My favorite Clinique products and why..

Today is the first day of February 2016, how exciting!  I am too ready for Spring and flowers, the sun, warmth, Easter, plants, lower electric bills (lol) and lighter clothing!  Today I really just wanted to blog out some of my favorite products that I work with everyday and use on myself, break them down and show you just WHY I love them!!  This is not a sales pitch at all, but in the event that you would like to try the products I am discussing today you can have them sent straight to your doorstep through me. Just private message me or comment below! 

My very first FAVORITE product is Cliniques 7 day scrub...

Cliniques 7 day scrub is a creamy formula with small granules and is to be used daily to lightly exfoliate dead skin cells and daily dirt, oil and impurities. The reason I LOVE this product is because it is so light but yet SO EFFECTIVE!  My skin always feels so clean, fresh and ready for each day after I use this product!! 

Ok, my second fave is Clinques Moisture Surge Line...

But the most out of the line 

This mask has saved my life lol!! It is a rich, silky, hydrating mask that you smother on before bed and sleep in.  Cliniques Moisture Surge Mask leaves my skin so hydrated, plump, quenched, radiant and soft!  This mask has worked miracles during this winter skin depression!

Third favorite and last for today's post is Cliniques Clarifying Lotion #3...

You will honestly never believe how much dirt, oil and impurities enter your skin each and every day!  After removing your makeup, washing your face, you still have it and this step in my daily routine has also changed my life!  It removes DEEP dirt, oil and impurities that your face wash can't reach and it shows up on your cotton ball or pad.  All I can say about this one is TRY IT and you'll never look back.  I also use #1 when I do my chemical peels because it is for very dry skin.  Number 3 is for Oily Combination. 

{ Clinique has 4 different numbered Clarifying Lotions depending on your skin type so all may not be #3 but regardless of what number you are this will also save your skins life. }

So last product that I want to share is not Clinique but it is BOMB and has changed my life as well lol!  ShiSeido Facial Cotton...

Oh my goodness, these facial cotton pads are 100% cotton and after using them you will be amazed.  I love this product because they are SO SOFT & gentle on your skin.  Absolute luxury. 

Lots of love and Happy FEBRUARY!!!! 

Organic face

I've never been one for crazy organic everything but when it comes to my skin I am very careful about what goes on it.  The other day I was in Whole Foods before going into work because I wanted to pick up some Alkaline water and also an all natural energy drink !!  In Green Hills TN where I work there is an adorable little outdoor shopping area and it's all brick lined and full of cute little shops and that is where Whole Foods is located! Well, as I was coming out of the store I noticed a WHOLE BODY right across the street and I had some time and so I went in only to find myself IN LOVE!!!!  They have all organic and natural everything for your body, shampoo, conditioner, face products, makeup, deodorant, scrubs, vitamins, lip conditioners ETC> You name it, they had it!  I was of course drawn to the skin stuff and because I've been doing intensive treatments to my facial skin for the past 4 weeks I wanted something with a Vitamin C and other natural ingredients to really boost my healing process and that would also be extra gentle, something lightweight and small because I didn't want to spend too much, I've been sticking to a budget! (lol)

 l picked up this face cream and I cannot tell you how amazing they are.  They smell so delicious and my skin feels much more radiant, silky and hydrated.

Pricing is extremely reasonable ...you can look them up online if you're interested at ANDALOU.COM !! 

I just wanted to share because keeping a good thing to yourself is very selfish! Haha

TGIF 

H2O

     This morning I am starting to feel so much better from my detox, I've done a series of 4 chemical peels using salicylic acid 20% and Lactic Acid 40% over the course of 2 1/2 weeks which is the intensive start and I will continue every 3-4 weeks until my results are where I want them! 

     I am a COMPLETE do-it-yourself-er and I have payed close attention to my in office peels along with little knowledge in cosmetology school and I choose to purchase the product and do them at home, that will NOT work for everyone ! 

