Cheap Thrills: Tips & Tricks for Winter Skin

A few quick tips before heading into the weekend. Yes, the weekend :)

My winter skin is a struggle. Much drier and rougher, and my color feels so pale and dull compared to summer months.

I am on the hunt for easy, affordable ways to brighten my skin at home, so I have been trying out a few things behind the scenes.

Now this may seem crazy, but there are a few things in your own kitchen that are surprisingly great fixes for this time of year. Best of all, completely free (if you are already own them, which I assuming most people do).

So here you go:

1. Baking Soda: Not just for baking...anymore.  Baking soda + water = a perfect exfoliant. Take a small bowl and mix 3/4 baking soda with 1/4 water.  Use the mixture as a scrub 1-2 times per week, and I promise you will see a difference. This formula is no thrills: no great smell, no "miracle" promises, and no high price point.  But, it will get rid of skin flakes and leave you feeling squeaky clean.

2. Olive Oil: Yes, olive oil.  Its amazing.  I swear by it.  You will smell like dinner but your skin will thank you.  Olive oil is rich in natural nutrients and an ingredient found in many luxury beauty products.  A dab of this a few nights a week will cure dry patches and leave your skin softer and clearer in the morning.  Make sure you have completely washed your face before applying, and apply sparingly, but if dry skin is your issue, this may be your solution.

3. Toner (in a new way): If you use toner (I use the St. Ives Exfoliating pads from a previous post), try this--instead of toning POST shower, tone in the shower.  Immediately following turning off the shower, keep your toner in the shower and use it now.  The humidity in the air will help the product absorb faster into your pores.  Ultimately, the toner works faster, and leaves your skin refreshed and ready for lotion, makeup, etc.

Just a few tips and no real pictures tonight, because J needs the computer back (and cannot believe I am recommending you use olive oil on your face, but it really works, I swear).

Enjoy your Fridays!

24 Shades of Anything But Grey

For the month of November, I am reviewing my go to palettes, Urban Decay's Naked 1 & Naked 2. I honestly do not use any other eye shadow products other than these palettes because they are that good. No matter your skin tone, eye color, etc, there are 12 shades per palette that give you plenty of room to mix and match, try and re-try. And, they last, forever.  You can see below that my palettes are looking a little worn because I have been using them every day.  With a little primer & mascara, these 2 palettes can create a wide range of looks to dress your makeup up or keep it simple & pretty.

And a reader treat.  To help you feel glam & gorgeous for the holiday season I am giving away 1 Naked palette to one of you. Or, this could be a great holiday gift for someone you think deserves a little pampering!

To enter the Urban Decay Naked Palette Giveaway:
1. Please send me an email to sevenandseven2012@gmail.com with your full name and which palette (either Naked 1 or Naked 2) you would like to win.
2. The giveaway will close at 5 pm EST on Thursday, 11/22 (Thanksgiving).  A winner will be selected at random and announced on Seven & Seven on Friday, 11/23.

Now for the difference in palettes:

Naked 1: 
The original Naked palette contains more earth tone based shades.  The colors blend well and work nicely together, and all shades are neutral enough to wear to during the day. This palette contains some of the staple Urban Decay colors, such as Half Baked (a pretty tan), Darkhorse (a darker copper), and Toasted (a burnt pink). My personal favorites are Vigin & Sin (the two lightest shades in the palette), as they are versatile enough to wear alone or to be layered over darker shadow for a more toned down appearance.

Naked 2: 
This palette has always felt a bit more fun to me.  The shades are built off more pinks and creams, and a few of the darker shades are more suitable for a night out than a day in a cubicle. Half Baked still makes an appearance in this palette, and some of the newer introductions, Verve (a shimmery silver), Foxy (the perfect beige/cream), and Blackout (also doubles as a fantastic liner), are beautiful additions that help add a dynamic edge to any look. Naked 2 is my personal favorite, but the choice is yours!

Both palettes retail at Ulta and Sephora.

Also, to avoid missing any future giveaways or updates from Seven & Seven, be sure to sign up for email alerts on the homepage of SevenandSeven2012.blogspot.com.

Direct Compare

Not the beauty post for the month of November, BUT an added bonus, kind of.

I have been searching for a drugstore foundation that could compare to my love of Urban Decay's Naked Skin because I wanted to be able to offer all of you a product that was just as great, without the cost. While I absolutely love UD's Naked Skin, it is hard to buy an expensive foundation for the changing seasons, when your skin may be drier, paler, or just overall, different than your summer skin. I really don't have the budget to buy Naked Skin multiple times a year, so here is my solution:

I have now fallen in love with L'Oreal's True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup. It, for me, does not replace Naked Skin, but offers a great alternative at a competitive price point.  Plus, the formulas are different, with different benefits. And for me, this means one might work better on a certain day vs. another.

