Feel Better With Budget Skincare and Makeup

 General, Good Advice, This or That  No Responses »
Oct 082022
 

Many people tell me they want to take care of their skin. Some want to use makeup, too. Let’s face it. If we look better, we FEEL better. But if it’s a choice between food for your kids or a nice foundation. . . well, it’s actually no choice at all. I’m going to give you some really inexpensive alternatives to the price of skin care and makeup, which has skyrocketed.

What I Can Offer You

I’m gonna toot my own horn. I have three lines that I work with. I’ll put the links here with a disclaimer that if you purchase from any of these links I will receive a commission.

Farmasi  
Lemongrass Spa
Tran.scend

These three are a bit pricey, but all excellent quality. They DO go on sale so if you want to hear about sales, let me know. However, the purpose of this post is to find you stuff that works on the cheap. So here we go. (NOTE: I can’t “capture” a lot of these pics so look for the links to take you right to the product.)

From here on down, I am not affiliated with ANY of this and make nothing from it. Just sayin’. . .

Skincare

Simple skincare. You have to cleanse and moisturize. An all-purpose go-to is Coconut Oil; in particular, Fractionated Coconut Oil (liquid). I use it for everything, including diluting my essential oils. But it will take ALL of your makeup off and moisturize your face, too. This is the one I use from Amazon. It’s $15.99/bottle, but it will last you FOREVER. Used to be $12, but that was then and this is now. UGH

Jojoba Oil is another good choice, but that has shot up in price, too.  The bottle that used to cost $6 is now $9. Again, lasts a LONG time. This is the one I’ve used in the past. Also good for diluting essential oils, too. Note, this bottle is much smaller than the Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Witch Hazel. This is an old-fashioned remedy for everything, but it’s excellent for your skin. I can’t get the picture from the Wally website, but the Equate brand at Walmart (house brand) is only $2.52. It used to be 99 cents/bottle. Seems to last forever. It’s also good for cuts, scrapes, sunburn and many other household uses. You can Google it to see all its benefits.

So. . . take off your makeup with the coconut oil, get some cotton pads in the dollar store and run a few with Witch Hazel over your face and then put some coconut oil back on as a moisturizer. May not be the best regimen in town, but it DOES work and will keep your skin pretty healthy.

Makeup Shop Miss A

Now for some fun. I found this wonderful site called Shop Miss A. Everything USED TO BE $1. Yeah, you know the used to be thing, right? The good news is that most products are still very reasonable, between $1 and $2. There are other things that are more expensive like sunglasses, jewelry, etc., but overall this a marvelous site. I think they give you free shipping over $35. When everything was $1, it took me eons to fill that cart to $35. Never thought I’d have a problem filling a cart. 😂

In my NOT so humble opinion, this is one of the best el cheapo primers out there. It’s called No Pore Face Primer and it really gives you a smooth finish under makeup. I can give you a personal recommendation on this one. $1.88

Foundation is the one thing I will spend big bucks on. But if you don’t have it, there ARE alternatives. This is the AOA Drop Foundation. Tons of colors. I’ve used it and it’s not half bad. $1.88

This is the Lumi Blush compact. Again, not half bad for something that’s still $1.

These are only a few examples. They have EVERYTHING on this site and I mean EVERYTHING. Note that products branded AOA are the house brand. Of all the things I’ve purchased, I’ve liked those the best. That’s not to say there’s something wrong with the other brands they carry, but I feel the AOA is the best on the site.

Shop Miss A is cruelty free and most products are vegan. The owner has said she won’t offer products that aren’t cruelty free and AOA doesn’t use ingredients that are tested on animals either. This is something very important to me as I’m a crusader against animal cruelty, including testing. I check out any company before I purchase.  The status changes so you have to check frequently online. I used to love Urban Decay and then found out they tested on animals, so no more UD. Then, out of the blue, they stopped a year or so ago. One of the most well-known makeup brands in the world is Charlotte Tillbury. They used to be cruelty free. Then they were purchased by a company who is not, so. . . as I said, you have to keep checking back.