    Above is a photo of the brands I have used and I love both.  So when you are doing skin detox and chemical peels ETC you have GOT to drink LOTS AND LOTS of H20!!!  Even the most beautiful of skin would be great to do a light chemical peel every few months because usually the top layer of everyone's face is DEAD SKIN CELLS!  There is a type of natural glue like substance that holds those dead skin cells to your epidermis and the chemical peels work to loosen the glue like substance allowing the dead skin to shed off, revealing baby smooth skin! 

    The main focus is to assure you that if you are not drinking enough water every day I can ASSURE you that your skin is dehydrated and you will begin to see pre-mature signs of aging, wrinkles, flakes and an over all "dead" look.  I just wanted to encourage you guys to really take care of yourself and the skin you live in.  DRINK UP !!! And HAPPY 2016!

{Post note: Do NOT do chemical peels at home if you have no training on how they are performed. }

Detoxing for the average human.

Hello everyone and Happy New Years EVE!  I am carrying out my every year tradition of being snuggled into warm blankets, drinking warm tea and ringing in the new year with probably prayer and sleep but for now I am thinking of all God has given to me in 2015 and I am setting some mental goals for 2016!

As most of my readers know, I love hair and skin and that is the entire focus of my career and all of my goals within the beauty industry! I have made leaps and bounds in 2015 (praise Jesus) and I look forward to more and more growth in the new year to come!  In all of my research I have always read about all different kinds of natural vitamins, antioxidants, radiance boosters etc and I have always read about TURMERIC and how it is a natural detox for you body, also delivers several more benefits such as mood enhancer, health for heart and bones, anti-inflammatory etc and I stumbled across some in the store a few nights ago and decided to give this a try!  After all, it is a New Year coming and I love a great detox!  The directions instruct taking 1 TURMERIC pill a day with a glass of water and so I began doing this along with a major increase in my H20 intake to about 70 ounces a day along with Biotin, Collagen and Flax Seed Oil!  Surely with all of this going on I would start to feel some detoxing going on and sure enough I am!  Detoxing is not always fun and if you're doing it right you won't feel too great the first few days but keep your head up!!  A couple days ago I began feeling sick and I know that its from the detox pushing out all of the toxins in my body, this is a GOOD SIGN!  

In addition to your everyday vitamin taking I will also encourage you to drink MORE water than you would normally because at this time your body needs an extra boost to help flush those bad guys out! Lemon, mint leaves, limes, oranges > these are all some great things to add to your h20 at this time as the citric acid and internal alkaline will help to balance the body hormone levels as it empties the toxins... Gross but so GOOD!

Throwing it back a little .. HAPPY NEW YEAR.. BE AMZING, BE REFRESHED, BE DETOXED!!!! 

XOXOXO, KiMmY

The UGLY truth.

   I am blogging today about hair health and growth.  

     Now, before I seem a little overly knowledgeable I just want to reassure you I am doing this for the beautification of this country and people. LOL  

     SO, the reason for this post is not to disrespect your way of taking care of your hair it is simply to help you in knowledge of what is actually happening to your strands. 

     THE VERY UGLY TRUTH about non professional and un natural hair care products... *scary music* !  The truth is that the price of your products may only be $6.00 out of your pocket but what does that make the quality of your hair?  Ok so, the saying goes "You get what you pay for" AND I completely agree and not to just agree but I have facts and knowledge on why I agree. INGREDIENTS>  First things first, a healthy strand of hair pulled from the scalp looks shiny and completely consecutive in strength meaning, no splits, flyaway, raggedy edges or dryness.  ALSO meaning, tugging a bit without it breaking and the elasticity of your strand allows it to bounce back to its original position.  Have I made myself clear?  Yes, a healthy head of hair consists of ALL OF THESE THINGS.  Test your hair andddddd GO, good luck because most people do not have all of the above.  For one reason or another most women find themselves having overly dry, porous hair or weak, lifeless hair that is unhealthy and unmanaged.  The very first reason is the products you are using, point blank period.  If you are using drug store products I can open your eyes to what each wash is actually doing to your hair.

