Current Crushes, aka What You Should Put On Your Shopping List RIGHT NOW!
[ 12 April 2010 ]
While there are some things you buy which don’t really enhance your life at all, there are other discoveries which definitely improve things. Shoes are nice, but discovering your perfect skincare regimen, for example, can be a complete game-changer — no longer worrying about the perfect concealer, far fewer “ugly days”, etc. Here are a collection of things I’ve been using for a while which make me really happy — & some which might make you happy too!
My skin is really great right now (touch wood!) & has been for the past couple of months. I don’t know why for sure, but other than cutting down on processed food (which definitely helps), I am going to chalk it up to the regular use of the following three products.
Clarisonic PRO Deluxe Professional 4-Speed Skin Care System
I had wanted one of these for a really long time — check the reviews on Amazon to find out why! — & when I received one in my goodie bag at IFB’s Evolving Influence, I actually squealed! Since then, I have been using it every day & I SWEAR, my skin has never looked better. Even those little things which look like they might become blemishes disappear without a trace.
It’s essentially a little brush which whizzes around & buffs in your cleanser, while exfoliating your skin at the same time.
I think this is a miracle product. It makes all your other skincare work so much more effectively, which is great. I don’t use expensive skincare anyway — my cleanser is Simple Cleansing Lotion which you can buy in the supermarket in Australasia — but it’s great to see it going the distance.
While the Clarisonic itself is not cheap (almost $200), I think it’s worth saving up for. Few things make you feel as good about yourself as having amazing, clear skin, & that is a fact!
When I get out of the shower, I cover my face in cleanser, wet the Clarisonic & turn it on. After that, I use Burt’s Bees Repair Serum around my eyes & jojoba oil on my face before putting on my make-up.
I don’t use it in the evenings, because I think that would be a little excessive. Instead, I remove my make-up with a baby wipe (the sort with aloe vera & vitamin e!), then apply hyaluronic serum. See below! By the way, baby wipes & make-up removal wipes usually have the EXACT same ingredients, but baby wipes are much less expensive! Let this be a lesson to you. Be sure to buy unscented ones with aloe vera, though!
I found out about this from a beauty post Zoetica did, & when I happened across it in Wholefoods in Austin, I quickly snapped it up. First of all, it has a very strange smell, almost sickly sweet, but it does such AMAZING — & I mean, really, AMAZING — things to my skin that I am willing to put up with it. (The Dish thinks it smells like pen ink, while I think it smells like a candy store?!) When I put it on, it feels tingly & almost a bit burny, which made me quite nervous at the start but it has proven itself to be so brilliant that I don’t mind.
I use it every night before I go to sleep or on days when I’m not wearing any make-up at all. The reason for this is that it’s quite thick & makes me look really shiny, which is not the kind of base I want for my make-up.
I swear, I swear it is smoothing the fine lines on my face, plumping the areas around my eyes & mouth, & it’s doing something really fantastic for my complexion in general. My skin has never looked this good — except for when I was eating 100% raw! So, for those of you (um, for those of us, myself included!) who don’t have the discipline or interest in going raw, this is an excellent way to fake it. On the outside anyway!
O3mega+ Glow by Genuine Health
Adding this into my regular vitamin routine has really done amazing things for my skin. Again, I can’t tell how much of it is this & how much of it is the Clarisonic + the hyraluronic serum, because I started them all at the same time, but I would say that those two plus Genuine Health’s skincare vitamins make up the holy trinity of skincare.
I used to take regular Omega 3 capsules (good for the brain!), but when I saw that Genuine Health, my favourite vitamin brand, had Omega 3 made specifically to improve skin, I was all over it — & it’s great. Definitely does the trick.
By the way, if you’re interested, my daily vitamin regimen = O3mega+ Glow, Multi+ Daily Glow & Perfect Skin, all by Genuine Health. I’ve written about Genuine Health before, because when I started taking their vitamins I was blown away. I recommend them to EVERYONE!
Genuine Health recently sent me some Dermalipid to try out too, & I’ve added it into my morning pill routine. Apparently it takes about a month for you to see any effects from it, so I’ll let you know!
Full Coverage Concealer by Make Up For Ever
THE HOLY GRAIL FOR UNDEREYE CIRCLES. I am not kidding & I have done the research. Make-up artists always seem to be able to make my circles disappear but I can never recreate it at home & it is the most frustrating thing ever.
Everyone I spoke to about it had a different suggestion, ranging from YSL’s Touche Eclat to Benefit’s Erase Paste, but no. They don’t do it for me. THIS DOES, & I learned about it from a sweet man in a Texan Sephora. The key is to DAB it on, & to be sure to blend it up past the inner corners of your eye (otherwise you just look weird). This stuff is incredible, I’m telling you. Makes me look wide-awake & peppy, which is worth its weight in gold! I use #4, but you really need to go test it out to make sure which shade is right for you!
