At the Pink of Perfection

At Home DIY Gel Manicure and What You Need To Get Started

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 16:00:00 +0000

Before I started doing my own gel nails at the end of June this year, I had only ever had 3, maybe 4 gel manicures in a salon, and the same amount of gel pedicures, so I was a newbie for sure. I've come a long way when it comes to doing my own nails, and as a result have quite a high standard when I am paying $50-75 for manicures and pedicures. Most times I shape my nails and trim my cuticles before stepping foot in the salon, and only allow the technicians to paint my nails, and for sure NEVER allow them to buff them!

The few gel manicure experiences I had I was not happy with, and chalked it up to a chemical reaction with my nails, considering they chipped within a week at most, sometimes days of getting them done. This, of course makes paying that kind of money even more painful. I started getting gel pedicures last fall when I started yoga and barre, as working out in bare feet puts extra wear and tear on your toe nails and I wanted them to look good with them bare all the time.

I decided I can paint my own nails, better AND cheaper, with a little practice and a little expense up front. I originally intended to keep the gel nails for vacations, business travel, etc. but have repeatedly applied them for about 6 weeks now. Each manicure I learn a little bit more about technique, and would like to share what I have learned with you.

I'm still rather new to gel manicures, but manicures are my thing. I am a self-taught nail technician of sorts, and can talk forever about nailsssss. Disclaimer- again, I am NOT a certified nail technician, I am just a self-taught guru who is sharing what I've learned. In an effort to keep this from being a novel, I will keep nail and hand care tips out of it as well as gel removal, and keep them for other posts.

Let's get into it, shall we?

OPI 'Don't Bossa-Nova Me Around'

I priced together products and tools from a mixture of youtube videos, salons I've been to, and my general knowledge of nail care, etc. to come up with a system that works well for me. I'll start off with supplies, give a little blurb about each, include substitutes for budget, etc. and finish off with a few more photos of (in my honest opinion,) my absolute perfect nails.

THE LAMP
purchased from Amazon, ~$200

I did a bunch of research on what lamp I wanted to use, and ultimately decided on the top of the line Gelish 18G LED Professional Nail Lamp. Whoa, when I went to pull up the lamp it is now $250 on Amazon, so look around before paying that, check Ebay- I almost bought mine there but wanted the 2 day Prime shipping plus I had a gift card for Amazon which helped in the expenses. You can get a smaller Gelish LED lamp here for $62 or that same smaller Gelish lamp with a starter kit of other supplies here for $150. What's the difference? The 18G shown above is the same one multiple salons have used on me, and has two main advantages: 30 second dry time and your whole hand fits in at once. The smaller ones are a 45 second dry time, which isn't that big of a deal honestly, but you will have to do your thumb separately.

Also to note... there are a TON of lamps on Amazon, just read thru the reviews and hey, if it doesn't work return it. Just make sure it has a return policy before purchasing. ALSO, take note if it is an LED or a UV lamp! This is SUPER important! I lucked out, trust me, I didn't even think gel polishes and what type of bulbs in the lamps mattered, BUT THEY DO. Some polishes will only work with LED, and vice versa. Lastly, be sure to use adequate UV protection on your hands if using an UV lamp. The UV lamps also take considerably longer to dry.

THE GOODS
purchased from Amazon, prices listed below
Fantastic Four Set: $30
Gelish Remover & Cleanser Set: $13
CND Scrub Fresh Cleanser: $16
OPI Lint-Free Wipes: $10

After reading and watching multiple Youtube videos and reviews about at home gel polishes, I decided to go with Gelish supplies as they seem to be the best you can get without a salon or license to shop elsewhere. As I stated above, you can get an entire kit for about $150 including a lamp which has mini bottles of most of this (excluding Structure) AND 2 bottles of color on Amazon, which is a GREAT way to dip your toe into all of this. OR, you can go ahead and buy full size like I did.