Now the scary part. I felt that I couldn't review this product, and show you the differences without doing a direct comparison between no makeup face vs. UD Skin vs. L'Oreal Lumi.  Seven & Seven is a place of no judgement.  So while no makeup is not a look that I want to put out there for the world to see, I also don't want you to buy something based on my words alone, I wanted you to see the difference.

And I know I make a "makeup face", obviously, but this pictures aren't about that.

Nothing but clean

As bare as it gets.

So my bare skin is clear a little uneven with color/freckles/etc. But here you have it, a close up.

Now for the UD Naked Skin shots: 

 

With the UD Naked Skin, my skin is more matte, even, and smoothed out. My makeup holds all day, really 12+ hours.  My one negative is that its slightly dark for me for winter (I wear shade 5.0), but overall, this is a fantastic product. 

Now the L'Oreal Lumi shots: 

With the L'Oreal Lumi, my skin really is more dewy and luminous.  You can see this foundation reflects the light in a way that is very natural and pretty.  The finish, for me, is better for the winter months when my skin is too pale for heavy makeup and drier than the summery, more humid, time of year. The staying power is not as strong as the UD Naked Skin, but overall it gets the job done.

So maybe you like one set of photos more than the other, maybe you hate both, totally fine.  Like I will continue to say a million times over, I am not a model, not an expert, just a girl who is super passionate about sharing my loves and what works for me. Take it for what it is, but both of these products have my grade A recommendation.

All photos taken with my iPhone, no editing, no enhancing.  Also, if you click on any of the pictures they will be enlarged (in case you want a real good look haha).

L'Oreal Lumi Foundation in W4, Natural Beige Warm: $12.95
Urban Decay Naked Skin in 5.0: $38.00

Drugstore Recap: October

It's that time of month, Drugstore Recap time :) I apologize for the delay in getting this post up.  Things have been a bit crazy with figuring out our move to Michigan, but there will be more updates to come this weekend.  And, a Halloween treat is coming on Monday, so stayed tuned!

This month I am reviewing 3 of my favorite drugstore products.  I do have to caveat that one of them is strictly for readers with blonde hair (natural or highlighted), but because this is the story with my hair it's easy for me to write about.  This will not always be the case, but the below "blonde" product is phenomenal and deserved a shout out. I promise to touch on products across the board in the future, just takes a little more team to research and try.

Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo (blondes only): 
My hair grows so fast, SO fast, that the second I cut it, its already growing again.  This is really challenging if you have blonde highlights (like me), because often times my roots are growing out the second I leave the salon. My hair also tends to loose color quickly, especially if I have been in the sun or have been washing it too frequently. Shimmer lights is amazing because it truly holds your color longer and keeps it looking salon fresh during the in between periods.

The shampoo is bright purple, which helps tone out and remove brassiness from blonde or silver shades of hair. It also leaves hair silky and smooth, rather than dried out which can easily happen with highlighted hair. This shampoo is not meant to be used everyday, I typically use it every other wash, but it will make a difference in keeping your hair fresh, bright, and blonde.

($10-$15, available at most drugstores, as well as Ulta and some professional salons)

It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Spray (all hair types):
Its a Ten claims to have 10 benefits for your hair.  Controls fizz, mends split ends, adds volume, are just a few of the product values.  After having used this product for over a year, I swear by it.  Its a leave in spray that you use on wet hair before styling.  If you have tangly hair post shower, a little spray goes a long way in combing through damp hair. This products really enhances the overall quality of your hair quickly, and allows for easily styling, enhancing the life of your blow dry, and protecting your hair from other stresses (i.e. humidity). Overall, it really is, a 10.

($10-$15, available at most drug stores, as well as Ulta)

Revlon Photo Ready Eye Primer + Brightener: 
I recently purchased this product, as it reminded me of the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat pen.  Both products claim to brighten and waken your skin, and leave you looking more refreshed. The Revlon version is slightly on the pinker side, with a thinner formula, than the YSL version (see photos below).  But, the wand does leave you looking more alive and is very convenient to swipe on in the morning or throw in your bag to use mid day. YSL is really known for their version, and have been perfecting the formula for years. Their pen does come in more color varieties, but it also comes with a much higher price tag.  For a lot less, the Revlon version does the trick, and is a much more affordable option to looking more awake.