I was sent this ages ago, & recently rediscovered it in a poster tube under my desk. I pinned it to my wall, ordered some coloured whiteboard pens & started using it. Um, oh my god. It is fantastic. It’s such a simple idea but so brilliant — it’s a whiteboard poster with various sections to keep you on top of your life.
The four major sections are a big blank space at the top (for brainstorming, motivation, general reminders), monthlies, this week’s specifics & weeklies. I use the monthlies section to plot out articles — I write the title in each space so I know whether the day is covered, content-wise. The weekly specifics part is for things that need to be done this week: appointments, events, etc. Weeklies reminds me of the regular things, like seeing my personal trainer or various features on my site.
Man. I LOVE being able to look at my wall & see everything for the next month laid out for me. It is making a serious difference to my life!
Red Bull Energy Shots
Haha, I love these. I have three sitting on my desk right now. Every time I see my editor, she fills my handbag with them. They’re tiny, only 59mL, so you can carry them around without even feeling it, & quick to drink. Best for a mid-afternoon boost, or for keeping you awake in a boring meeting! Word up!
Since I got my hands on this little wonder, I have not touched my Nikon D80. Have. Not. Touched. I mean, I will probably use the D80 for outfit photos but when it comes to anything else, I think the Leica has it covered.
First of all, it is tiny, so I can throw it in my purse without injuries to ye olde shoulder (a problem the D80 had always had). Secondly, it shoots video, so I have no need for my Flip. I love my Flip but, well, it is a little redundant now. Thirdly, the photos are fantastic. The wide angle lens is mind-blowing, the colour & detail is truly sexy & well, let’s just say, I am smitten. It also has this rad “pinhole camera” feature which makes everything look way cool. P.S. I took this photo in a crowded, pitch-black club with no tripod. Um!!! WOW!
I would recommend it to everyone who wants a really high quality point-&-shoot, especially people who want more control over their pictures. The D-Lux 4 has so many options that you can really customise the way your photos look. SWOON.
Wolford Hot Dots
Sexiest thing ever. Every woman should own a pair of these. When I got them, I put them on with a pair of heels & walked back & forth across my living room ogling myself in the mirror — which is why I say every woman should own them. They make your legs look super-long, it’s amazing.
I bought mine on eBay. You used to be able to get them at Saks & Neiman Marcus but not any more, so eBay is probably your best bet. They were pretty expensive so I’m keeping them in the bag & treating them with the utmost care!
I really hope the weather stays cool for a while so I can get some wear out of these before summer hits!
(I always think I am a short girl until I realise that I need “tall” or “extra-tall” stockings so that I am not always hoiking them up. What do the truly tall girls do?!)
Absolutely Alice & Mad As A Hatter by O.P.I.
These are both from the Alice In Wonderland collection & I love them! I’d say about 70% of my nailpolish collection is glitter anyway so it was a sure bet I’d fall for these!
Absolutely Alice is SO beautiful — electric eel blue glitter shot through with silver pieces. It’s absolutely hypnotic & kaleidoscopic. In the picture above I’m wearing it over a dark blue by Essie which really makes it pop. Galaxy nails!
Mad As A Hatter is more like a confetti explosion. Purple, green, orange, silver & gold glitter all combined together, absolutely a party for your nails. The girl in the photo is wearing a black base underneath which looks amazing, & I think it would look just as fantastic worn over a purple or emerald green base!
Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Shimmer Dust
A must for 21st Century Marie Antoinettes & disco banshees. This is the only thing I’ve tried from Tarina Tarantino’s beauty range, but it is amazing.
Last summer one of my favourite things to do before I left the house was douse my head with silver glitter hairspray, which made me look like there had just been a fairy orgy on my head. It was not subtle & it made The Dish feel crazy. (Hahah.) Sparklicity Shimmer Dust is totally different though, the glitter is very very fine & the effect is delicate as opposed to hallucinatory/psychotic. You can use it on your face, hair or body, & is, in my opinion, the perfect accompaniment to cotton candy hair.
Also the bottle is very beautiful & looks like it is filled with crushed opals. How can you say no to that? Fact: you can’t.
What are your favourite products du jour? Is there anything in your handbag that you absolutely cannot live without? Let us know!
RADICAL self-love & stardust,
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Mad as a Hatter is a ridiculously fun polish! I’ve been wearing it almost non-stop for about a month now. Whenever I get bored of any other color I’ve painted my nails I just put on a coat of Hatter & my nails look 10x more interesting immediately :D
Wow! Great post, thank you!!!
