Affiliated Beauty

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2015-07-15T19:00:00.001-07:00

So it's been over a year or so since I last blogged.. I didn't think I had much to say. I've only tested a handful of new products and being a SAHM with a family of three on one income doesn't exactly lend it self to spending large amounts of money on beauty products. I've been trying to find a balance. At the end of the day I'm exhausted, and I just have one little. Trying to do preschool prep at home (because preschool is ridiculously expensive) and unless I go back to work (which might have to happen at least part time) it's just not in the budget. So I've been doing not momming and house irking then beauty product trying...and that's what this blog was originally intended for. Affiliated Beauty was all things affiliated with beauty products. It might have to change slightly from that simply because my life has changed since that initial goal. Life changes, goals change. I might start back blogging here or I might start a completely new blog...we shall see.

Neuma shampoo and conditioner

2013-09-02T11:50:00.001-07:00

So for the first time in w while I'm doing a product review. I have a bag full of samples that my mom received as part of a gift bag she won. She gave then to me knowing I'm more prone to try a random product than she is. The first product I'm tries us the Neuma moisture shampoo and conditioner.

I liked both products pretty well. The sample size shampoo was enough but I needed more conditioner. I had to supplement with my good ole V05 :)

My hair felt nice and clean after the shampoo but not stripped. Which I liked. The conditioner felt good going on But because there wasn't enough for my all the hair I have I'm not sure if it really had enough slip for detangling purposes.

You can get a 10oz bottle of the moisture shampoo on Amazon for $16 and the 8.5 oz conditioner for $16.20 ... Which for me is more expensive than I'm willing to pay for items that I don't absolutely loooove.

What I've been up to...

2013-06-25T11:08:00.001-07:00

Not much... Well not much reviewing products at least. A lot of mommying, which I love, and housework...which I don't love lol, buuuut it must be done. I've been crocheting, knitting, sewing a little bit but no finished projects as of yet.

Here is the tank top I'm knitting currently:

It's been sitting in my UFO (unfinished objects) pile for two summers now, and dang it this summer I'm going to finish and wear it!! I think I might even have enough to make my daughter a version for her to wear too.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!

-C

Yoga or bust

2013-03-06T13:35:00.001-08:00

Bust is what happened lol. I'm not afraid to admit I went bust on the 30 day yoga challenge I gave myself. Yea maybe I shouldn't have put a time on it and just tried to continue to get healthier, which I am doing. I've been doing yoga every other day it seems but that's still more exercise than I think I did in the entire year of 2012, so that progress!

I need to get back to juicing, I usually rely on my hubby to do the juicing, but the problem is when he falls off, then so do I. Not a good look, so I'm going to have him teach me how to use how juice tomorrow.

The road the health is not a straight path for me...but I'm on the road, and that's what's important!

30 Day Yoga Challenge

2013-02-12T17:12:00.001-08:00

So it's a new yer and I've decided to get in shape. I've committed to a 30 day yoga self challenge. I'm going to do yoga once a day for 30 days. I tried to start this 9 days ago but was interrupted when I had to sit at the ER with someone one day resulting in only getting 1 hour of sleep on Saturday night. I feel asleep Sunday an was exhausted Monday so no yoga got done those two days.

I'm honest and real so I understand that things happen that sometimes get in the way of plans, but it's how you continue on that counts. For now it's still the original 30 day challenge, but I might extend it to 40 days so I can get 30 continuous days done.

So far I've done 10 minute trainer dvd yoga flex portion and this week started doing Tara Stiles yoga workouts from videos on her website.

What are your health goals for 2013? Leave a comment and let me know.

Cozy Up To Fall Twitter Party Winnings

2013-01-21T06:13:00.001-08:00

Back in the fall I participated in the "Cozy Up To Fall" twitter party and actually one a prize. I'm still so excited about it. I won a robe and pajama set from Pine Cone Hill that are so cozy! My daughter loves to snuggle up in my robe! It really was a surprise because I never win stuff. Take a look at the Pine Cone Hill website, they have lots of great stuff!