($8.99 at Walgreens for Revolon's version & $40 for YSL's version, available at Sephora)

(Revlon is the back swatch; YSL is the front swatch)

Save More October: Beautify

In the spirit of Save More October...more savings! Since I have been focusing on clothes, I decided to change it up a bit and share some cost savings love from one of my favorite beauty websites, Beautybar.com.  Beautybar is similar to Sephora and Ulta in that it offers your typical premium beauty brands, but there is a twist.  Beautybar offers brands that you will not be able to find or buy anywhere else in the US other than on their site.  They also guarantee the FASTEST shipping (when you check out it will tell you if you are in time for NEXT DAY DELIVERY, at no additional cost). Last but not least, they are consistently offering gifts with a majority of their purchases, which means you will not only end up with the item you paid for, but plenty of free samples and possibly an added bonus as well. 

For a limited time you can try Beautybar and save an additional $10.00 off your first purchase with the code  BEAUTYBAR10 (now through 12/31).

Some of the brands I recommend that are hard to find elsewhere: 

• By Terry
• Natura Bisse
• La Roche-Posey 

Happy Monday, Happy Beautifying, and a great week to all!

Skin-ny Dipping

Last month, I focused on foundation for the monthly beauty review (non-drugstore items), and this month I am taking off the makeup, and getting to the root of it all.  Your skin. I am by no means an expert on skincare, but I can promise that if you invest in your skin and take the time to treat it, both your natural face and your made up face will look exponential better.

Here is what I will be reviewing this month:

• My daily moisturizer 
• My go-to treatment product
• My #1 self tanner

Before I start, none of the products below are inexpensive.  But, each of them will last you months, and you have my guarantee at least that they are quality products that truly work. I would though, before you buy, try them for yourselves. Go to Sephora and ask for samples (you can do this for the moisturizer and treatment gel), for the self tanner, they have sample packets that you can purchase at Sephora for a fraction of the cost.  Try before you buy (you will be happier).

Reviewing in order of how you should apply:

1. Peter Thomas Roth, Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel

I found this product by chatting with a Sephora rep about a few of my skincare concerns: acne scars, redness, blemish control. She encouraged me to try the Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel, and I am so glad that I did.  This is my second bottle, and my skin is smoother, clearer, and brighter than it has ever been. You can wear under makeup, as well as apply at night, and one bottle lasted me 7 months (SEVEN). Coming from someone who was very concerned about her skin pre-wedding, this did the trick and then some. A little warning, when you first start using your skin may appear more sensitive (peeling, redness) and this is 100% normal. You will NOT see results with this product for the first month or so, but trust me, its working.

2. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads

If you are anything like me, paleness scares you.  But so does the tanning bed. And with spray tans being expensive, and a lot of maintenance to keep up, they are not always the most convenient or cost-effective option.  These pads (1 per package) give you a natural glow (not orange) that will last you 2-3 days.  When people ask me how I look "tan", first I want to say "you need your eyes checked because I am the farthest thing from tan", but then I remember, "Oh yes, I did use self tanner this morning".  On top of the tan factor you get with these pads, they also have anti-aging benefits that exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. They are a win (unless you are going for the Jersey Shore glow).

3. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lotion

I love this lotion.  I love the smell, I love the lightness, I love how bright and clean my skin looks and feels when I am wearing it.  That being said, I hate the price.  But I also hate to admit, that its worth it.  I found the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin lotion by receiving a few samples from the Saks counter on a visit to NYC.  I went through the samples, then went and asked for more samples (I am telling you, TRY), and then I was convinced. There is something about this lotion that just makes you glow, and enhances your skin, makeup or no makeup. Oil-free, SPF 15, and ultra light weight. This lotion is meant for the morning only, but you will feel hydrated throughout the day.

Peter Thomas Roth, Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel, $48
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads, $32 (for a 20 count pack)
Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lotion, $95

Hair Pick

As many of my friends know, I have weird beauty habits.  One being hair picks and two being "Grandpa Combs".  Over the years, I have learned that these two things, no brush, serum, gel, etc., are the only two items that can tame my beast of a head of hair.  Which leads me to today's events...

Justin and I spent the weekend in Hudson, Ohio--seeing friends and family, and taking a little break from Cincinnati. It was a great weekend, and today Justin was his usual helpful self and packed up the car while my mom and I spent the last ten minutes before we left pretty much rolling on the floor laughing about pretty much nothing at all.

So we left Hudson, happy & relaxed, and started on the 4 hours drive back to Cincinnati. About 2 hours into the drive, my mom called and the conversation went like this:

Mom: "Hunny, you left a bag here."

Me: "WHAT bag?" (heart sinking, knowing exactly what I had left behind)

Mom: "I think its your makeup bag..."

OH SHIT. Insert me high pitched yelling at Justin.