I’m def. saving up for the Clarisonic & the camera, the nail polishes are oh so cute, the stockings are HOTTTTT, and I’m running to get those Red Bull shots and keeping them at the office!
Oh and the serum, wow!
Thanks again :)
You know, I have to say, I’ve been really disappointed with the Genuine Health vitamins… I’ve been using them about 2 months now, with no difference in my skincare… /sigh
I’ll find that perfect skin combo one day!
Definitely need that white board!
Ashe — Really?! That IS disappointing! For me they are like the holy grail. If I stop taking them I notice the difference immediately! But maybe you eat healthier than I do & so don’t need them :D
Aww, posts like these make me feel poor.
However, random thing I recommend is: “Princess” by Vera Wang! It smells divine. :)
The list of things I need to buy keeps adding up. You can bet as soon as I find a new job, or just get any sort of income, I will be all over this stuff!!
these posts make me feel poor too. like, if i went out and spent all my money on this stuff, i wouldn’t have anything left. :-/ i guess it’s time to prioritize and save. one thing at a time!
The truly tall girls buy the thigh-high nylons that have the silicone grippy strip at the top… no more web!
lil lady — I didn’t get them all in one week, some of these things I got last year! I just decided to write them all up now :>
I absolutely adore the alice nail polish. I bought the whole set actually~!
I agree with you 100% on the hyaluronic serum. That stuff has changed my life!
I would love to know if there is something like those vitamins available here in Europe… The ones I take don’t seem to do much.
Hyaluronic acid is the bomb, I totally recommend Hyaluronic Acid Beauty Cream by Vitamin World – it’s SO inexpensive and works awesome at hydrating your skin and making your other skincare products last longer, hurrah!
On another note, this post is not helping me curb my consumerism at all!
The one product I use basically everyday is Indian Earth. www.amazon.com/Indian
The one I’m using now, my mother bought back in the 70s! That same jar is still going strong! I love it because it looks completely natural and a little goes a long way.
Hi Gala—longtime reader, very shy commenter!
So glad to see you talking about the Genuine Health vitamins! I heard about them through you, and was definitely interested in their skin care line, but ended up going with their Multi + Daily Joy formula. I really struggle with worry and anxiety, but the Daily Joy formula has CHANGED MY LIFE. I’m sleeping soundly, de-stressing with greater ease, and haven’t had an anxiety episode since February! Thank you so, so much for putting these on my radar! Now, of course, I’m wondering what miracles would happen if I added in the Omega3 fish oil!
Thanks for introducing me to such a wonderful, life-changing product! I really, really appreciate it!
For a cheaper alternative to the OPI nail polishes, Barry M do an identical blue glitter that I’ve had for a year or so now- I always used to look at it and think ‘Alice’, I guess OPI must have thought the same thing :D
In fact, I’d say that all of Barry M’s nail polishes are a must have- they go on really easy, most only require one coat and they’re the brightest colours. Perfect for any girls (or guys!) on a budget.
x
I love the new OPI glitter colors! They would go perfectly with this smashingly awesome cocktail ring!
www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
Ahhhh, those Red Bull energy shots!!!! I remember the night you were feeding me vitamins and talked me into downing them with an energy drink! Wow. I can’t believe I actually did that!
Kaguya — That is great news! I looked at the Daily Joy pills & thought they sounded wonderful, I’m so happy to hear they are making a difference to your life! Big love girl!
Nubby — HAHAHAHAH I can’t believe I encouraged you to do it!!!!!! So funny!!
Great post! I find it always interesting to read reviews of different products.
I’d love love love that camera. I have a dslr but like you said it can be a hassle carrying it round sometimes.
I love the tights! hot!!
At the moment I’m loving going to car boot sales and buying amazing old tacky pictures and ornaments!
www.loloholmes.tumblr.com
I’m six feet tall. the truly tall girls continually hoike up the tights and leggings. it makes for constant runs and holes and the continual need for new stockings or to just wear pants, which are also hard to find long enough. oh, the crisis of being model-tall.
Omg I love everything about this post. Definitely buying the Mad Hatter nail polish- it looks amazing! Also, the concealer and vitamins too. I’ve tried so many things to cover up my dark circles and no one at Sephora ever suggested this to me so thank you Gala ♥!
Ahh Leica- such a dreamy camera, especially the features! If it wasn’t for my recent DSLR purchase (canon 500D) I’d purchase one of these babies. Crossing my fingers it’ll be cheaper in the next few months or next year. I’d love to buy one of these.
I remember buying my very first nail polish when I was about 11. It looked JUST like Mad as a Hatter and I thought it would have that deep black base.