Back from the Everyday

2012-12-03T09:38:00.001-08:00

So where have I been.... getting caught up in the everyday of things. I recently made a commitment to get back to somethings that are important to me. Studying my Bible, Blogging, eating healthier, doing some exercise, purging my house/closet and getting organized. So to get back in the swing of things I'm gonna try to blog more regularly not just about product reviews but about life.
Hope everyone is having a fabulous holiday season!

The Sickness

2012-02-07T09:27:00.001-08:00

There hasn't been any blogging because everyone in my house has been sick....and it sucks!

First I got sick, then my baby girl, then my husband. So for about 3 weeks at least one person was ill.

Now that everyone is mended, I'll be back to posting. Momma had to do major mommying for everyone, including myself.

I hate being sick.....yuck!
Hope everyone else out there is feeling great!

Eucerin Creme..for my baby

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

I was looking for a lotion to use on my four month old daughter when her pediatrician handed my sampled of Eucerin Moisturizing Creme. This stuff is absolutely wonderful.

It is rich, creamy and leaves her skin soft and highly moisturized. My babygirl had really dry skin on her face, neck and upper chest. I had tried a few different lotions but none seemed to get her as moisturized as I wanted until now. This stuff has worked wonders. Her skin is ten times better then it was before. I put it on in the mornings after washing her face with only water. Because its winter here in MI, some days I have to reapply a little in the evenings, but usually the one application in the mornings lasts all day long for her.

I am still looking fro a more 'natural' product for babygirl, but for now, this is working.

Favorite New Hair Cleanser

2012-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

Since I've 'gone natural' I've been looking for products that work well with my natural texture. I still use a lot of my old staples, but I was recently gifted something that I hadn't tried before. Creme De La Curl by Miss Jessies. It is a cleansing creme and it has worked fantastically on my hair! It is, per their website " a non-sulfate curl wash".

If you aren't use to non sulfate washes for your hair, the absence of sudes might first deter you, but if you have curly natural hair I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this cleanser. I found that my curly roots were more defined and less frizzy after using this to wash my hair with. It also has a certain amount of slip to it so my hair wasn't as tangled as it usually is after I wash it. I still doused my hair with conditioner to detangle, because my hair needs it but if you have a looser curl pattern than mine, you might be able to get away with only using this to detangle too.

On their website the 12oz bottle is $16, but you can also buy a 1oz sample packet for $2...who doesn't like a sample packet! You can also purchase their products at Target in store and online.

I was given a chance to try a their Curly Meringue via a free sample given away on fb by the company, I'll put up that review soon.

I would say that this product is definitely worth the $.

(My) Natural Hair (Journey)

2012-01-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

Sooooo it seems like the new trend for black women is the natural hair care movement. I know some people will have a problem with me calling it a 'trend', but for some, that's exactly what it is. As soon as it is considered back out of style, some women will return to their favorite style of choice or follow on to the next 'trend'.

I've been natural since September 2010. I went natural once before for about one and a half years but didn't know how to maintain it so I went back to a perm. Back then there weren't all these natural hair care websites and youtube vloggers to help me through this transitional period. I personally decided to go natural as a health and financial choice. I remember reading about all the chemicals that were in the perms I had been getting since I was 12 and decided that I did not want anything that could clean a drain put on my skin. I also was spending a fortune going to the hair dresser every other week and that was no longer somewhere I wanted to spend my money or my time. I don't mind going to the hair dresser occasionally and still do...I like having someone else tame my tresses but the maintenance was just too much time and money.

I decided to stay natural when I found out that I was expecting a baby. I wouldn't put anything into my body which I knew could harm my beautiful baby girl, so why would I put something on my skin that might be detrimental to me or my baby.

I don't knock those who choose to perm there hair, its just something that is not for me anymore. I want my daughter to grow up loving the curly, kinky, beautiful hair that God gave her and for that to happen I believe that she needs to see me as a role model.