Here is a brief description of what you need:

1.) ph bond- used sparingly, this dries all the oils off your nails to ensure a proper bond
2.) foundation- this is gel base coat and is not always necessary, MORE TO COME further down
3.) structure gel- available in clear and pale pink, supposedly good for your nails and provides a glass like surface
4.) top it off- top coat for your gel mani
5.) nourish- cuticle oil to apply when you're all done

6.) artificial nail remover (pink liquid bottle)- removes your gel in 15 minutes, highly recommend
7.) nail surface cleanser (blue liquid bottle)- cleans off excess oils, cleans off rubber finish at the end

I have not used the Gelish one as I had already purchased the CND version, Scrub Fresh:

Other:
1.) Lint-free nail wipes- you can get any wipes, but ensure that they are lint free or you'll have fuzz in your manicure
2.) nail clean up brush- I bought mine years ago, but Olive & June sells a good one here for $8 or just pick one up at a craft store. Just make sure it's tapered and will work for cleaning along the cuticles.
3.) Glass mini jar- I bought this at Sally Beauty years ago, for maybe $2-3? Pour in some acetone nail polish remover while you're painting each step and use your brush to clean up around your cuticles

THE POLISH
OPI Gel Polish purchased on eBay here, and Universal Nail Supplies here, average $13-15/bottle
DND Daisy Gel Polish purchased on eBay here, average $9/box

I started off on the cheap, and purchased these polishes, DND because the salon I frequent uses them in bulk, so I figured they must be the best. And don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with them, I've used two of them so far with no problems. They are extremely reasonable at $8-10/box and they come with the matching regular polish! I think that's pretty neat. Oh and wait...remember I said further up that base coat isn't always needed? Some of the DND Daisy polish as you can see from the picture below are All In One Gels, meaning you could use just the nail color and exclude other steps. I haven't tried this, when I did use DND I used the DND base and top coat also purchased from eBay. I am curious though and will let you know if I try it.

I have pinned a TON of DND Daisy gel colors as well as OPI colors on my Nails Board on Pinterest if you need some inspiration! Remember, and this is critical...google the nail color to see swatches and real applications of the color before purchasing, do NOT trust the outside of the bottle. Gel polishes are packaged in special coated or covered glass to protect them from lights and sunlights, and the label/packaging doesn't always match up to the color. Look at this one:

Of course in this photograph it doesn't look very different, but in real life the paint is much pinker than the bottle.

NOTE on POLISHES: do a little research like I mentioned earlier what will work with UV or LED lights, and what polishes work well together. I heard from numerous sources and will attest myself that gelish and OPI work wonderful together, and that's what I'll continue with. Plus I wanted some iconic shades to be gel and last longer.

PROS & CONS
What I would do differently

I went overboard with polish as usual, and I do regret that. Looking back I wish I would have purchased a few colors- a pale pink (OPI Bubble Bath,) a red, and a neutral. I don't have a red, I need to find the perfect shade of red and that will be my last color for now. I have about 10 colors which isn't much, but 7 of them are pinks or neutral pinks, I have a type.

PROS. Well, it's a gel manicure, so it lasts longer than regular polish, make your nails stronger, and has a glass surface finish.

CONS. Time consuming and expensive.

That's about all I have to say about getting started, I will share photos and tips of my application and removal over on my Stories on IG, so make sure you're following me there! I will save them to highlights as well.

So, have you tried an at-home gel polish or want to try?

Living with Rosacea: Basics & Skincare Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Just about 3 years ago on a whim, I decided it was time to start seeing a dermatologist, at the time for precautionary reasons. I am very fair skinned, and I have an abundance of moles, so it was in my best interest to start annual appointments to monitor them. After a terrifying cancer scare, it was the beginning of a health & wellness lifestyle change for me as well.

The first dermatologist I visited was in and out of the room in 5 minutes, including the time it took to do a full body exam, having diagnosed me with rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, and handed me 3 prescriptions. I literally sat there in the paper-towel sized gown in tears. What just happened? She also gave me a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of best practices for rosacea, but didn't explain anything to me. So I switched doctors, and between what she explained to me and what I researched for myself, I am more knowledgeable today, specifically on what works and doesn't work for me.

*disclaimer* Remember, I am not a doctor- do not take what I say for word, if you have concerns, please see a doctor. What I am about to talk to you about is what I have found to work for me, after years of trial and error, and it may not work for you.

I plan to continue a vein of content regarding rosacea here on my blog as it's a big part of my life, and as I find new and better products I'd love to share them with you. Honestly, I have found the best of my products through bloggers, specifically Lex from Talonted Lex, adjusting a few of her recommendations along the way due to US/UK availability. I am starting with a novel of an introduction post, with just the basics I use to survive everyday pertaining to skincare. I thought about speaking here on products I have tried with lots of hype that do not work, but I decided a post separately will call for that.