I might have to invest again and do it right this time.
Kiersten — That so takes me back! I think my first nailpolish was this stuff by a company called Jellybean, “for sweet little girls”. It was pink & it peeled off! But the first “real” bottle I bought was holographic glitter by Hard Candy! Some things never change! ;D
As far as nailpolish goes, I’m incredibly obsessed with The Sephora/OPI “Handpicked for me” it’s on my fingers and toes currently. SUCH a pretty color! Also Too good for him is amazing as far a glitter polish goes! :)
Also, I have to say, I tried those vitamins that you love so much, and they actually didn’t do anything for my skin. I think it actually got a bit worse. :-\
Now I’ve been using Spring Valley Hair, Skin & Nails Collagen Support ( tinyurl.com/yavvojr ). My Hairdresser actually suggested them after I pathetically wished there was a pill to make your hair grow faster. and they are giving it a boost! Also, my nails are SUPER strong now, which is awesome, cause I broke them constantly! I’ve pretty much succumbed to the idea that my face is a hopeless case and will do whatever it wants at this point.
Clinique’s Even Better moisturizer is fantastic! I have lots of acne scars and this makes a HUGE difference in their appearance. Some are almost totally gone. Great stuff! now if only I could just stop breaking out! haha
So…do you not use any kind of sunscreen on your face? I go without in the fall and winter, because I’ve never found a face lotion with SPF that I truly liked, but in sunnier weather I’m just not comfortable going without — I’m exceedingly fair-skinned, and I also prefer to remain that way — so I end up spending 4 or 5 months hating the stuff I’m putting on my face every day. If you go without sunscreen, how does that work for you? Do you end up getting pink or tan-ish, or does your face just magically remain unscathed by lots of direct sunshine? (If you do use something with SPF on your face and you just didn’t mention it…what do you use?)
All of these sound fantastic!!! Especially the calendar work board!!! I so need that!!!
But with the serum and skin vitamins, are they healthy to mix with other medicine and vitamins? Do you know of any side effects? I am always skeptical when it comes to vitamins and serums :)
Oh, wow! So many of these products I want to try. Love the camera and the white board.
I have that Makeup Forever concealer and I love how I discovered it for myself – I had a great date two days before a job interview and my neck was a mess of really dark purple hickies. (Eep!) So I marched on down to Sephora, a sales girl came up to me asking if I needed anything, and I yanked down my scarf and went, “Yeah, I have a job interview tomorrow.” She laughed and gave me that, I’ve lived and died by it since. It lasts allllllll day.
Red Bull shots give me and a few of my friends a blotchy, itchy niacin rash, be careful with those!
I like the OPI colors a lot, I’m especially glad that my drug store carries the Wet & Wild knockoffs – they require an extra coat, sure, but they’re exactly the same color, and both seem to chip at the same rate, so I reach for the $2 version. (I do shell out for Chanel nailpolish, though, it takes a jackhammer to chip that shit!)
Also $800 for a camera that isn’t a DSLR is insane, sorry girl…I’ll wait ‘til it’s on sale and won’t cost me a month’s rent. Overstock.com is pretty good for point and shoot cameras; I got a really nice 10MP one for my mom there for about $100.
Hyaluronan is the shiz. It is super hydrating, it can hold 700% of it’s weight in water.
A lot of people don’t know that there are two types of ‘dry’ your skin can be. One is lacking oils (lipid dry) and one is lacking water (dehydrated) pretty much everyone’s skin is at least a little dehydrated and even if your skin is oily it can still be dehydrated.
In NZ & Australia Ultraceuticals Moisturiser Cream is a good one which has heaps of Hyaluronan in it.
Those Wolford tights are AMAZING! Want!
My favourite products du jour are:
Revlon nail polish in Wildflower ~ such an amazing magenta/hot pink.
Molton Brown Vitamin Lip Saver ~ I’ve been using the same little tub of this for over 10 years now. I slather it on at night for amazingly moisturised lips.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Refresher ~ Finally, a toner that doesn’t sting &/or dry out my skin. Lovely. And it really is refreshing. (Oh goddess, I just realised I sound like a total advert with these.)
The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector ~ I especially like using this after washing dishes. My hands feel instantly restored.
Love the sexy Wolford tights and Sparklicity Shimmer Dust. I have a craving for ultra girlie stuff right now!
Good morning Gala,
What fantastic pantyhose by Woolford.
I must get some.
A tip on making your pantyhose and stockings last longer, always put them on wearing satin gloves.
Everyone has a pair somewhere in their closet.
No more pulls or snags, wear them to take them off again also.