When I was a child, I went to private catholic schools and I always wanted to wear my hair loose like the little white girls did. My mother had to explain to me that my hair was different and that my ponytail braids were just as pretty as the white girls hair. I don't ever want my daughter to question her beauty. I know that self esteem issues come with growing up, but I want her to know that there is nothing wrong with the way God made her, hair and all!

I love the versatility of natural hair now. I am at the point where i'm ready to cut off my permed ends...my hubby might have a heart attack but i'm just sick of them. I want to wear my hair curly sometimes or in twist outs and trying to decide what to do with my straight ends is getting old.

Whatever your hair choice is, as long as your happy :DO YOU!!

Sooooo

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

It's almost been a year...where i have i been you might ask. Well my hubby and I had a baby :-) so the last year has been busy and hectic to say the least. Now that I'm going to be SAHM I'm going to have time to devote to this blog that I didn't have this past year. I'm also going to add some stuff to this blog besides just beauty product reviews...but that will come later.
Hope all has been well with everyone!

Review: Biotene Dry Mouth Mouthwash

2010-12-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

So, I've been using Biotene for a while on and off. I don't like using mouthwash that is high in alcohol content and so this is one of those that I like to change to every so often. I like Biotene because its not overpowering in taste but it definitely gets the job done with regards to getting the crud off your teeth.

The front says that it had 1. Bio-Active Enzyme System 2. is Alcohol-Free and 3. Refreshes without Burning.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Propylene Glycol, Xylitol, Polyglycitol, Poloxamer 407, Hydroxyethl Cellulose, Sodium Benzote, Benzoic Acid, Natural Peppermint, Sodium Phosphate, Zinc Gluconate, Lactoferrin, Calcium Lactate, Aloe Vera, Potassium Thiocyanate

Enzyme System: Lysozyme, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase also it contains no Saccharin

To me this is a great mouthwash, you can pick it up at your local walgreens/cvs/rite aid type store or here:

Back From The Thanksgiving Break

2010-12-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

So I haven't had time to blog in a while.......life got busy. We hosted Turkey Day at my house and my wonderful hubby did the cooking. He is an excellent, excellent cook! The only thing I made was a pound cake by request of my father-in-law. I've spent my past week cleaning and eating and being merry. I've already put up our Christmas Tree and fireplace decorations and now have to actually buy gifts.

On the hair front: I washed my the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with an Avon Avacado and Almond Oil Shampoo. Yes it has SLS but I needed to get some stuff off my scalp. I moisturized with the matching Avon conditioner and with V05 Split End Repair conditioner. I then oiled my scalp with coconut oil and blew dry it straight. The next day I straightened the edges and curled the ends. I've been oiling my scalp with just the coconut oil but I think that my scalp might need a little something extra so i bought some avocado oil and make a mix and see how that work. I'm looking forward to getting the Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque from my local target since I've heard good things about it on twitter and I want to deep condition my hair when I wash it next.

I picked up two different types of Dr. Bronners today, both the Peppermint and the Eucalyptus + Hemp. I love using Dr. Bronners soap. You can use it for evvvvvvvverything! From making shampoo, to washing dishes, to showering, to hand soap it is great and no SLS. My hubby even picked up the Dr. Bronners shave gel (We will see how he likes it when he shaves tonight).

Hope everybody had a great week!

Homemade Scalp Oil Treatment

2010-11-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Okay I've been reading about how castor oil on the scalp is good for hair growth. So I decide to give a try at making my own. I used regular castor oil instead of the jamacian castor oil, which I've heard is better for your scalp. I read a lot of different recipes so I just jumped out and made my own. I'm no expert on this type of stuff, but I figure it can't hurt my hair to use natural products. I'm transitioning from my perm to natural hair and so I've been doing a lot of reading on different products that I can use to keep my hair healthy during this time. I've grown my hair out before for a two year period..but then i caved and got my perm back...my goal is to leave it alone for go this time for good.