Rosacea is a chronic skin diseases, that waxes and wanes, basically gets stronger and weaker, oftentimes inconsistently. It is most common in women aged 30-50, but can occur at any time, and is characterized by a reddening of the skin causing blushing of the cheeks, nose, and forehead. Common symptoms include burning and stinging of the skin, acne-like bumps on the skin, thickening skin, bumps on the eyelids called styes, and sensations like there is sand in your eye. The most common symptom of course is the "flush & blush," reddening in a butterfly like shape across cheeks and nose, which is usually the first sign you may have rosacea. Prevalence rates vary, but the average rate I found was affecting 30%+ of the population.

Rosacea is very often diagnosed from what I have read, oftentimes misdiagnosed as acne. Along with the redness, there are postules (pimples) and papules (raised red bumps) that can resemble acne, hence the misdiagnosis. The problem with this is acne and rosacea are completely different, and if you are misdiagnosed, acne medications can actually make your rosacea worse due to harsh treatments and medications.

Ready for the worst part? There is no cure for rosacea. There are treatment options, but it is a chronic skin disease and can worsen over time. Lovely. The good news is you can learn to live with it- you will learn what your triggers are, you will learn what products to avoid, and you will survive, I promise. I have. There are both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic (prescription & nonprescription) treatments as well as small things you can do to help.

Remember I said to just take what I say with a grain of salt? Well that applies now when I say I was NOT happy with the pharmacologic options I was provided with. My current dermatologist is amazing in that she explains things to me, is highly knowledgeable, and provides me with samples to save me from costly prescriptions. In an effort to not taint you from an option that could work for you, I will refrain from naming the prescriptions I tried, but rather just tell you my experiences.

There are prescription creams to help with the painful burning, but guess what? They can make it worse. Yep, absolute rubbish in my opinion too. My dermatologist didn't tell me this upfront when she gave me the sample, but in a way I am glad so I could experience myself. Basically it's good if you're going to a wedding or a party where triggers like alcohol or spicy foods will be, but when it wears off after a few hours, your "flush & blush" comes back worse. I was hesitant to mention this to my dermatologist worrying she would think it was in my head, but apparently it's the number one side effect!

So where to go from here? Again, I have had 3 years or so to play around with products, find my triggers (alcohol, stress, and spicy foods) and create my own treatment plan. I have come to learn a lot which I will share including changes in diet, skincare, makeup products and techniques, and best practices, which I will link below once they're written.

If you've made it this far, I would like to share a few products that are my ride or die products, all pretty reasonably priced, and easy to access.

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Aveeno.
Favorite products: daily moisturizer, makeup removing wipes, night moisturizer

This was recommended to me on the photocopy from the original doctor, and I cannot recommend this enough. This is a drugstore brand and can be bought pretty much anywhere. Everything I have used from the ultra-calming line has been excellent, primarily the daily moisturizer, the makeup removing wipes, and the night moisturizer.

At the end of the day, after all the expensive skincare I have invested in, Aveeno has been the best product for my rosacea. Bar none.

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Avéne
Favorite products: sunscreen, thermal spring water spray, day moisturizer (it's green which counterbalances redness)

This is another excellent brand for rosacea and sensitive skin, the brand of my holy grail product, the spray. I found this through Lex, and have been slowly trying new products from the line.

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La- Roche Posay
favorite products: sunscreen and moiturizer

This is another like Avéne on the premium end of products, but an excellent product for sensitive skin.

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Bioderma
favorite product: micellaire water for removing makeup

I use the wipes from Aveeno to remove the majority of my makeup, but use this daily for eye makeup and the inevitable mascara fall down in the morning. As you can see my bottle is well loved, I am almost done it and have dropped it multiple times.

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BeautyCounter

favorite products: overnight peel, cleansing balm, nourishing line, rosewater mist

I have used a few BeautyCounter products over the years, the cleansing balm, the rose water mist, and the nourishing line, but recently began using their makeup line as well. I will have more rosacea friendly makeup posts in the future, but both the Dew Skin and the Hydrating Foundation are excellent for sensitive skin.