     When you get into your steamy, warm shower the cuticles of each hair strand are expanded and opened.  In drug store shampoos and conditioners there are a lot of filler products such as sulfate and waxes and is what allows for the product to be sold at a significantly lower retail price.  NOW, as your cuticle is expanded and you begin that shampoo process, each strand of hair is being cleansed with extremely stripping ingredients ...you then begin to rinse which is usually with warmer water keeping the cuticle opened and proceeding to condition which (if non professional) is also filled with fillers and wax further entering into each strand of the hair cuticle.  Uh OH!  After rinsing and getting out of the shower, the cold air hits your hair strands and closes up that cuticle and you are left with waxed up strands day after day after day until eventually you have breakage all throughout your head of hair, flyaways, dullness, and heaviness all from this wonderfully cheap product!

I don't write with negative news without a positive solution lol.  I want to share my hair care routine to help you understand how to properly manage and maintain healthy hair. About 11 months ago I had to make the decision to completely chop my hair off because of damage, dryness, breakage and down right awful hair due to overly using chemical products.

This is a picture of my hair about 11 months ago CHOPPED off and ever since then I have treated my hair like a little bitty baby in need of TLC.  I have found several little tweaks to maintaining my routine one of them being SHEA MOISTURE products. I fell in love with this brand because the products are all natural, moisturizing and you can find them at CVS or Walgreens ranging from $10 - $20, they do not claim that professional stamp (I don't think) but if a product does claim professional be SURE to only purchase from a salon or spa.  Keep in mind that I could use any professional brand I liked because I get it at discounted rates but I am CHOOSING to use the SHEA MOISTURE line out of pure luxury for my hair, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!  I wash my hair every other day and every 3rd wash I use Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three.  Shampoo Three is a deep cleansing shampoo and it really gets into the pores of the scalp to really clean out dirt, oil, and gunk, it is also inexpensive.  I have also started taking vitamin supplements for my hair but what I really want to encourage is for you to maybe expand just a BIT on your budget for hair care and try a routine like mine for a month and compare the difference it will make on your hair! 

     I have a very real story I want to share about myself long before I went to school to be a cosmetologist.  The story starts with me being blonde and choosing an expensive salon/spa to treat myself to the "best" hair care RIGHT?  I mean, I was paying an arm and a leg I just had to be getting what was best for my hair?  WRONG!!  I was heavily highlighted blonde and because of this my hair was dry and damaged.  My hairdresser would take my highlights ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH every single time I had my touch up appointment (which was every 5 weeks) FRYING MY HAIR with lightner and NEVER following up with an at home prescription or routine to help me keep up maintenance on my hair health.  She had to be the WORLDS WORST HAIRDRESSER alive.  I am getting angry just thinking about it lol.  SO, if your hairdresser is like what I have just explained MY suggestion would be to DITCH HER (OR HIM) as quickly as possible and find someone who TRULY cares about your beauty, self-esteem and the integrity of your hair.

     OK OK, thats all I can take for today folks, I hope this reaches someone and helps them take better care of themselves!

Beauty Dust: Beyond Perfection Clinique foundation + concealer

Beauty Dust: Beyond Perfection Clinique foundation + concealer:      Beyond Perfecting is BEYOND PERFECT!  I am currently using this Clinique foundation and am in love.  It is a full coverage foundatio...

Beyond Perfection Clinique foundation + concealer

     Beyond Perfecting is BEYOND PERFECT!  I am currently using this Clinique foundation and am in love.  It is a full coverage foundation + concealer and so if you're not looking for full coverage this is not the foundation for you.  The price for this bottle is $27.00 and IT IS WORTH IT!  This product takes very little to completely cover the entire face and last ALL DAY.  Check it out or contact me for details OR>Leave a comment below !