Laura Mercier Wet/Dry Powder Foundation

I absolutely love this foundation! I tried it both wet and dry but prefer the dry over my regular foundation just to blend and set my cream foundation to last through a busy shift bartending or serving. Because of my job I have to look nice but dont have the opportunity to check my makeup regularly. This powder foundation doesnt clog my pores, doesnt skip or leave me with dirty looking patches and gives me a smooth matte finish that I get complimented on frequently. I apply it in a circular motion with a kabuki brush, you can use the sponge included but I truly feel the results are more even when applied with a brush designed for applying mineral or powder foundation. When applying the foundation wet I do use a makeup sponge and I wet it with sterile saline because I feel the results are smoother than when I use tap water. Just make sure not to store the damp sponge in the compact. When using the foundation with a wet sponge the coverage will be much heavier so try to build it lightly and find the appropriate amount for the look you are going for. This foundation retails at 40$ and is worth every penny. My skin has never looked more poreless, smooth and radiant and it seems to last forever! Definately worth going to sephora and at least trying it before you buy if the price is higher than your normal brand. Plus if you purchase at sephora you accumulate beauty points and get to choose free samples :)

Cheap beauty fixes with simple home items

If you have product build up on your hair rinse with beer or throw a shot of vodka on your hair, it helps remove the waxes in products. Same goes for facewash, when my hair feels gunky I wash it with my loreal oily skin face wash and the build up is gone.

Toenail fungus is pretty common especially if you get pedicures at salons, the fungus is easily spread. You might have fungus if you have yellowed nails or thickened toenails or if your toenail is being pushed up off the nail bed. A quick remedy that wont cost a fortune or risk your liver health like antifungal treatments is vicks vapor rub, rub it on daily and it will clear it right up!

Oily hair and no time to wash and dry, use baby powder if you do not have dry shampoo.

If you are doing a quick manicure or pedicure before you go out and cant paint your nails for sh*t put vaseline on the skin around your nails, keep it off the actual nail because it will cause your polish to chip faster but on the skin it will prevent the polish from drying to your skin and you can wipe it away after painting :) now you have salon nails without the infection risk and cost!

Adding household peroxide to mouthwash will whiten teeth safely and quickly without the bogus cost on strips. It is also gentler and does not cause sensitivity or white spots on your teeth

old school plain white crest toothpaste dries up zits like no other, dab it on clean skin over your zit and when you wake up in the morning its usually gone!

If you forgot to wear sunscreen and have a slight burn cold compresses soaked in milk can soothe your burn and bring down inflammation, this is also true if you have a really painful red zit.

If your pores are feeling really clogged you can make a toner from pure sea salt and warm water, wipe a soaked cotton ball over your face and let it dry. You can repeat and rinse. The sea salt draws out impurities and acts as a disinfectant without being too harsh, same goes for piercings!

Neutrogena micro mist airbrush self tanner

So against my better judgement I decided to try a self tanner that was not tinted. The reason I use tinted self tanners is so that I can control the color by layering and see where I am applying to avoid blotches and streaks. I had a few streaks after using a lotion consistently so I finally went ahead and tried a clear spray...oh boy. Neutrogena is a reputable company so I went with them, I saw many mixed reviews so I decided to try it myself. I purchased the micro mist spray in deep from walmart for 10$. I showered and exfoliated and covered my bathroom floor with towels, I sprayed myself with the door closed to avoid tanning my house (this happens! especially on carpets) and opened a window. First I felt like I was going to get black lung from the spray, it was very dense in the air and I had to take a break to breathe. I couldnt tell where I was spraying but I could feel the dampness of where I had previously sprayed and tried to avoid layering. It dried very fast which was nice. The spray smelled awful but it smells bad at the salon too so I dealt with it. The next morning I checked my tan and was disappointed to find I had some major dark spots on my wrists from getting too close and not spraying my forearms. Overall I had an even tan but it did turn a little orange. If I had gone with a lighter version I wouldve probably avoided the orange issue. Here is where things got really bad. I took a self tan break as a result of the orange and returned my product to switch back to my favorite loreal sublime bronze. I didnt want to layer different tanners so I waited for the neutrogena to wear off. I have never seen such horrible splotchy patches, I literally looked like I had a skin disorder. I had to hide my skin and some parts even looked like I had dirty dead skin. I bought a loofah and scrubbed till it burned and it still didnt come off. I soaked in baby oil which helps lift the DHA and scrubbed away. It took a good 2 weeks walking around with splotches and I got some very interesting looks :( in all I would never buy this again.