At this point, this post is out of control, my apologies. It's a start though, and like I said I would like to continue with rosacea points and products, etc. in an effort to share what I have learned.

Remember to talk to your doctor, but if you ever have questions, feel free to ask me. I have learned a lot over the years through trial and error, and feel passionately about skincare and beauty products!

Glossier Makeup | A Review and a Glossier Promo Code

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 16:59:00 +0000

If you follow me on instagram, you're probably sick of hearing me talk about Glossier, I get it. There's a reason though- it's just that good. I can't remember where or through whom I first heard of it, but I remember watching a bunch of British vloggers doing first impressions which inspired me to jump on the Glossier train.

What I was attracted to was a low-maintenance, easy to apply, natural looking makeup line, perfect for every day. Don't get me wrong, I also love full coverage makeup and eye palettes, and liners, and bronzers, and the list goes on...but I wanted something simple, something I could grab everyday and apply in 10 mins or less and be happy with.

My first Glossier purchase was an order of two lidstars (eyeshadow) in Cub and Fawn, Boy Brow, Jelly Cleanser, Rose Balm Dot Com, and a Glossier sweatshirt. I'll go into each below, with details and reviews. A month later purchased the blush, a mask, and sunscreen, with 2 more orders going in for more lidstar colors, another balm, the highlighter, a lipstick and lipgloss.

I photographed the sunscreen with these products as I do use it daily, but I will save that and the jelly cleanser for a Glossier skincare post separately as this is already going to be a novel of sorts in length.

In order of my application, first up, stretch concealer. Even though this is only a concealer, and meant for spot treating, I have been using it for coverage all over my face, as a foundation of sorts. I ordered the lightest shade initially, but after receiving it found it to be too light. Not to sound like Goldilocks, but upon receiving the next shade found it to be too dark. So I now combine the two, and the shade is just right.

I use my pointer and middle fingers, one with each shade on each, and dot under my eyes and all over my face to mix the two shades together. The concealer is excellent- it does an amazing job under my eyes, and more importantly my redness. It is buildable, so start with a small amount and go from there. It does have a dewy, glowing finish, it is NOT matte, so if you have oily skin, be careful with your application, or be sure to finish off with a matting powder (be careful mixing cream and powder formulas, even the most expert have issues.)

Glossier wanted the concealer to be different from other concealers that dry matte, caked, and looking like concealer. Theirs, like I mentioned is a dewy, glowing formula, your skin glows beautifully when wearing it.

Glossier does have a foundation (of sorts) called Perfecting Skin Tint, but I have not tried this due to pretty poor reviews from many people. That being said, I do see on their website that they reformulated it in June of this year, so I may try it next order and see if I like it. The main complaints were it was completely worthless- you could not see any difference once applied, even with multiple coats. So honestly, for now, save your deneros, and stick with the stretch concealer.

Next up on my face routine is the blush (Cloud Paint in Dusk) and highlighter (Haloscope in Quartz.) This was my first experience with liquid blush, and I admit I was terrified. After watching a few tutorials and instagram posts, I felt more at ease and gave it a try- it's not that bad! Again, start with a small amount- I do a small dot on one finger, and spread between pointer and middle fingers of each hand. I then dot the blush in a "c" formation above my eye brow and down to my cheeks. (I will have an IGTV post showing this which I will link when complete.) Just keep dabbing. Dab the blush back and forth with your fingers, I bring in my ring finger as well to evenly distribute. I also dab up into my hair line to achieve a bronzer effect.

The highlighter was my second experience with a cream-based (as opposed to a powder) highlighter, I accidentally ordered Becca Highlighter in cream and hated it. This is different though- it's creamy, smooth, and hydrating, with a core of moisturizers that leave your skin SO glowy. Draw a line at the top of my cheekbones, a line down my nose, and highlights on my brow bones right under the eyebrows. Make sure to dab this afterwards to blur the line of the highlighter.

Note: I rub the highlighter on my hand first to warm it up, and even with doing that first I still smear the concealer, revealing my redness underneath. If that happens, just dab your fingers again in the concealer (I use the darker shade since I've applied blush at this point) and do a bit of touch up.