Homemade Scalp Oil Treatment

quarter cup of castor oil
quarter cup of grapeseed oil
20ish drops of tee tree oil (yeah i know that's not an accurate mesure, but i don't remember exactly..sorry)
a teaspoon of honey

I've read about some people using the castor oil treatment as a pre shampoo treatment and some people using it as an after conditioner treatment to seal in moisture. I used it as an after conditioner treatment and applied it directly to the scalp not the hair, then I massaged it into the scalp. My scalp did feel great after application..my hair was a bit oily.

I've been looking online and there are sooooo many products that I want to try....let the journey begin.

GO SMiLE AM Energy Toothpaste

2010-11-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Product Description:
GO SMiLE Luxury Am Energy Toothpaste; Whitening Protection with Fluoride, 3.5 oz, 100g

Beautify and care for your smile with luxurious GO SMiLE toothpaste, enriched with delicious natural extracts. Start the day with Go SMiLE AM "ENergy" Toothpaste, with exhilarating flavors of lemon, lime, orange, and peppermint. Hydrated silica gently polishes away surface stains while floride fights cavities and strengthens enamel, leaving your teeth smooth, white and bright.

Cost:
$16 plus tax (yeah that's a lot for toothpaste)

Active Ingredients:
Sodium Monoflurophosphate 0.76% w/w

Inactive Ingredients:
Sorbital, water, hydrated silica, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, flavor, cellulose gum, titanium dioxide, sodium benzoate, sodium saccharin, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) fruit extract.

Review:
I picked up this toothpaste from Sephora inside of JcPenny. A couple years back I tried the breath spray and it seemed pretty cool, so when I ran out of toothpaste I decided to give this one a try. The taste is something you have to get use too. If you like really minty toothpaste then this is not for you. Even though the price point is a little high for toothpaste, I do love the way that my teeth feel after I brush them. They are super slick and clean and I like that feeling. My hubby says that it seems to get the film off of his teeth also so he likes it.

As far as the whitening effects, I haven't seen a dramatic whitening of my teeth, my hubby says he sees a slight whitening of my teeth. I think the whitening effects might be stronger if you use the entire Go Smile system as they have it set up and not just one product. You can taste a citrus flavor which the product describes and I personally like it better than extra minty smelling toothpastes, especially in the morning.

Overall:
I might by it again but I'm not sure about every time I buy toothpaste. But it's definitely worth a try if your looking for a change in your morning regiment. Give it a try if you haven't and if you have let me know what you thought about it.

Have a great Saturday Everybody! Make it Great!

AHAVA Advanced Body Lotion

2010-11-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

I ran out of my Ahava Body Lotion this morning and I am capital S.A.D. about it. I received a gift set of Ahava body lotion and foot creme for Christmas during a work present swap. I had never heard of Ahava before then, but a lady who I worked with raved over their products and so I was excited to give it a try. It is fabulous...I really love this lotion. It's moisturizing and tingly at the same time.

The bottle I got is an 8.5oz. bottle and because I didn't use it every day (because I'm a product junkie), it lasted a long time. I haven't tried any of their other products, but I'm definitely interested. Oh well, now i'm going to have to go by my own...*sigh*...maybe I can talk my mother into buying it for me for Christmas this year.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple

2010-11-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a quick post but I had to rave about Philosophy Purity made Simple Foaming Facial Cleanser.

Last night I had on a full face of make-up and using Purity it took all of the make up off, mascara, lipgloss included and didn't leave any residue on my facecloth at all. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero product remained on my face. I love that!! I've used this before for morning washes but hadn't really noticed its power to take everything off at night time before. This is a fantastic product and now will be my new go too to remove make-up at the end of a long day. Now I'm going to need to try one of their moisturizers....which one should i try?

Pro Activ

2010-11-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've been trying the Proactiv system on and off for a couple weeks now. Its a long story but due to some identity theft of a credit card of my aunts (booo identity stealers) I ended up with the 3Step Proactiv System.

