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If you could only pick 5 makeup products to live with for the rest of your life what would they be? This is all you need! Watch how I do a 10 min makeup look using only 5 products. Skin prep is key. Here is the list of products I used in this video.
Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve been writing on this blog. Personally, 2019 was a wild year for me. A lot of ups and downs that were life changing, amazing, and terrible. I had just gotten out of a 4-year relationship. A few months later, I had signed with one of the best modeling agencies in the world and had a family emergency within the same week. My father passed in December 2019, and fast forward to May 2020, here we are in the middle of a global pandemic. I’ve been spending my shelter in place at the home I grew up in outside Philadelphia.
I know it’s been tough for everyone. We really are all in this together. I haven’t been to a casting in two months, and the modeling industry is going to change much like every other industry. It’s been a different pace not being around brilliant creatives and artists every day. I don’t know if it’s normal, but I feel the need to constantly do something or create. I’ve been cooking with love and practicing the piano as a therapeutic way to stay sane. And now I’ve turned back to blogging!
I saw this one post from a friend that says everybody is an addict. I don’t smoke, but I know people who smoke because it gives them something to do with their hands. Let’s try to pick up better habits that lead to fulfillment. ❤️
The bigger the better, especially when it comes to your hair right? I can’t name one person who has said they wish their hair was flat. But what’s your method for getting your volume fix on? You could backcomb, use volume shampoo, or change your part.
Personally, when it comes to putting my hair up or getting a textured look, I think backcombing is counterproductive and the worst thing you could do. Regularly teasing with a brush can be really damaging to your hair and cause breakage. I recently started using this cool new Lifting Powder from Virtue Labs and wanted to share my styling experience with you.
This powder is a combination of Virtue’s Alpha Keratin 60ku™ and activating texture enhancers. Virtue is known for their patented keratin protein that is a hair lifeline. Really, it helps fix damage, frizz, and split ends. The powder lifts hair without leaving your hair looking white and has a subtle scent. It’s not a dry shampoo or hairspray.
I’ve tried using the powder a few ways, and I like it best for half ponytails or a textured, messy look. For this half pony look, I started by creating loose waves with a 1 1/2 in. curling iron. Then I applied the lifting powder in two sections, the top crown of my head and a lower halo.
The best way to do this is lift each section and spray from underneath one pump per side (a little goes a long way) and one for the back. Then I used my fingers to spread the product through the roots and create that lift. You’ll feel a little moisture as the powder starts to activate.
I also did the lower halo and shook my hair out at the end. After I used an elastic to secure the half pony. It was pretty easy and my hair kept its volume all day at the wedding I was at.
I love this lifting powder because you get volume in your casual or fancy updos without having to use one of those silly and obvious Bump It’s. You can also use it for your hair down and a textured, messy look.
Want to try a textured crown braid? Check out this How-To Tutorial with professional hair stylist Adir Abergel.
Have you heard of laser microneedling? With so many facials and skin treatments available, it can be a lot to know what’s what and what’s best for your skin needs. I tried the mircro needling laser treatment because I heard it improved skin quality. And by improving skin quality I mean minimizing pores, redness, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and reducing wrinkles.
I’ve had cystic acne and there were scars on my cheek that I was mostly concerned about fixing. So I did the treatment in LA at Restoring Health Medical Institute. Watch what happened at Dr. Moossazadeh’s office as he explains the process in this video. He’s the best, really! Totally cleared up my acne completely by prescribing spironolactone. But that is for another blog post. A rundown on what laser microneedling is and what you should do for after care below.
Two treatments, laser genesis and microneedling. You can do them separate, but it’s best to combine for maximum results.
You should treat your skin like a baby the three days following. Breaking the skin opens mirco-channels, so it’s super sensitive and quickly absorbs what you put on it. You’ll see some redness and your skin will feel dry and tight. Although you can wear makeup after, I personally wouldn’t to let your skin breath and recover. If you absolutely must, I would do light coverage.
Is It Worth It?
I say yes! It’s totally worth it and a lot more effective long term compared to other resurfacing treatments like Microderm or peels. I definitely saw improvements in my skin within 4 days. I wouldn’t say it’s a quick fix facial for deep acne scars and wrinkles because you need a few treatments every 2-4 weeks. The number of treatments needed depends on where you skin is at currently. I suggest consulting with a skin care specialist for that answer.
Check out the before/after picture at the end of the video to see the difference after 3 days. My skin felt rejuvenated, smoother, and my minor breakouts were cleared up!
Post your questions/comments about laser microneedling below.