The next part is my favorite, the eyeshadows called lidstar. I have four of these now, but my favorite are the two I initials ordered, (the bottom 2 in the pic above,) Cub and Fawn. Cub is the rose gold color and Fawn is the dusty taupe. I wear them alone as well as together to create a smokey eye of sorts:

Packaged in a test tube with a doe foot applicator, much like a lipgloss, the lidstar shadows are SUPER buildable- I use the applicator to swipe on a bit, then once again dab with my fingers to even out. Then go from there- add more of the same color, stick with a subtle color, or add other colors together. I really love these, and am hoping they come out in more colors, specifically wearable colors- there are a lot of barbie bright colors that (in my opinion) aren't really wearable. Then again maybe that's me as a 35 year old saying that- their marketing is aimed at 19 year olds to be honest (my only fault with them.)

Next up is the brown product (Boy Brow in Brown) and mascara (Lash Slick). If you purchase ONE item from Glossier, make it the boy brow. It IS WORTH the hype surrounding it, I honestly LOVE it and wear it every day. When I go more formal or more full face makeup I'll use a pencil to fill in my brows, but most days I throw on Boy Brow and go.

Application is super easy as the brush is like a mini mascara wand- wipe off the excess on the rim and lightly brush through your brows. Boy Brow is a pomade and available in clear as well as a few shades, thickens, fills in, and grooms your brows. The perfect trifecta.

The mascara (Lash Slick) is a DREAM. I also wear this every day, regardless of makeup, no makeup, gym, whatever. It is a lengthening fiber mascara meaning it adds fibers to your lashes to give them length- so if you're looking for a volume mascara, you will not like this. This makes your natural lashes longer, while keeping them nature looking, not spider-y, and not looking like false lashes.

Glossier said they worked on this formula over 200 times, finally perfecting it. Check out the "Beauty" section of my Instastory highlights to see my first impression and better IRL pictures.

Lips. The icing on the cake, right? I have mixed feelings about their lip products, and don't know if I'll replace any when done or try any new ones. I usually finish my look with this lipstick, which is pretty much all I've been wearing the last few weeks.

The gloss is just ehh in my opinion. It feels nice, it's not sticky, but it's just clear and shiny. This may appeal to some, just not my cuppa!

That being said, the balm dot coms are pretty good. I use the Rose more as you can see above because it's on my desk and my go-to lip product while I'm working on schoolwork, Etsy, or whatever. I do like the Cherry (a red hue) if I'm wearing Glossier and we're going somewhere casual like the movies or shopping- it's a comfortable lip and a hint of color. And when I say hint, I mean barely a hint:

But again, it feels super smooth, not sticky, pretty much like wearing vaseline. And honestly the cherry smells so good you want to eat it. The cherry and the rose (slight pink) are the only ones with a color tint, there is also birthday cake, mint, and coconut. It is meant as a body salve, so it can also be used on dry skin, elbows, knees, etc.

The lipstick, Generation G, is a ehh for me. Maybe I haven't used it enough to love it, or it's just not that great. It's meant to look like you applied lipstick, and then blotted it with a tissue- again it does go with their barely there makeup theme, I just don't love it. It's also more of a stain- the picture above took 3 swipes to achieve that color. Here's a selfie wearing it:

Overall this is an amazing brand for beginners or makeup experts, and I highly recommend it. If you are brand new to makeup and looking to get your feet wet, I recommend starting with a few pieces (listed below)- again, it's just you but enhanced. It's a natural, everyday work friendly, grocery store friendly, date friendly makeup, and super easy to grab, apply, and go. I actually keep my glossier separate from my other makeup in a bin since I use it daily:

Ok, you've made it through the post. Let's talk PRICING.

Overall, I'd say Glossier is between drug store and premier (Urban Decay, Too Faced, etc.) pricing. My picks to get you started (listed below) would run you about $120 if purchased individually, you could knock off another $15 if purchasing a few items together (they offer sets) and another 10% off that using my code below. So for just around $100 you could have a full face of makeup, which honestly is a really good price.

I'd say start with:

-Concealer ($18)
-Blush ($18)
-Highlighter ($22)--bundle with boy brow for $8 off
-Boy Brow ($16)
-Eyeshadow ($18)--if ordering 2 there's a discount
-Mascara ($16)
-Lip: Balm Dot Com ($12) or Lipstick ($18)

I'd LOVE if it you used my code and shopped with THIS LINK, you'll receive 10% off your first order!