It was CLEARLY his fault (in my moment of rage, yes of course it was his fault). HE packed the car, he should have KNOWN.  "Rational" thoughts going through my head. Not. But the fact that I, not he, had forgotten my makeup bag started us on about 2 hours of stupid, pointless arguments for the remainder of the drive. Dumb, yes. Of course. But the moral of the story is, everyone has that one thing that they do every morning that makes them feel better about their day.  Mine is the makeup bag.  It's not that I hate the way I look, it's just that I hate going to work looking sloppy or immature.  Corporate America could eat you for breakfast if it wanted to, and I always want to at least LOOK prepared for that. And it was the continuous comments from a boy, who of course doesn't understand the essence of the makeup bag, like "you look like someone just shot you", that made the fit of rage...rageful.

By the time we got back to Cincinnati, I think J realized that I had overreacted, but that it was also clearly important to me to not look like a hot mess at work on Monday. So we stopped at Ulta, and I promised myself I would only get a few things that I was already running low on, and of course, I would survive without X.Y. & Z beauty products until the makeup bag and I were reunited. Again, it was really not about the makeup at all, its more or less that sometimes I appear more confident, especially at work, then I really feel. And I get ready in the morning to mask my overall anxiety about work ("Am I good enough?", "Will this client like me?", "Did that program run right").

So here is what I picked up... And thank you Ulta for having some amazing mini's, very helpful!

(Tarte blush, 12 hr staying power, pigmented color, was already running low; BareMinerals Warmth, best all over bronzer out there, was already running low; Benefit's Erase Paste Mini, only $10 and will last you FOREVER; Benefit's High Brow; Ulta Eyeliner in Colbalt, standard blue; Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Mini; Urban Decay's Setting Spray, was completely out of; and of course, Say Yes To Blueberry Face Wipes)

And bringing it full circle, I forgot to pick up a hair pick at Ulta, so while J went to get toothpaste he also had this first hair pick buying experience.  And now I have 3 brand new hair picks and some makeup to get me through until I get my things back. Oh, and I have apologized.  A lot.

Foundation Nation

As promised, once a month I will be reviewing both my Drugstore beauty picks as well as my pricier purchases.  Good news: everything I write about is tried, true, and believed in.  Bottom line.  I will never endorse a product that I have not been using in my daily routine.  The idea is to save you money and give you the confidence that (hopefully) these products will work for you.

This month's topic is...Foundation.  A scary word for some, a beauty must-have for others.  For me, foundation is something I use to feel a little better in the morning.  It evens out my skin tone, covers my acne/freckles, and ultimately makes me look like I have slept more than 6 hours. I don't use foundation to hide who I am or, or enhance myself.  I use it to look like me, just refreshed, and a better-slept version of myself.

Because foundation is not something I swear by, I have been on a quest to find the best of the best in the following categories: light, natural, and non-irritating. For those of you who don't know, I have the most sensitive skin on the planet. My skin loves the following: allergic reactions. puffiness, swelling, redness, and irritation.  Whenever you mix in a little something it hates, my skin will FREAK out.  For this reason, I have to be extremely careful with all of my makeup and beauty products. And, for this reason, I really do know what I am taking about.  The products I recommend WON'T cause those so called freak outs, and are meant for people with sensitive and irritable skin.

So let's get to business.  Before I reveal my Holy Grail (yes this is what the beauty bloggers call it) of foundation, I have to talk about my first love...Primer.

Primer is the mecca of all good makeup.  No makeup will stay or last all day without it.  Trust me. If you are going to take the time to apply foundation, and blush, and bronzer, use primer.  Otherwise, those minutes you spent are completely wasted.  My thoughts here are, you go into work, school, the hospital, and you look the same when you leave as when you came in.  Yes, you may be tired, worn down, exhausted, but your face won't show it.

My tried and true primers are a combo of the following:
Benefits The Pore Professional & Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer

I use the Pore Professional over my moisturizer to smooth out my skin and create an even canvas.  The Smashbox primer then provides a hydrating layer which will keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day.  Best news here--Smashbox gets it.  They know that not everyone has the same skin, the same "flaws", and they have a primer built for you.  Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself: www.smashbox.com/its-about-prime/primer-finder.  You may not be meant for the Hydrating Primer, but I guarantee there is one in this line for you.

Now the big reveal...I have been, and will continue to, chat with my friends, co-workers, family, about one beauty product that has become my #1.  Urban Decay's Naked Skin.  The search for my foundation is over.  Light weight, truly a 2nd skin, glowing--yes.  Naked Skin will give you YOUR best skin. I believe in this product so much that I am on bottle number 2 (rare for me).  Naked Skin will even out your skin tone to a place you did not expect.  You look like you, but just better, more well rested, healthier (everything I was looking for, right?).  Even for those who tend to be scared by the F word, this is the perfect transition from a tinted moisturizer or BB cream.  I promise, you will glow.