Love and kisses,
Janet
OOO I love beauty tips:
Since I was a acnefied teenager (I used to have a terrible T-zone and whiteheads) I always used to drink hot chamomile tea and use the hot used teabag to wipe across my face, then wipe with cotton wool. It gets rid of so much grime and leaves my skin soft and bright.
Since working for Lush I often use cupcake face mask to deep clean my skin. My brother also worked for Lush and used this product and his acne disappeared after a month of working there and using the products.
I also use Breath of Fresh Air toner (which is my summer saviour at festivals as it comes in a spray bottle and is great for cooling your face with!) and Paradise Regained Moisturiser.
I used to be a terrible caffeine addict but I am cutting down (I mean, it’s cutting down on about 5 cups of strong coffee a day— I used to drink 3 red bulls a day to survive in school!) in favour of Assam tea with Vanilla. IT’S DELICIOUS! Such a beautiful flavour. I can’t stomach Red Bull now because all the sugar makes me feel horrible. I eat these little Guarana truffles if I need an energy boost or drink lots of fresh citrus juice.
Hmm what else. Oh. I LOVE crystal incense. The stuff that is burnt on a shisha coal. There is an occult store here who makes them up with whatever fragrance I like and they’re very cheap! I love going for the planetary and egyptian ones.
Low fat coconut milk instead of soya milk. I am cutting down on my soya intake.
BINDIS! I collect them and wear them every day!
I heard dermanew is pretty good too.
I think it is less pricy than clarisonic.
I haven’t tried either yet.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for hyaluronic for a bit. I’ve heard great things.
I’m not big on sparkly nails but I love shimmery skin! I’ll have to test drive the crushed opals ;)
Those tights are amazing, but I’ve been accidently tearing tights since I was a tiny 3 yr old ballet dancer. I try not to spend too much on legwear because of this Lol.
Hey – Leica do make amazing cameras, but if anyone is considering buying the D-Lux 4, you should really look at the Panasonic DMC-LX3 – they are basically exactly the same camera (they have the exact same lens, made by Leica), but the Panasonic is about half the price.
Read more here – www.fastcompany.com/blog/ken – or just google ‘LX3 vs D-Lux 4’. You are basically paying double for the red dot, a nicer casing, and a slightly different image processing system. However I do agree that whichever version you get, it’s an awesome camera, and much easier to lug around town than a big DSLR.
@Gem Wilder – Body Shop hemp hand protector is such a brilliant product, one of my all time favourites!
Also, I just bought a Bora Aksu for People Tree fairtrade/organic jacket: www.flickr.com/photos/beckyhun…
Woop!
Thanks a ton for the skin product info! I have been meaning to hunt down some good ones, and this really helps!
I’ve been looking at the new Olympus hybrids (the pen ones, I forget the specifics) but I will definitely have a look at your suggestion. Recommended by Gala Darling goes a long way in my books ;)
Has anyone found an Au supplier for Genuine Health? Buying online is not a problem, but I’d like to find an actual place in Australia.
Those stockings are deliciousssss! Will be ebaying them f’sure.
My ultimate purchase would be my iPhone. I’m not a Mac by any stretch of the imagination, but holyyyy shiiiit I am wedded to the damn thing! Love it so so much!!
I totally agree that Clarisonic is worth the money. I have had one for about a year now – and love it. Thanks for the camera suggestion. I’m currently in the market and will check this one out for sure.
XO Piper
Agreeds with Katie.
The Panasonic LX3 is not half the price as stated, but more like a third the cost and the cameras themselves close to identical. (:
All of your new gym attending is probably helping your skin as well- product personal trainer.
totally fave products at the moment:
- purminerals foundation/powder/4inonewhatever – pre-moistened lens cleaner towelettes (i ALWAYS have smudgey, dirty glasses!) – st. ives apricot cleanser and co bigelow witch hazel tonic – if i don’t use this tonic, my face looks like crap. total crap! – up & up adult gummi vitamins – l’oreal sulfate-free system shampoo & conditioner – juicy couture in ROLL ON! – l’oreal hip cream eyeliner. changing to cream eyeliner changed the ENTIRE game for me!
and really, the biggest and most important thing for me? buying myself a netbook to run liquid story binder on. totally amazing. both a netbook and the program were worth it.
Gala – the truly tall girls suffer through years of agony wearing too-short stockings until they find brands that actually fit, then they stock up with enough to last until they’re fifty. I’m 5’10”. I would know. Hehe. My sister (6’1”) and I have drawers full of all the crazy creative stockings we have that actually fit.
Oooh, I love all of these things!
Current must buy thing?
MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick: I’m not a fan of the pale lip trend, but this totally fits with the killer Queen look I’m going for lately. It’s sweet, but paired with a little powder it just looks delicious!
I don’t know, I just really loved it! That and Lush’s Candy Fluff powder. GOD I LOVE THAT STUFF.
On the subject of tall girls&stockings, I’m 6’ tall and the closest to perfect fitting stockings I’ve ever gotten was a pair of American Apparel stockings. Even thigh highs only hit like, a little above my knee… which is great if I’m going for a tarts&vicars party, but not to school! Grrr!
P.S. I’m cutting my nunga-length pink hair short now, so I’m going through all the vintage ‘iCiNG’ posts for hair-spiration! :D
How many of each of the vitamins do you take each day? Surely not 2 per bottle per day? :s I tried the Multi+ one when you recommended it a while back and I swear my skin was looking so much better (maybe that was my imagination though, who knows?) but they are so expensive! I imagine using so many all at once would cost a fortune, and they’d be gone pretty quickly…? I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking, I guess. :P
On a different note I !!!need!!! that Mad Hatter nail polish in my life, nnnnggghhh. I don’t usually like sparkly polish!
;A; ahhh that camera. That camera. I have had to kick out all kinds of things from my purse if I want to stick my D80 in! that camera looks divine. My mini-digital one is a real piece; I’ll have to check out the Leica and the Panasonic, as other people have said!
right now, my to-die for thing is actually tea. Mighty Leaf makes the best ginger twist tea on this side of the cosmos. The bliss you get from each cup is well worth the $8 for a box at Whole Foods (the coffee shops that sell Mighty Leaf sell it for more than $2, so it’s a decent deal).
Thanks a bunch for the skincare bits, I’m always looking to improve my own routine. Looks like I’ll be adding some new vitamins to the mix and saving up for a Clarisonic!
Right now I’m really loving loose leaf tea, rhodiola rosea (a supplement that perks me right up!), emu oil (I’ve used it for years as my face moisturizer), Marc Jacob’s Daisy, big vintage hats, and the white Tarina Tarantino eyeliner on my waterline (btw thanks for mentioning her body glitter too, I’ve been curious about that!).
I have a question, though: does anyone know a supplement or SOMETHING that I can put on my nails to make them less brittle? Both my fingernails and my toenails! I work in a restaurant as well so my hands are constantly being washed and dried and soaped and.. yea.
My favorite recent purchases lately have been some flowery dresses for spring, herbal essences hydralicious reconditioning shampoo and conditioner, aussie leave in conditioner, aussie deeeep three minute mircale, aloe vera gel (im obsessed with this stuff!), loads of green tea, aveeno lotion (the new one that smells like delicious blueberries, my new garden gnome, flowery wallet, gummie vitamins, and bath and body works moonlight path body spray
Oh, and I can’t believe I didn’t mention HONEY. If you have some annoying blackheads on your nose, smother them with honey overnight and see the difference in the morning! Honey also softens and moistens the skin :)
can i just say, thank you SO much for this post. the skincare products and super camera are things that i’m really interested in. thanks so much for sharing! i’ve been looking for vitamins that will give my skin a boost. AND a camera that won’t leave me bringing large bags to clubs!
so, yes. perfect post. love it. thank you thank you thank you. xx
@Persimmon: Thanks for the tip, I might just try that. I hate how difficult it is to get rid of blackheads.
I’m always looking for something to improve my skin. I have really clear pale skin on my body but my face always has a at least few blemishes and as a result I have a horrible complexion without make-up and I can never find anything that helps much. I’m so tempted to try that gadget thinger but at the £150 it would cost me to get it and ship it to the UK it’s a lot of money for something that might not work.
I eat well (I’m vegan and gluten intolerant so I eat a lot of fresh fruit and veg), exercise regularly, try and drink lots of water and have a complex skin routine all to try and keep it under control but I can never get it completely clear.
I tried those vitamins when they were first recommended and they helped a little and I was only taking one of the one kind a day. It would again cost so much to get them shipped from Canada all the time though.
I don’t know, maybe I should take a risk and fork out because it has brilliant reviews. It so much money though.
Oh I gave in and just bought it! Eeeek!
No clothes shopping for me now. I hope it works the wonders it’s supposed to!
Kristi, doll, those vitamins are not vegan or even vegetarian, they contain fish collagen. Blemishing might just be a hormonal thing for you, in which case, what you’re doing now sounds like the best thing you could be doing, and only something like HBC will clear your skin completely, which is kind of an extreme measure/last resort.
I’ve been awfully wary of those Red Bull shots ever since my boyfriend gulped one down in the car to get him through a hectic trip home.. and then immediately had to pull over to hurl. Haven’t been able to stomach them since!
