UPDATED Current Beauty Essentials (non-makeup)

Hello everyone! Yes, this blog is still a sisters blog but you wouldn’t think so based on the last several months.  Again, I thank you for your patience and understanding about my absence.  However, the good news is that I am in MY LAST SEMESTER OF GRAD SCHOOL! Omigosh, is it over yet?  Come July 31st I will feel like a brand new woman.  Note to self (and readers): working full time while attending grad school full time is completely crazy.  Yikes!

This is SO me (Redbull and all)!!!!!!
Photo Source

Anyway, since I had a second tonight and know that I will be especially absent these remaining 53 days, I thought I would update a post from March 2010: My Current Beauty Essentials.

While looking through the post I realized that many of the items were outdated or had changed slightly.  So here is a quick recap of where I am as of today…

Okay the funny thing here is I am STILL obsessed with the shampoo and conditioner. Whenever I try a different kind I immediately notice the difference and have to go back to my staples. One thing that has changed though, is that I really haven’t been using the Extreme Creme.  

I’ve become a little infatuated with serums for whatever reason.  I usually alternate between Organix Brazilian Therapy Anti-Breakage Serum and as of late, John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Extra Strength formula.  

Truthfully, I think the John Frieda product might be too much for my hair.  My hair still has the frizz and curl I have to tame with styling tools but it almost makes my hair greasy and I’m only using one pump.  So I think I will start using the Organix serum more regularly (plus it smells like heaven!).

I used to be committed to the Neutrogena product but once I tried the Equate alternative I was hooked.  Who wants to save money?  This girl!  This product works just as well as Neutrogena’s and is affordable to boot.  Sorry, Neutrogena!  You’ve been replaced.

Once again Walmart tricked me into buying one of their off-brand alternatives. This eye cream is gentle and soothes the sensistive skin around my eyes and costs about half the price of the L’Oreal eye cream.  Once again, I’m sold.  

I am still obsessed with OPI but given the price tag, I’m always looking for great alternatives.  Regardless, I still reach for the base coat but have transitioned to a different type: OPI Nail Envy.  I have only bought 2 bottles of this in the last 2 years and can easily tell when I try to skip and use a different base coat.  This really helps keep my nails strong and I love it!  

I still enjoy Burt’s Bees but for my morning/evening lip balm ritual I find myself reaching for the Yes to Carrots balm.  This balm feels less… waxy.  Does that makes sense?  So I feel like there is less of a coating on my lips and just moisturizing, organic goodness. I do purchase the mint flavor because I love the tingly feeling that comes with it 🙂  

Since I have been curling my hair less I tend to rely on hairspray with a softer hold (enter Kenra 13).  I love this spray for taming flyaways and for softly setting the curls I get with a single-barrel curling iron.  However, when I need a strong hold I still reach for my Kenra 25.  This isn’t very often anymore but I have it stashed for when I neeed it. 

My skin used to be very dry and sensitive but for whatever reason I am now a member of the t-zone club and am constantly battling the dread midday shine on my face.  Once I switched to the Cetaphil for normal to oily skin I noticed a huge difference.  My face really felt cleaner and I could tell that it was better suited for my skin.  Though the original Cetaphil is for “all skin types”but  I definitely realized it wasn’t working for my skin (or my husband’s!).  

…

Considering my non-makeup essentials were so out of date I should probably updated my makeup essentials!  In the meantime, let me know what your beauty essentials are!  I love discovering new products 🙂