So I just lightened my hair for the summer and got an Olaplex treatment as part of the process. My hair colorist gave me part 3 to take home while part 1 & 2 were done in the salon. Whenever you dye your hair, whether you use bleach or no bleach, you are breaking the cuticle and weakening your hair strands. Sounds dramatic, but basically the makeup of your hair strands isn’t the same because you’ve opened up the outer layer. The texture feels different and breakage is more likely to happen.
No matter what your hair type is, we all get damage from styling, coloring, and just living in this world where our environment can also come into play like sun damage or swimming in a pool. But I wanted to share with you two preventative ways to protect your precious strands that are entirely different but both super effective. Here’s to ending that damaged relationship with your hair.
Treatment masks for hair are like body butter for skin or paraffin treatments for hands & feet. It’s an intense version of your conditioner that provides hydration and nourishment to fight frizz and damage. The difference between your conditioner and masks is in the ingredients. There are more beneficial oils and butters in masks and the application take 5 minutes after shampooing.
My go to treatment mask since high school has always been the Aussie brand 3 Minute Miracle Treatment. I think I’ve stuck with this product because the cool squirt bottle, color, and scent makes me feel some type of nostalgic way about summer showers after swimming in my neighborhood pool. That was when chlorine was damaging my hair, but now it’s the heat styling and coloring that’s causing it. It always seemed to work well for me until I tried Virtue Labs’ Restorative Treatment Mask.
I’ve been using Virtue Labs hair products for 8 months now and am in love with everything about the brand. They have a special keratin formula they put in all of their hair products that has been a game changer for my hair. They recently came out with a restorative treatment mask that I tried for the first time about a month ago. There was a clear difference between the Virtue mask and the Aussie mask I had been using.
First off, the texture was lightweight but still hydrating. I noticed there wasn’t as much buildup compared to the Aussie Brand. There are a lot more real oils whereas the Aussie brand only has jojoba oil listed and aloe extract. Virtue has sunflower seed, moringa, baobob, and olive oil along with 8 more plant extracts, and the special keratin formula. To sum it up, I felt like the Virtue mask melted into my hair and worked from the inside out to repair. The Aussie mask just sat on top of my hair strands and created a layer that acted as a protective barrier but could also turn into buildup.
Olaplex is a 3 step treatment – Bond Multiplier 1, Bond Perfector 2, and Hair Perfector 3. I’ve gotten Olaplex twice at the salon while coloring my hair. The Bond Multiplier 1 is added to the color process and the Bond Perfector 2 is applied when you rinse our the dye. The Hair Perfector 3 is the take home part where you use once a week. Without getting into too much detail about the science, it basically has an active ingredient that repairs broken chemical bonds in the strands of your hair.
So what’s the difference between a hair mask and Olaplex Hair Perfector #3? A treatment mask re-hydrates and Olaplex repairs. I would compare it to putting Neosporin on an opened wound vs stitching it back together. If you have a big cut, both are essentially needed during the healing process, but they both repair in different ways. Make sense?
The consistency of the take home #3 is like a serum. I’ve seen different ways to use it, but I have been applying it on damp hair after shampooing. I do it on days where I have a little extra time to take a shower. I apply it after shampooing then let it sit for 10 minutes. During this time I apply a face mask and do a sea salt body scrub or aztec clay mask on my body while standing in the shower. After the 10 minutes I rinse out the #3 and shampoo & condition as normal. You can also leave the treatment on overnight in a shower cap for longer if needed.
Olaplex is not only for colored hair. It can be used to strengthen chemically straightened, relaxed, or permed hair. It’s also used to tighten curls and repair curl patterns. Even if you have that untouched virgin hair, you may be damaging it with your dryer, curling iron, and straightener.
There is a clear difference between hair treatments and Olaplex. Personally I would stick to hair treatments unless you have seriously damaged hair or color it regularly. Since I lightened my hair for the summer, I have been using the Olaplex 3 Hair Perfector every other week. If I decide to bleach my hair in the future, I’ll probably use it more often. I don’t foresee myself getting perms and my hair is naturally straight but if your hair has gone through any process in that realm, I would suggest giving #3 a try.
Olaplex is also a brand. There are other types of “bonders” on the market that claim to repair hair, but I haven’t tried them yet.
Treatment masks are easier and more convenient to use for your day to day life. An extra 5 minutes two times per week will get rid of dull hair and keep it vibrant and free of frizz. Since it’s not something you’re using every day, I think it’s okay to spend an extra $20 for a higher quality product like Virtue vs. Aussie Brand. I’ve definitely made the switch to Virtue and my hair has less frizz now compared to when I took this video! Make sure you look into the ingredients of what you’re buying so you know what you’re paying for!
Do you use hair treatments and/or Olaplex? What are your thoughts and results? Let me know in the comments below <3.