Some of my favorite products at the moment are: – Marilyn hair moisturizer from Lush- this stuff has rebuilt my horribly straggly summer hair. It’s nurtured it back to a glorious blonde mane. – Bad Gal Plum mascara from Benefit- plum coloured mascara will make blue eyes look insanely blue. True story. – Jellibaff- my housemate got me several boxes of this for christmas. It’s this little sachet that you put in the bath and it turns your bathwater into jelly! When you’re done, you throw in a different sachet and it turns back into water so you can wash it down the plughole. – 10-0-6 deep cleansing mask- works a treat on stubborn blackheads and keeps skin looking fresh and healthy
Gorgeous Geisha tea from T2green tea that is flavored with strawberries and cream. It’s super-delicious.Persimmon: Try biotin! I take 5000mg a day, and my nails are strong and flexible, and my hair is thick, healthy, and shiny. It takes a month or so to notice results, but it’s wonderful.
Topically, I really can’t recommend Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme enough. Works beautifully, smells great + feels amazing.
Hope that helps!
Hi Gala,
Thought you might be interested in the following link: turns out that Jamie Oliver’s healthy eating plan has had some unexpected results in the UK: the kids’school results have gone up.
“Today an audience of prestigious economists was told that the healthier school dinners introduced by the celebrity chef had not only significantly improved pupils’ test results, but also cut the number of days they were off sick. “
www.guardian.co.uk/education/2…
Kim
2 things:
#1 – the thing about baby wipes is fascinating to me! #2 – your comment about the Dish made me laugh – how he thinks the serum smells like pen ink while you describe it as a sweet smell. I always smelled pen ink and was reminded of Halloween, which matches up exactly to your thoughts and all the sweets associated with Halloween. hmm…
Miss B — Usually my foundation has SPF in it, but in summer, I wear this insanely good Neutrogena non-oily sunscreen under my make-up. It ruuuuuules. I just tried to find it so I could tell you the name but I have no idea where it is, so am going to have to buy another bottle before I go to California!
mikkie — LOVE IT, thank you for letting me know!
Thank you Asher! I’ll add biotin to my vitamin routine as well as some of the above mentioned products. :) Payday is Friday, I’m looking forward to getting some great skin!
Gala I think you read my mind! I had been reading your references to Hyaluronic Serum and was wondering which one you were using! Great tips on the Vitamins too.
I have just started using Richesse de L’Afrique – Pure Organic Anago (black soap cleanser) on a recommendation from a friend and also Devita Revitalizing Eye Lift Cream. So far so good. Never thought I would use a soap on my face but its very effective, VERY affordable and organic. I have already seen a difference around my eye area with the cream… Hooray!
Oh man, I want the clarasonic NAOOO. I’m so hard on my skin, it’d be interesting to see the change!
I have a question for you xD
I’ve been thinking for about 6 or 7 months now to try raw food and also generally to improve my life : little steps here and there a skin care routine, exercising daily and so on . I was wondering if you ever found a product that exfoliates extremely well … I kinda always had trouble with getting rid of dead skin and I never found a routine or a product that would completely satisfy me. Btw, I’m talking about smth for the body, not only the face.
If you happen to know of one, pls let me know xD
______
Apart from that, God you couldn’t have had a better timing with this entry lol !I was just looking for vitamins today and even went to my doctor to ask for some suggestions, so I’m so glad you posted this up dies of happiness
Ada — There’s an amazing Lush product called Ocean Salt www.lushusa.com/shop/products/... which is basically the most incredible scrub of all time. If you have those little red bumps on your arms, I forget the name of them, but if you have those & use this product in the shower like every second day, they will completely disappear. It’s very scrubby & is too harsh for some people’s faces but it can definitely be used! I like to St Ives apricot scrub on my face, it’s available in supermarkets & is A++.
xoxo!
Miss B. (and Gala), I think the name of the sunscreen is Neutrogena Dry Touch. Just make sure to check makeupalley, Miss B., because I think some of the SPFs are generally more favourable than others. Good luck!
Gala,
I bought the Clairsonic after discovering it here and was very skeptical, but man, I’m trying to spread the word to everyone that it really works wonders. And despite it’s high price, over time I expect to pay a lot less for products that would normally waste my money in the quest for perfect skin. I use it on my body too, and in addition to the zero acne, zero peeling, nice glow, and less redness, I no longer get bumps after shaving etc. So great! My boyfriend cannot stop touching my smooth skin…it’s like we’re in a Lever 2000 commercial.
Love the Mad As A Hatter OPI polish!
hyaluronic acid injections are Juvederm and Restylane…Restylane is animal sourced, Juvederm is not. Just a bit of trivia!