I truly and honestly stand behind these products- I absolutely LOVE them and use them daily. I really think you'll love them too!

To see a few of my favorite full-face Glossier looks, check out my 'Beauty' highlight on my instagram profile here.

June Favorites | Self-Care Skincare & Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:00:00 +0000

Mid-May to the end of June is a very busy time for our business, so I don't have much spare time or energy to play with makeup and beauty products. That being said, I do make an effort to keep up my self care, and figured I'd show you a few of my favorites this month revolving mainly around self-care.
Remember, self-care is not selfish, taking care of yourself is extremely important and makes you more equipped to take care of others.

Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme

I've been using this creme for a few weeks now, and will most definitely be replacing it. I bought it after seeing it all over social media advertising when it was released back in the spring. It was touted to moisturize, soothe, and reduce redness, so <insert flying money emoji.> Haha.

The formula is a creme moisturizer, very light, almost fluffy in a way, with a small amount going a long way. Because of the creme consistency and the thickness of it I would recommend it as a night creme rather than a daily moisturizer due to its richness. I've been using this at night as part of my nightly beauty routine either after a mask or after washing off my makeup.

Packaging. Herbivore's packaging sucks me in every time, they have such a clean, sleek label, the products are packaged in glass, with little to take away from the beauty of the product.

You can purchase it here for $40, or here as part of a mini set for $39, and use MY LINK for 15% off your first order! The mini set of course is the best bang for your buck, I LOVE LOVE LOVE minis, gives you the opportunity to try higher end products without spending too much for a product you won't like. I use quite a few Herbivore products which I plan to share with you, so let me know if you have questions about any other products.

Fresh Rose Face Mask. This is one of my all time favorite skincare items, top 5 most definitely. I first tried this in a sample packet from Sephora and fell in love with it. Since then I have sustained my obsession living off samples due to the price of the full size, including using my points at Sephora to pick up these little babies (shown above.)

This is a top pick for a beauty item to utilize when you're stretched on time but would like an indulgent treat. It only needs to stay on your face 5-10 minutes, and it's safe to use daily! I have used up my samples, and treated myself to the full size for a self-birthday gift in May.

There are multiple ways to purchase this mask, again, minis are the way to go! You can pick up a mini size here for $25 or the full size for $62, here as part of a trio mini set for $52 (ALL their masks are fantastic, so a good choice,) or here as part of another skin care champs set for $60.

Pick up this mask- you will NOT be sorry!

I should have thought out the order of products better, because each one is getting better and better. I hope you're ready for this one, it's THAT GOOD.

Hint Sunscreen Spray SPF30. I first experienced Hint (yes, the flavored water company!) sunscreen through my Popsugar summer box 2 years ago, receiving the grapefruit scent. We left for vacation the next day and my sister in law and niece (and her friends) were obsessed with it; it did not last long. The smell is divine. You want to lick it off your arm it smells that good.

I have since picked up pineapple and pear and another grapefruit, and they all smell amazing. I thought they were originally $30+ a bottle, which was the reason I didn't replace it when we went through it in 2 days, but it's now $14.99 at Target- both online, and in stores.

Remember, sunscreen is the single most IMPORTANT thing you can do for your skin. I actually spray this on daily when I leave for the gym, as protection from the sun while driving.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I've been using this since the winter, so it's not a new product for me, but definitely an ongoing favorite. It is a leave-on sleep mask, but you can apply it anytime throughout the day. I put a layer on after brushing and flossing my teeth right before going to bed, and honestly there is not much left in the morning to wipe off. (Instructions say to wipe off excess or cleanse lips.)

It feels amazing on, a smooth balm, not sticky at all. You wake up with soft, supple lips without any plumping though. It comes with a tiny applicator, but I just use my nail (with clean hands) to grab a bit to rub on. A little goes a long way, and the $20 investment available here is worth it! Highly recommend!

Glossier Lidstar in Cub and Fawn. If you watch my instastories, I apologize- I seriously cannot shut up about Glossier products. I promise to share a more in-depth review of my Glossier favorites, but for now will share the eyeshadow products, called lidstar. They debuted during the Oscars was it? Or the Emmys? I don't remember which, but a Hollywood awards night, with multiple celebrities wearing it on the red carpet.