I have to say that overall the system works pretty darn good. It can leave your face a little dry if you use it twice daily like your suppose to but it warns you about that on the packaging so it's no surprise. If I see that it looks like I'm about the break out I like to put it on at night and then the next morning and it usually gets rid of the red spots within those two applications. I don't have severe acne just occasional break outs so I'm not sure how well this stuff works for those who really struggle with bad breakouts. So far, so good for me. The price is not bad considering some people have spent way more on products that claim to do what Proactiv does. I don't use it twice daily as I've stated in a previous post that I use some other products intermittently also. I would definitely recommend it to try and see how it works for you or if you like it.

Please post a comment if you've tried Proactive or have thought about trying it. Are their any other facial cleansing and anti-acne systems that you like better than Proactive? if so leave a comment and tell me which ones you like, I'm always looking for new products to try.

Homemade Shampoo and Conditioner

2010-10-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

I was reading about non-sulfate shampoos all over the internet as of recently because I'm considering letting my perm grow out and rocking my natural hair. I found a ton of blogs and youtube videos with recipes for natural hair care products that you can make right at home using some of the every day items that you keep in you kitchen. So Listed below is the Shampoo recipe that I made up combining a few recipes and the Conditioner recipe that I got from this youtube video:

Homemade shampoo

¼ cup Castile soap ( I used dr. bronners rose)

¼ cup Olive Oil

¼ cup Warm Water

1 tbsp glycerin

A few drops Grapeseed Oil

Homemade Conditioner (used a recipe off of youtube, the link is above…only change was Aloe Vera Juice instead of gel and addition of grapeseed oil)

¼ cup Olive Oil

¼ cup Aloe Vera Gel (I substituted Aloe Vera Juice)

2 tbsp Honey

4 cups Water (use distilled if you want it to be a leave in conditioner)

20 drops Tea Tree oil

Favorite essential Oil for scent ( I used Peppermint essential oil)

A few drops of Grapeseed oil

You will have to shake the conditioner before each used because the oils and water will separate. Also it will leave oil in the bottom of your shower.

Results:

I really like the shampoo, it left my hair surprising clean to me. The conditioner was a little bit oily to me and a little on the heavy side, but seemed to be very moisturizing. I will definitely be using the shampoo again but I might be looking to change up the conditioner a bit.

I have a friend who sent me her pre-conditioner recipe using avocado, banana, egg yolk, coconut milk and EVOO.following with an apple cider vinegar rinse, but I just watched this youtube video on the benefits of avocado oil so definitely want to mix some avocado oil into the mix. I will be trying my friends recipe soon hopefully.

I use coconut oil as a moisturizer after I rinsed out the conditioner and it made my hair super shiny but don't put to much in your hair because it did weigh my hair down.

If you have any recipes for natural hair care products that you make at home or any products that you like to use leave your recipe in the comments section.

UPDATE: I've decided that the formula for this conditioner is just too oily for my liking so I'm looking for a new conditioner recipe. I also took the olive oil out of the shampoo and I like it much better too.

New Product Review: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Soap

2010-10-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Today's product review is on Shea Moisture's Organic Raw Shea Butter Soap with Frankincense and Myrrh. I purchased mines at my local Target but you can also purchase the product online from Shea Moistures website. It is an 8 oz. bar and cost $4.99 plus tax.

I found this to be a great soap especially if you are into the organic/ natural/ no- sulfate thing. The ingredient list is: African Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Palm oil, Essential oil Blend, Vegetable Glycerin, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E, Soaps of Coconut and Palm. I found the soap to give me clean skin without being extra dry later. It definitely smells like shea butter but is not extra strong like pure shea sometimes can be. It also has a very nice lather. I will definitely being trying the other products that Shea Moisture has to offer.

My husband even shaved a little into the home made shaving cream that he made himself. He said he liked the lather it provided.

My next post will be on the home made shampoo and conditioner that I made this weekend. Please feel free to leave comments or reviews if you have personally tried any of the products I've talked about so far.

Aveeno Body Wash

2010-10-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been giving the Aveeno Body Washes a go.