Hi Gala! Thanks for sharing about the Leica—I’ve been on the lookout for a great new digital camera, and I’m definitely going to try and get a chance to check it out! One thing that I’ve been loving lately is Wet ‘N Wild’s Acapulco Glow bronzer: it’s this golden champagne highlighter that gives me a great natural glow! I’ve heard a lot about in on beauty blogs, and it’s worth the hype: the bronzer completely wakes up my face and accentuates my features nicely. HOWEVER, it’s just been recently discontinued, so I was lucky to have snagged it at all—it was on clearance, and I bought it for less than $2! SO HAPPY.
awesome post Gala.
I can’t live without my oil blot sheets. Boot’s Expert Blot Sheets.
tea. white,green and red. I just founded out recently roobios has calcium and zinc in it.
jojoba oil thanks to you.
new must have product Lush Lemony Flutter.
My uni-ball Jetstream 1.0 pen! It keeps me going when I’m in the brainstorming stages of anything.
Ditto to the Make Up For Ever! Picked it up on a whim the morning after a, um, sordid evening, and have never looked back.
Your list is awesome!! I would love to try the Hyaluronic Serum. Am happy to be flying to the US next Monday and can’t wait to shop for this at Whole Foods.
Right now, my fave things are:
Trilogy’s Organic Rose Hip Oil
The Body Shop Monoi Oil (great for scaly skin on legs!)
Pure vitamin E oil
Burt’s Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion
Hello Kitty notepads, pens, and pencils
Gala – as a tall girl, I cut off the tops of my stockings and either wear garters or garter belts! Also, I thought that cutting stockings would make them fray or run, but they just roll nicely and last even longer than if I was hoiking them up all of the time.
www.flickr.com/photos/98033476
Leica cameras are the shit and I am definitely buying the weekdatewhite calendar.
Holy bananas, Gala – those tights are the hottest things I’ve ever seen! I’ve always loved my 40s style seamed stockings, but this is taking it to another level.
Oh Red Bull!? Please no! What’s the point of taking all those vitimins if the caffine blocks them from being absorbed into your system!?
I work in the lab at a naturopathic clinic and time and time again see the damange done by those little suckers tucked in people’s files. B vitamins especially are ruined by those things (and don’t try telling me ‘but there’s added b vitamins’...totally useless). And don’t even get me STARTED on the other ingredients. I’ve just converted my lover off a terrible energy-drink habit and his health has done a total 180 for the better.
As for my beauty routine…I ‘cheat’...I used the equiptment at work to test for deficiencies and am currently halfway through an intensive customised detox and health program to correct a few issues. My skin has been amazing since I started working there!
I have to agree with Roslyn! Kinda a waste to spend money on vitamins, then drink damaging redbull. Like taking wheatgrass shots and being a smoker :( But, to each their own. I guess we all have vices…I drink coffee every morning and I’m sure more intense people would shake their fist at that habit.
Hi Gala!
I wanted to recommend ‘All Unique’ nail polish from Forever 21. It’s red sparkles. I used about 5 coats (it’s clear with loads of sparkels) & my nails looked as tho I’d shelacked them with Dorthy’s ruby slippers! LOVE it! I also wanted to recommend KONAD Stamping Nail Art www.konadnail.com which has little patterns & designs & stuff that u can ‘stamp’ onto ur nail! The best part is that u can pick ur fave design & use them over & over & U pick the color u want to stamp on ur nails! SO much better than nail decal stickers! Hope u like! Let me know whatcha think!
Hey any1 know where I can get that Hyaloronic serum stuff in Ontario, Canada? Plsplspls?
I bought the clarisonic after much debate. I Luuuurve it. It’s not completely perfected my skin but it helps so much and I ended up buying my mum an attachment for it so she can use it too. More value for money that way. It’s body brush attachment is also awsome and makes your skin really smooth and soft and seems to help fade scars and stretch marks (though all mine are minor).
I really want the white board poster but it’ll cost £32 to order to the UK. I’m a visual learner and I find the colour and organised layout really appealing. I’ve searched UK sites for something similar without luck. I’m just going to have to buy a normal white board and section it out myself with black tape or perminant marker. :(
The hotspot tights are gorgeous but again, £40 for a pair of tights!? And that’s before I’ve even looked up the postage. I’ll ladder them in a heartbeat.
Excellent topics. I really like this. After long searching I found this online that, Personal Trainer in Ontario gets local Ontario residents into amazing shape with intense personal fitness training workouts. It’s important that you pick out a trainer that is certified in their field, one that has great motivational skills, and of course someone that has plenty of fitness knowledge.