It is a liquid eyeshadow, but super user-friendly, and easily buildable. It has a doe foot applicator, which allows you to put on the perfect amount, which you then blend in with your fingers. I am obsessed. I bought these 2 colors first, Cub (rose gold) and Fawn (taupe,) but have since purchased Herb (smoky green) and Moon (opalescent blue.)

Here are a few iPhone selfies using both colors blended, then individually:

They're $18 each, but if you buy 2 at a time, you can save $6 here. I'd love it if you used my code for 10% off your order! Shop HERE.

I promise you, you will LOVE these eyeshadows. I have been using primarily all Glossier products the last month, they are perfect for a no-makeup, makeup look as well as for beginners. Again, I promise I will share a full post as soon as I can photograph the products!

Billie Razor and Shaving Cream (& Lotion). Ok, this is a teaser of another 'instagram made me buy it,' but it's another life changing product that I cannot have a favorites post and not include. This is life changing. SERIOUSLY. You've heard of Dollar Shave Club, this is similar yet better. I say that it's better, but I haven't tried dollar shave club, I'm just referencing reviews I've read.

What I can say is you can start at $9 for a razor and 2 blades, then choose the frequency of your replacement blades, 4 for $9 with free shipping. Yep, $2.25/blade.

Here's the best part- the razor is AMAZING. I have used the Venus Swirl razor for years, with replacement cartridges 4 for $20+. And seriously come on! It physically pains me to purchase refills blades for razors.

Ok, so I am going on and on when I need to cut this short as I will have an entire post about the brand. I did purchase the shaving cream (highly recommend!) and lotion (ehh, not so amazing) as well in my starter kit, but like I said you can start for $9 for the razor, the magnetic holder and 2 blades. My start-up cost was $29, with the shaving cream coming in at $8 and the lotion at $12.

It's the best shave I've ever had- my legs are incredibly smooth, and I swear it lasts longer than previous razors. It has aloe strips on it, and I have not cut myself, they are super smooth-shaving. KNOCK ON WOOD.) Honestly I will gush and gush about these razors- try it out for the savings, TRUST ME. I have used this about 4-5 weeks now and will never use anything else!

Shop HERE.

***

I went a little long for a favorites post, but trust me, I had to cross things off my list for next month- I've got some great stuff to share with you!

Some of the links above are referral links (Glossier, Herbivore, and Billie) which give me shop credits for future purchases if you sign up with my links.

Eye Creams 101 | LilyAna Naturals

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 16 May 2018 04:00:00 +0000

I have noticed in the last year a larger number of wrinkles under my eyes, and immediately started panicking. I started applying eye creams, which I then worried were the cause of the wrinkles, as I had never used any cream before and didn't have wrinkles. But then I realized they are a natural sign of aging, a privilege denied to many, so I will accept it and do my best not to complain.

And well, in the last 6 months, I have accumulated the eye creams above, plus 2 more. And what have I found? NO CHANGES. MORE WRINKLES. So I decided to do some research, and the growing consensus is that eye creams are a waste of money. And the more I read and learn, I have to agree. I am currently pursuing my MBA, so I am used to writing referenced papers in length, so I will do my best to cut to the core and just layout the facts, no more, no less. Yes, I am an {aspiring} beauty and skincare blogger and I have learned some very interesting facts lately about eye creams, and I am going to share them with you. And then review one.

First and foremost, as you were probably aware, the skin around our eyes is thinner and more delicate than other areas of skin, hence the wrinkles and the first areas of our faces to show age. We are all enticed to buying eye creams promised to reduce our under eye bags, ease puffiness, fade dark circles, and wipe away fine lines and wrinkles. But is that even possible or just marketing ploys?

Eye creams are just expensive, smaller jars of moisturizer. Yep, take a look at the ingredients in your moisturizer, and then compare to an eye cream. Water is the primary ingredient usually, followed by a series of other ingredients such as humectants (glycerin for example to help incorporate moisture into the surface of the skin,) and occlusives such as dimethicone or petrolatum that assist with limiting water evaporation from the skin. Emollients are added then to leave the skin feeling smooth and silky (that we as consumers CRAVE,) as well as emulsifiers so the water and oil based ingredients don't separate in the bottle. Any product containing water requires preservatives as well to prevent growth of mold and bacterias. We are told that due to the fact the skin around our eyes is more delicate, we need thicker moisturizers, so thickeners are added as well as "marketing tool" ingredients such as buzzwords caffeine, peptides or collagen, and then often fragrance.

