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So I know I am a little late, but welcome to 2015. So far this year I have decided to hold myself more accountable for the things I promise to do. Such as, working out and taking better care of myself. As most of you know though taking care of ones self does not always show much care to our wallets. I love Whole Foods Market, but my wallet is not a fan. Many of my friends struggle to find products that are easy on the wallet as well as being effective. It does not seem like it should be a big deal but when it comes to skin and hair products should give you the biggest bang for your buck. Through a lot of research I have managed to stumble across a few products that have helped me repair my hair after three years as well as help my skin in as little as three days.
When it comes to shampoo and conditioner I swear by the Not Your Mother's products. Especially if you have damaged hair or hair that can be a bit difficult, these products should be your go to. This brand is gentle on the hair and has different focuses based on your hair texture. From Kinky Moves Curl Defining to Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo there is something for all hair types. My personal favorite is their Way To Grow line. This line is designed to strengthen your hair to make it grow faster and longer. One thing I love is all of their products are Sulfate free. Sulfate can be harsh on hair. Especially if you have mixed curly hair like mine. The prices for these products are insane as well. none of the products are more than $9.00 and can be found at CVS, Walgreens, Ulta, and many other stores. Another plus is these products will have your hair smelling divine for days, and won't make your hair oily like some products have the tendency to do.
Another shampoo that I love is the DevaCurl No Poo. DevaCurl is made for girls with a curlier texture of hair. All of their products are sulfate free as well, but a bit pricier. My DevaCurl No Poo shampoo bottle cost $19.95 at Ulta. Because I use a good amount for my hair it can go pretty quickly. One of the cool things about this line though is they have foaming and non-foaming products available. I know sometimes if a product doesn't bubble up I don't always think it is working. Believe me it is working. It is actually better for your hair if it doesn't bubble up so much. I wash my hair every other day and alternate between this and Not Your Mother's. Both of these products help immensely if you are suffering from color or heat damage.
When it comes to skin I am a recent convert to the products of Mario Badescu. This skincare line has so many things available so there really isn't a problem it can't tackle. I know I suffer from a lot of surface acne on my face. I also have problems with my shoulder and chest areas. Three days ago I happened upon an Instagram photo of the Mario Badescu products and was intrigued. After reading several reviews I decided to add it to my try list. I went to Ulta and figured I would be safe with only purchasing the Acne Facial Cleanser ($15) and Aloe Vera Toner ($15). Both of these products were a great size and I was eager to try them. After washing my face that night and putting the toner on after I woke up the next morning and was stunned. My skin was soft and most of the surface pimples and blackheads I had the previous day had simply vanished. I chose the Aloe Vera Toner because I have heard the benefits of aloe in ones skincare routine. Plus it is very mild and gentle, which is great if you have oily sensitive skin like I do. I also noticed that neither the cleanser or toner dried out my skin. These products are also very soothing when it comes to irritated skin. Today I went back and bought the A.H.A Botanical Body Soap ($14). I can't wait to try it on my back and chest. One of the girls working at Ulta saw me by these products and expressed how much she enjoyed them as well. Shout out to Molly. As a woman of color I can say these products really do cater to a many skin types. This line has night creams, facial mask, skin powders, toners, scrubs, serums, body wash, and almost anything you can think of when it comes to the health of your skin. Now a few of their products can reach up to $24. It is worth it though. My skin has not looked this good in a while.
I hope this helps get you all started on your budgeting beauty adventures this year. I have a lot of product reviews coming your way so make sure to check back here as well as on my Twitter and Instagram. I will try to update you all more frequently with how I am doing with certain products, healthy eating habits, exciting makeup news, restaurant reviews, and much more. Until next time.
M
When it comes to shampoo and conditioner I swear by the Not Your Mother's products. Especially if you have damaged hair or hair that can be a bit difficult, these products should be your go to. This brand is gentle on the hair and has different focuses based on your hair texture. From Kinky Moves Curl Defining to Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo there is something for all hair types. My personal favorite is their Way To Grow line. This line is designed to strengthen your hair to make it grow faster and longer. One thing I love is all of their products are Sulfate free. Sulfate can be harsh on hair. Especially if you have mixed curly hair like mine. The prices for these products are insane as well. none of the products are more than $9.00 and can be found at CVS, Walgreens, Ulta, and many other stores. Another plus is these products will have your hair smelling divine for days, and won't make your hair oily like some products have the tendency to do.
Another shampoo that I love is the DevaCurl No Poo. DevaCurl is made for girls with a curlier texture of hair. All of their products are sulfate free as well, but a bit pricier. My DevaCurl No Poo shampoo bottle cost $19.95 at Ulta. Because I use a good amount for my hair it can go pretty quickly. One of the cool things about this line though is they have foaming and non-foaming products available. I know sometimes if a product doesn't bubble up I don't always think it is working. Believe me it is working. It is actually better for your hair if it doesn't bubble up so much. I wash my hair every other day and alternate between this and Not Your Mother's. Both of these products help immensely if you are suffering from color or heat damage.
When it comes to skin I am a recent convert to the products of Mario Badescu. This skincare line has so many things available so there really isn't a problem it can't tackle. I know I suffer from a lot of surface acne on my face. I also have problems with my shoulder and chest areas. Three days ago I happened upon an Instagram photo of the Mario Badescu products and was intrigued. After reading several reviews I decided to add it to my try list. I went to Ulta and figured I would be safe with only purchasing the Acne Facial Cleanser ($15) and Aloe Vera Toner ($15). Both of these products were a great size and I was eager to try them. After washing my face that night and putting the toner on after I woke up the next morning and was stunned. My skin was soft and most of the surface pimples and blackheads I had the previous day had simply vanished. I chose the Aloe Vera Toner because I have heard the benefits of aloe in ones skincare routine. Plus it is very mild and gentle, which is great if you have oily sensitive skin like I do. I also noticed that neither the cleanser or toner dried out my skin. These products are also very soothing when it comes to irritated skin. Today I went back and bought the A.H.A Botanical Body Soap ($14). I can't wait to try it on my back and chest. One of the girls working at Ulta saw me by these products and expressed how much she enjoyed them as well. Shout out to Molly. As a woman of color I can say these products really do cater to a many skin types. This line has night creams, facial mask, skin powders, toners, scrubs, serums, body wash, and almost anything you can think of when it comes to the health of your skin. Now a few of their products can reach up to $24. It is worth it though. My skin has not looked this good in a while.
I hope this helps get you all started on your budgeting beauty adventures this year. I have a lot of product reviews coming your way so make sure to check back here as well as on my Twitter and Instagram. I will try to update you all more frequently with how I am doing with certain products, healthy eating habits, exciting makeup news, restaurant reviews, and much more. Until next time.
M