down. It was a waste of time and money. Looks like I will be sticking to the trusted razor and shaving cream.

Try This:

* Ran out of shaving cream? Use hair conditioner. It works just as good as shaving cream and leaves your legs feeling smooth and soft.

* Always shave at the end of your shower. The steam from the hot water will open up the hair follicles, which will result in less cuts from shaving.

Feel free to share any disaster moments with hair removal.

Try This

Tips of the Week:

* Running late and don't have time to wash your hair? Use baby powder. Use a makeup brush or sprinkle it on your roots to soak up any excess oils. Or try Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo (about $4 at the drugstore)

* To get rid of any unwanted pimples, dab some toothpaste on it. Popular to contrary belief, it actually does work! Put it on before you go to bed, and in the morning, the pimple should dry out.

* Don't have a makeup brush? Use Q-tips! Just make sure you be careful to not get any of the fluff in your eye, it can be difficult to get it out.

And the winner is...

As I write this blog, I am watching the popular TLC show Toddlers and Tiaras. Since it goes with the theme of my blog, I thought I would give my two cents on it. As entertaining this program is (TLC has some interesting shows), many have a strong viewpoint on beauty pageants for children. Personally, I find a problem with putting children in beauty pageants. Like I said in my first post, true beauty comes from within; however, these children will grow up to think that the only way to be beautiful is get decked out in glitz and glam. Many of the children are pushed to the limits with becoming "Ultimate Grand Supreme" (see video below). In some of the episodes, children refuse to practice or compete in the pageant; but many are already in the mind set to win, win, win that this has become a lifestyle. Families fork over thousands of dollars for outfits, makeup, coaches, stylists and pageant fees, and as one mother just quoted, "If you have the money to afford it, then why not.” Many of the mothers also quote that their child strives to win and they must do everything perfect. If it is not perfect, they throw a temper tantrum until they get their way. One parent even gave their child coffee because they asked for it...COFFEE!? Really? Yikes! Yes, it may be a way for children to display their talents in singing and dance. However, it is the part when parents push their child to compete that is the real problem. Obviously many children do not have a choice when they are that young, so they do it without realizing what they are even doing at times. Clearly, parents want to live vicariously through their children to fulfill their childhood dreams that they were never able to do. For the children that are aware of what they are doing, they have become obsessed with winning and looking perfect. Thoughts anyone?