Other Makeup

Again, I will only use cruelty free products so I research. Surprisingly, some of the brands you find in drugstores and dollar stores are cruelty free. NYX and Milani are. One of my fave things in the Dollar Store is makeup from L.A. Colors. Granted, many of these are sample sizes or limited colors as I’m sure they take seconds and surplus. But I’ve gotten many and they’re good. Believe it or not, that good ‘ole cheap fallback, Wet n Wild, is cruelty free AND vegan. This is usually the least expensive brand in the drugstore, so check them out, too.

Is Better Skincare & Makeup Better?

Yeah, it is. The difference isn’t in the actual ingredients, but the quality of those ingredients. For instance, eyeshadow. Eyeshadow is made up of a pigment and talc with something to glue it together. It’s the quality of those ingredients, especially the talc, that affects the price. Sure, some of it is the name on the label, too. But the quality of talc you get in a $1 product is much less than if you pay $25 for that same type of product. I’m allergic to all kinds of stuff, so I have to be careful. The items I’ve listed above and provided links to are things I’ve personally used and didn’t react to.

Whatcha Waitin’ For?

You don’t HAVE to wear makeup, but you DO have to take care of your skin. If you’re one of those gurlies who uses a bar of Dove soap and it works for you, then go for it. It’s not the best thing in town, but. . . if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

BOTTOM LINE: I love good skincare and makeup, but I’ve been in the position where I can’t afford them. . . many times. If you’re in that position right now, I hope I’ve given you some alternatives that will work for you. Stay strong, because. . .

No photo description available.

 

 

There’s Always A Choice

 General, Good Advice  No Responses »
Sep 152022
 

There is a wildly popular podcast out there by Bailey Sarian. It’s called “Murder, Mystery & Makeup.” Basically, Bailey puts on her stunning makeup while she tells the story of a spectacular murder case. She always signs off with “MAKE GOOD CHOICES.” It’s good advice but, many times, not so easy to do. Choices can be tough. What is a choice? Basically, it means you have to make a decision. UGH But it also means you aren’t stuck. If there’s a choice, there’s an alternative. You get to choose.

Choices

Here’s an example of a choice.  What you wear and how you wear it is creating an optical illusion about how you look. So. . . I’m short and dumpy. NOT downing myself. It’s just true. I have very short legs and a long body. Due to over 30 abdominal surgeries, I also have this jihugic gut I love to call Jabba, as in Jabba the Gut. 😎 Some call it a FUPA. I just call it Jabba. This thing is very hard to hide, so I had to make the CHOICE to either (1) wear long baggy stuff to hide Jabba or (2) say the hell with it and make a choice that makes my legs look more balanced with the rest of me. Choice No. 1 hides him, but it also makes me look frumpy & dumpy. It’s too much fabric for me. I’m barely 5′ tall on a good day. So I choose Option No. 2, which is to wear shorter tops to make my legs look longer. Does that mean Jabba really shows out on occasion? Sure does! I get many private messages when I post pics telling me how I can hide my gut. Yep, I know all that. But I made a choice. I’m happy with it.

How Do You Choose?

That’s personal. But. . . you have to weigh what’s most important to you against what you think you SHOULD do. Do you know how much I hate that word SHOULD? I have lived my life doing what I was told to do or what I SHOULD do or what others think is the way I SHOULD go. ME was always discounted. I always thought I was an independent woman, but I listened to others way too much. And it hurt. Why? Because I went against what I knew was best for me. I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but you know you better than anyone else. So. . . how do you choose?

I’m big on lists. So I lay down what I THINK I should do on one side of the page and then what I WANT to do on the other. And then I attempt to balance the two. The difference now vs. then is that I put more weight on what I WANT to do these days.

But What If I Make The Wrong Choice?

I make wrong choices all the time. But you know what? In most cases they aren’t permanent. In the above example, if I decide that short top looks horrid on me and I no longer want to wear it, it goes in a donation bag and I get a longer shirt. No biggie. It’s like a goal. You can always modify and choose again. Even something as semi-permanent as moving because you don’t like where you are. When your lease is up, pack up and go. Sell that house if you made a buying mistake. You always have a choice. If it’s wrong, change it. If it’s not exactly wrong but you’re not happy, modify it.