One thing to note with Naked Skin, you MUST get color matched in store (Sephora, Macy's, Ulta).  Because the foundation is rather pigmented in the bottle, you will not be able to correctly color match from an online swatch.  Head to your local department store and ask for a sample -- trust me, it's worth it.

Here is the swatch of all three products on my arms and blended in.  You can clearly see the difference, but of course if you disagree with me, let me know! I love to hear your opinions and experiences!

Arm swatch of all 3 products before blending (from left to right: Smashbox Hyrdating Primer, Benefit Pore Professional, & Urban Decay Naked Skin, Shade 5.0).

Left- Blended Products; Right- No Products

Prices (from Sephora.com):
Urban Decay Naked Skin, $38
Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer, $42
Benefit's The Pore Professional, $30
Tip: You only need a small amount of each product as a little goes a long way--save your money and apply lightly!

That's all for September...it's been a fun month of showing all of you what our lives are about! Hopefully you have enjoyed & learned just a little more about who we are...the best is yet to come! xoxo.

Drugstore Recap: September

So while Justin is away, I figured now was the perfect time to start the beauty blogging.  I know the content of Seven & Seven has been heavily female orientated lately, and this will be changing, I promise.

Each month, I am going to review my favorite drugstore beauty picks that are tried & true, and won't break the bank.  For a product junkie, the drugstore quick trip can become a black hole of great wins and things you wish you hadn't said yes to.  The Drugstore Recap is meant to help narrow down the never ending choices. 

I will be providing my quick snapshot/review on the product, as well as the price points found on Drugstore.com (everything I pick up comes from either CVS, Walgreens, or Kroger here in Cincinnati).  As always, feel free to leave your thoughts--maybe these products have worked for you or you have tried them and weren't impressed.  Either way, I want to know about it! Lastly, I will be doing the same thing on a monthly basis for the more expensive makeup picks (Sephora, Ulta, department stores).

Maybelline Great Lash mascara in the Limited Edition colors (Teal shown on the Left and Blue shown on the right). These colors are pigmented, without being obnoxious (i.e. you can wear them to work), and are the right amount of subtle mixed with spunk.  Layer one coat over your standard black mascara for a shimmer of color, or layer multiple coats of the colored mascara for a more dramatic look. Personally, I love the Teal, but have seen friends wearing the Purple, and it looks amazing on every skin tone. $5.99 at Walgreens (not available on Drugstore.com).  These are Limited Edition, so I recommended stocking up on a few of your favorite colors on your next drugstore run, who knows if these will be back!

The two drugstore lip glosses that I am loving right now: Revlon's Lip Butter (on the Left, shown in Sugar Plum) and CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain (on the Right, shown in Plum Pout). Let's top line the Lip Butter first--smooth, creamy, non-drying, color rich.  The Lip Butter is easy to apply on the go and with the wide variety of colors, your match is out there.  For CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain, the color truly lasts, and while the formula is a bit drying, when layered with a gloss it creates the perfect pout. Revlon Lip Butter is $7.49, and CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain is $7.99. 

First of all, I really love the Say Yes To brand, but the Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes are my #1 beauty staple.  I have been using these wipes since January and go through at least two a day.  They remove ALL traces of makeup, smell heavenly, and leave your face bright, clean, and non-irritated.  For anyone with sensitive skin, these may become your Holy Grail of skincare. They have for me.  The Yes to Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask (on the right) was bought on a whim during a more severe breakout.  The mask is gentle, will dry up your acne, and feels natural and soothing.  Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes are $7.99 (30 ct) and Yes to Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask is $14.99.

St. Ives has been a bathroom cabinet staple for many of us for years, but I recently discovered two products that I think take St. Ives to the next level in skin care.  Both of these products were purchased during a breakout period, meaning I was looking for both a quick fix and a long term solution. The St. Ives Scrub Free Exfoliating Pads (shown on the left) are the real deal.  They leave skin dewy, smooth, and will help reduce any mild breakouts.  These pads have replaced my toner, and help prep my skin for lotion and makeup application.  The St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub (shown on the right) has become my go to shower cleanser.  The formula is gentle, but you can feel the exfoliating beads working, and I am nothing but impressed so far. St. Ives Scrub Free Exfoliating Pads are $4.99 (60 ct) and St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tree Scrub is $6.29.

And, beauty starts on the inside, my recommendations are just meant to help you along the way!