Post - HydraFacial Blues: My Sensitive Skin Type Did Not Relish This Facial!

I have to say the day after effects of the HydraFacial are stunning! My skin was absolutely glowy, sparkling clean, and free of any imaginable impurities thanks to the added extractions.

Then a few days creep by and my skin became a greasy, oil slick with small, angry bumps that are still appearing. Hopefully, they will subside, but the waiting period is not fun.

I have had two previous HydraFacials with mixed results. I had similar results to what is occurring now during my first, but thought that maybe the esthetician I had, might had been a little rough with the suction device/extractions.

 The second time I had this facial, with a very skilled esthetician, my skin was stunning and had not one issue, so I am on the fence about this treatment. Again, I had this treatment with the skilled esthetician, but came out with the same results as my first facial.

I would not recommend this facial for anyone who has very sensitive, acne prone skin, even though many spas will suggest it, since it uses water and a gentle suctioning device. It is similar to microdermabrasion, but uses water instead of crystals.

One other little tip, this facial is not cheap. My facial cost $190 with extractions. The extractions are extra.

So go ahead and get hydrated by the HydraFacial, but do so with this post in mind.

All Keyed Up: Decorating A Papier Mache Key

While searching the shelves of a local craft store, my mother found a decorative, antique-looking, papier mache key. After she brought it home, I “unlocked” my creativity by using  random scraps of tissue paper, newspaper, gel window gems, antiquing stamp pads, decorative foil and scissors and metal embellishments (brads) to design a key fit for a queen! 

Decoupage was the method I used to create my key. Decoupage is an art technique where you glue random scraps of paper onto an object using a watered-down glue. You then place a thin layer of the watered-down glue mixture on top. This makes a clear, varnish or shellac-like top-coat. Continue collaging on tissue paper and adding watered-down glue mixture top coats for sturdiness. 

To make this ravishing keepsake, you will need: 

• Papier Mache Key 
• Watered down glue (50 water/50 glue mix) or Modge Podge 
• Small bowl or cup for glue mixture 
• Paint brush to brush on glue mixture
• Various scraps of color-coordinated tissue paper 
• Thin strips of newspapers 
• Decorative letter and small circular-shaped brads 
• Gel Window Gems 
• Pinking Shears (scissors with zig-zagged shaped blades generally used to prevent fraying in fabrics) 
• Decorative foil
• Antiquing Stamp pads
• Optional: Colored computer paper and quote about “keys”. 

How To: 

1. Gather all items needed for the project. Create watered-down glue mixture (50/50) and place in a small bowl or cup. 
2. Rip small pieces or color-coordinated tissue paper into random shapes. Use paint brush to paint glue mixture onto the papier mache key. 
3. Place ripped pieces of tissue paper in desired pattern over painted on glue mixture. 
4. Then place a layer of glue mixture on top of ripped tissue paper pieces to create a varnish coat. Continue this method over entire key. 
5. Use pinking shears to cut small strips of decorative foil and a circular shape for middle of key. Wrap around and glue down foil pieces on top of key as shown using a sturdy glue such as Elmer’s School Glue. Glue on circular shape using watered-down glue mixture. 
6. Place random Gel Window Gems in between decorative foil and circular shape in middle. 
7. Apply a coat of watered-down glue to top area of key you just decorated. 
8. Cut thin strips of newspaper and glue onto the key in a cross hatch design. Apply another coat of watered-down glue mixture to the entire key. 
9. After the glue mixture has dried, use antiquing stamps to “age” the key using a cosmetic sponge. Gently rub antiquing medium over the key.
10. Find the letters J, O, Y from a pack of decorative brad letters. Cut backs off of letter brads with regular straight-edge scissors. Be very careful, brad backs are notorious crafting missiles. 
11. Glue on brads using a thick craft glue. 
12. Optional: Find a quote about keys on the Internet such as “The key of happiness is having Dreams. The key to success is making Dreams come true.” Type out the quote using a word processing program and print onto colored computer paper. 
13. Cut into desired shape and poke small holes into shape using decorative brads. 
14. Fasten backs of brads. 
15. Glue quote shape onto key using glue. 
16. Use stamps to give the quote shape an “aged look”. 

Now everyone will be “all keyed up” over your talent and artistic ability!

Crimes of Fashion: Decade of Disturbance: The 80’s

I may have been jamming to Disney on the stereo and chillin’ in my crib, but even I can remember the abominable and ghastly crimes of fashion committed by 80’s hollywood starlets to your average soccer mom. I’ve listed a few of the most heinous criminal offenses of 80’s fashion below. 

1. Fluorescent everything. If I wanted to glow in the dark like an orange safety vest, I would have worn one. From shoes to clothing, garish and technicolor pinks, greens and yellows ruled blindingly supreme. 
2. Perms the tighter the better. When did looking like a wet poodle in need of a combing become a fashion do? Curls and twisted ringlets made hair resemble a fried and cumbersome rat’s nest. 
3. Large plastic jewelry in geometric shapes. Ladies, this was just plain tacky. Wearing a gigantic pyramid shaped pendant larger than your head with a matching set of earrings which looked like they belonged on the side of a bunny’s head was not cool. 
   
4. Acid washed jeans. Light colors bring attention to so many flaws as this pear-shaped woman knows. Acid washed jeans were like a spotlight in the dark for the anatomically-challenged female. 
   
5. Stirrup Pants. Unless you are going riding, swear off this horsey attire. 
   
6. Large Bows on Grown Women. If you aren’t five, this just don’t jive. 
   
7. Shoulder Pads. Why does anyone want to look like a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in their “power suit”?
   
8. Crimped hair. Let’s make our hair look like bad wallpaper that should have been hung in your grandparents' living room.

And the list continues....

All photos are from the website In the 80s .

Add a Little Color To Your Life: Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Permanent Hair Color in 51 Light Brown Review

Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair color  in 51 Light Brown offers even, crisp color at a budget-savvy price. It did a nice job covering up grown-out highlights, had a pleasant fragrance and gave similar results as those pictured on the box (my color came out slightly darker than shown). The formula which is free of ammonia and allows even damaged or porous hair the freedom of coloring without the worry of total hair destruction. 

The one tip I would give stay-at-home colorists is to buy two boxes if their hair is particularly long, curly or porous. My hair literally drank in the color and there was just a slight bit of OMG! is there not enough color moments, but alas all was well. 

For those looking for a decent (a few stray grays are still visible at crown), well-made product that gives hair plenty of shine and vitality, run don’t walk to your local supermarket or drug store to buy this classic hair color which is now offered in a Permanent version. 

Remember, this is not your mama’s Revlon Colorsilk which lasted only 28 washings. It is the Colorsilk of the new millennium!

Glossy and Saucy: Suave Moroccan Infusion Moroccan Argan Styling Oil Review

From mangled to magical perfectly describe the transformative powers of Suave's Moroccan Infusion Moroccan Argan Styling Oil. The results of this therapeutic and non-greasy oil, which  has become one of the most popular beauty phenomenons in recent years, on my extremely dry and previously bleached strands were incredible!

Before applying the oil, my hair was in rough shape. It looked parched, damaged and beyond repair, but with only one use of this exotic potion it became silky smooth and luxurious. In other words, it looked like the healthy manageable hair that years of styling, dying and stress have alluded us, but no more!

I now have beautiful, bouncy, glossy and saucy hair that could make even a hair model green with envy. The best part is the price tag, which is easy on the wallet. I don't know how you do it Suave, but you put the pricey MoroccanOil brand to the test!