And In The End

When I was a younger lass I selected an option and ran with it. Not a good one? I would change it or modify it. No problem. Now in my older years I’m the undisputed Queen 👑 of Overthinking. I have to run through every possible consequence that will come from any choice I finally make. It drives me nuts. So. . . I’m back to trying to be like the younger me. Make a choice and run with it. Because. . .

You basically have two choices. You either do it or you don’t. Make good choices.

I heard this song quite by accident and. . . it fits!!!! Or should I have chosen another one? 😉

Appearance, Appearance, Appearance

 General, Good Advice, Minor Rant  No Responses »
Aug 252022
 

The real estate world says the #1 rule for the desirability of a property is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Well, if you haven’t already figured it out, much of what you can get in our superficial society is based on APPEARANCE, APPEARANCE, APPEARANCE.

This is NOT me pushing my appearance insecurities onto you. Nope. They have studies. If you look hot (male or female), your You Tube, Instagram, Tik Tok channel or what have you will grow at an exponential rate over those of us who don’t look like what society calls hot, attractive, gorgeous, sexy or any other word of your choice.  It’s just a fact of life.

Oh, there is one other way to succeed over us mere mortals and that’s to have something really unique, some shtick that you can use to market your goods or photos or whatever. It has to be REALLY different, though, as so much has been tried already. And if you are not what society calls HOT, you can bet your successful channel will be filled with haters who love to pick on people for their appearance. If you have something really new and different and this doesn’t bother you, go for it!!!!

Judged

But back to appearance. We are all judged on it. What’s the first thing someone sees when they meet you? I wish I could say it was your heart, your inner beauty, your good intentions, your kindness. . . all of that. But it’s not. It’s what you look like. If the person meeting you is a good person, then what you look like shouldn’t matte. It does. Trust me on this one. When you meet me, you see a chubby old lady who is not pretty and has shitty hair. I am NOT downing myself; I’m just being honest.

Why Does It Matter So Much?

I wish I had a good answer for you. The younger the generations get, the more appearance seems to matter. I’m not picking on the Kardashians, honest, but what do they have to offer except for (enhanced) T&A? They put on a good show of being a “normal” family, but they are, in fact, further from that truth than most. So what makes them appealing? LOOKS. Pure and simple. Okay, okay. Add in a VERY smart momager in Kris Jenner. She knew how to market those looks into a gazillion dollar empire. But except for looks, what have any of them done to help mankind? If you know of something, please leave it in comments. I would like to hear it. And I’m not saying you have to do things for mankind either. I’m just saying that there should be something more to people than a face or a massive booty.

Fueled by the Makeup & Fashion Industries

Now it’s not ALL makeup & fashion, but those industries really push this need to be like a Kardashian or a movie star or now like an influencer. Either that or. . . you don’t matter. Women go broke buying makeup and clothing to enhance what they have naturally. And if it’s not much, you’re gonna be buying a LOT of it. Don’t believe me? Go to You Tube and put makeup influencer in the search box. You will get hundreds if not thousands, all teaching you how to sculpt that face into something society approves of. And people are buying the products they push, whether or not they know that the person on screen will make money off of it. It’s sales, folks. Just sales. Consequently, most makeup and clothing companies are booming in an economy that is not too friendly to us everyday people.

So What Do You Do?

I honestly don’t know except find a look YOU like and go with that. Some of us will never be beautiful or have bodies that are the stuff of mens’ dreams. Be the best YOU out there. There are no others just like YOU. Why copy someone else? To be accepted? I’m not so sure how satisfying that is in the end, despite it being the thing to do these days. I’m me. I can’t be a Kardashian or a Taylor Swift no matter how hard I try. So do I let it depress me? I used to. (Yeah, I was just as guilty as everyone else.) But not now. I just do the best I can at being ME. And if I’m judged on that appearance, as I know I am, so be it. I’m done trying to be somebody else.

NOW GO OUT AND BE YOU!!!! FIGHT BACK!!! YOU ARE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW!!!!