This is the 3 pack that I bought from Costco at a great deal. It was only $9 (I had a coupon). Gotta love Costco. What came in the pack are 2 Fig and Shea body washes and one Lavender. I like both of the scents equally. I use the Fig and Shea in the mornings and the Lavender at night before bed. The scents aren't strong and don't last forever on the skin. The wash is moisturizing and your skin won't feel extra dry and tight when you get out of the shower. Because it's Aveeno if you have sensitive skin but want some fragrance in your wash this one would probably be perfect for you. I also have the regular Aveeno unscented body wash that I bought separately and it's great too. I bought the regular unscented from Target. I'd say definitely give Aveeno body washes a chance if you just want a little fragrance and well moisturized skin.

What's In My Purse

2010-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

I've seen a lot of people do this post, but since this is a beauty blog...I guess I'll do it too. What are the items that i carry in my purse make up bag you ask? well here is the list:

First, I carry all of my beauty products in a M.A.C. cosmetic case that I bought a few years ago that came with a brush set. It was designed exclusively by Matt Murphy and I love this case for both its beauty (love the print) and its function. Its the perfect size to fit in my purse and be easy to find.

I carry 3 of the 5 brushes that the case originally came with.

Revlon stainless tweezers, because tweezers are useful for so many reasons.

Great Lash Mascara, I love the size of the mascara and the wand length. I prefer a shorter wand length for me it makes it easier to put on my mascara. I usually carry the clear mascara, but i do have the blackest black mascar at home in case I feel like switching it up.

3 MAC lipglasses. I cant say enough about MAC lipglass...I pretty much love every color. I'm definietley more of a lipgloss girl than matte lipstick. Rarely, if ever, do i wear matte lipstick.....I mean once in a blue moon every 5 years or so. Its just not my thing...but to each their own.

1 Sephora Lipgloss..a little sticky but i like the color

1 Sephora Bronzer. I love Spehora's bronzer because it makes me look away even if i haven't had the best night of sleep. It gives my skin that extra sparkle that I need.

1 Sephora Eyeshadow Palette in the Miami Vibes colorway. I like this colorway because I can make it neutral of very colorful. I like that the colors really do show up on African American skin and don't just look ashy...that is a real plus!

Sorry It's upside down....will fix it later

In the inside pocket of my purse I keep 3 lip items: 1 Chapstick with spf 15 lip balm...gotta have Chapstick, 1 Alba un-petroleum spf 18 lip balm...it's okay but not the best lip balm I've ever had..I'll keep it until I find a new one that I want to try out and 1 C.O. Bigelow Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine..which is great because not only does it give you a clear shine to your lips...it smells wonderful!

Dr. Bronners

2010-10-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

This morning I tried out Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Soap in Almond.

I really really like this soap. While it is a little bit runnier in consistency than I was thinking it would be, it has a great lather. Your skin feels squeaky clean when you get out of the shower. Although its scented, its not overwhelming and the scent doesn't linger too long on the skin. I will warn you that there is some "special" statements written all over the bottle..if you decide to give the soap a try despite the specialness written on the bottle I'm fairly sure you'll like it. The soap is Fair Trade Certified and USDA Organic Certified. I bought mines at my local Target but you can also find it usually at your local health food store or at Dr. Bronner's website.

First Things First

2010-10-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

The first topic I'm going to talk about is what facial cleansing and moisturizing products I am currently using. They are:

Cetaphil Cleanser and Moisturizer, St. Ives Fresh Skin apricot scrub, Philosophy Purity facial cleanser and Aveeno Positively Radiant SPF 15 Moisturizer. So far this combination had been keeping my skin in check. I sometimes have acne breakouts around my chin, forehead and nose, so I am always trying new products. My dermatologist recommended the Aveeno Moisturizer because it has soy that's suppose to even out your complexion. I usually switch between the cleansers and the moisturizers daily depending on what I feel like using. To me the Cetaphil moisturizer makes the my skin feel the most moisturized but it might be a little heavy for some people but I really love putting it on before I go to bed.

What are your favorite facila cleansers and moisturizers? Leave a comment.