Acknowledge Your (Perceived) Faults

 General, Good Advice  No Responses »
Aug 042022
 

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, crying and thinking nothing about you is the way it should be? It’s just not right. Have you cursed your thin lips or big boobs or skinny legs with accompanying knobby knees? If you have, I’ve got some good advice for you. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can’t. I can tell you where I got it, though.

I’ve been following You Tubers who show off clothing hauls to lean how to dress and as part of my self-development. I found a few girls who are built almost like me and I watch them to see how different styles look on them. I can drool over a dress on one of the websites, but it’s not gonna look the same on my short 14-16 arse as it does on the size 2 model. So I like looking at real life models who mimic my build.

One of those gals I happened upon who is NOT built like me (but I stayed with her) is a wonderful stylist named Alisha. She has a You Tube channel called Ten Ways To Wear It. She takes a piece or a style and gives you lots of styling options. I absolutely love the way she puts outfits together! Alisha is one of the most stylish gals I’ve ever seen!!!! So one day I was looking for something to listen to and she was doing a Vlog where she was on a beach, I think, and she gave out some advice on self-confidence. One of the things she said damn near knocked me over. She said, “Acknowledge your faults so no one can use them against you.” My life has never been quite the same since those words hit my ears. So I’m gonna get it out there for me, top to bottom. And make sure you go follow Alisha. I’ve linked her at the beginning of the paragraph.

Lousy Hair/No Eyebrows

When my hair fell out, my eyebrows went with them. My hair is growing back. The brows are being stubborn. Eyebrows frame your face. My face has no frame unless I draw or temp tattoo one on.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

My face has lined with age. You may not be there yet but, trust me, yours will, too, in time. TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!! I always took care of my skin or it would be much worse. I’d look like one of those chicks in my generation who worshiped the sun with nothing but baby oil and now looks like they need a good ironing.

Big Nose

My father’s family has big schnozzes. Not much I can do about it. And as we age, they get larger and the pores get bigger. Oh joy! I’m working on those pores.

Thin Lips

My lips were never very plump and sensual but age has taken most of what I had away. I’m very careful with lipstick application, using mostly gloss. And as far as hot, sexy red lips go. . . nope. I look like a vampire on a binge. UGH

Flying Squirrel Arms

Sadly, my upper arms are BIG. . . you know, the kind that are still waving at you long after you’re out of the county? I’ve learned some poses to kinda tuck them in, but. . . yuck. I know gals who have had their arms surgically corrected. According to them, it’s SUPER painful and SUPER expensive. So, sadly, Rocky will be flying on.

Short fingers

At the end of those flying squirrel arms are short fingers. I have relatively small hands, but those stubby fingers. . . and I don’t function well with really long nails to extend the look. This is one of those that I can’t do much about.

Jabba the Gut

I was always a thick rectangle shape with not much of a waisted line. But after a lot of trouble resulting in around 30 abdominal surgeries, Jabba is just not on Tatooine. And on one of the last surgeries they removed my stomach muscles due to MRSA. I can’t even suck it in, so I’ve learned ways to hide it.

Short Legs

I have REALLY short legs. I have a long body, but short legs. My inseam is even way shorter than most petites. My husband and I are 14″ apart in height and it’s all in the legs as we’re just about the same length from shoulder to hip.

Big Feet

Don’t ask how I’m barely 5′ tall and wear a size 9 to 9.5 shoe. My Grandmom wore a 5. 5 and my mom a 6. My sister and I both wear around a size 9 and we’re both short. Go figure. To quote my mother, at least I won’t tip over in a wind storm.

So There You Have It

The things I don’t like and wish I could change. I can’t change most of them, but guess what? It’s all right. Once I catalogued them, I knew I could deal with them and others’ criticisms of them. When people said things before, I went home and cried. If you say something now, you’re liable to get a smile or a big eff you, depending on my mood. Just Don’t. And that goes for anyone. Appearance is simply packaging. More on that to come later.

YOUR TURN!!!!

You don’t have to do it in a blog or even out loud. But if you know what you perceive as your faults, no one can use them against you ever again. 💚💚💚💚

This Is Me (sung by the magnificent Keala Settle!)