A sample size from Tatcha, a favorite brand of mine

But then I read something else that made me think. In order for a product to advertise that it changes the actual condition of the skin, it has to be labeled a drug and FDA approved before heading to market. As such, eye creams are not drugs, but cosmetics and according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FD&C Act of 1938) which are able to claim that their product improves the appearance of skin, as most moisturizers do. If they were to say it actually changes the structure or function of the skin, then it is considered a drug and must meet FDA approval before hitting the market.

Hey, I am a fan of regulations, which apparently is becoming political anymore as well. But guess what, can you honestly say you'd trust cosmetic companies to do the "right thing" if there was no one watching? Regulations such as this are put in place for a good reason!

Ok Aim, enough conspiracy theory, I still want an eye cream. (To be honest, I will continue using them too, in an effort to get my money's worth as well as do my best to diminish the look of fine lines.)

**NOTE: Remember I said how delicate the skin under your eyes is? Guess what is NOT included in most eye creams? An SPF. So be careful- remember how delicate that skin is next time you're in the sun, can't hurt to apply a little facial SPF over your moisturizer.

So if you've made it this far, you're new to eye creams, and would like a recommendation for one, here's a good one, reasonably priced, thick and made from organic ingredients. It is not an organic product as it only contains 77% organic ingredients, but in the cosmetic and skin care industry, that's pretty rad.

My friend Jen recommended it to me, and just take a look at the reviews- is there another product on Amazon that has 4.3 stars from over 3400 reviews? I think not. The best part? It's $17.99, and if you're a Prime member, it ships for free and in 2 days. It is definitely thicker than a traditional moisturizers and I am very happy with 77% organic ingredients. The only problem is a lot comes out at once, so you have to learn to maneuver the spout to control the flow. Jen said she uses the extra on her boyfriend, which is actually a very good idea!

So did I just confuse the life out of you? Do you even know what to do with yourself when it comes to eye creams? It's ok, I did it to myself as well. They say knowledge is power, but then again they say ignorance is bliss, so which is it? I want to know what I am putting on my body, but then what do you do when you know??

Regardless, I will continue to use this eye cream and the others photographed below, L to R: Beauty Counter Nourishing Eye Cream, Tatcha Deep Hydration Eye Serum, Olehenriksen Banana Eye Cream, and our Amazon favorite.

I'll let you know if they rewind back the clock a few years or just fool me into thinking I am.

{Sources & Additional Reading Materials}

FryFace Blog- excellent resource, written by a board certified dermatologist revealing the truth behind beauty & skincare products. Her article with Readers Digest is what sucked me in.

USDA- Regulations and requirements for Cosmetics, Body Care Products, and Personal Care Products

HERE are some natural ways to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles (I will attest to cucumber slices, I LOVE them!)

Instagram Made Me Buy It : Care/Of Vitamins | Review & Care/Of Promo Coupon Code

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 +0000

I figured it was about time to talk about some of my favorite new brands that I've found through marketing campaigns primarily on instagram and facebook. I was having lunch with a schoolfriend and we were talking about all the products we've bought from instagram marketing, and I had the idea to make it into a series, because honestly there are that many products. And she ended up referring me to another, should be delivered Saturday.

I cannot remember the blogger that shared the initial review of Care/Of, but upon seeing her picture and reading her blog post, I immediately signed up.

Care/Of is a personalized daily vitamin delivery system, mailed to you monthly and based off your preferences and needs. Upon signing up, you take a little quiz where they ask you what it is you're looking for help with such as stress level, healthy bones, healthy brain, heart, or more energy. They will then create a pack for you based off your answers, which can be changed later.

My initial pack contained Fish Oils ( I don't eat enough fish,) and 2 supplements for stress- MUCH needed at that time with working full time and going to grad school full time. I have since fine tuned my pack to a B Complex, Fish Oil (2 capsules,) and Calcium Plus (2 capsules, the plus includes vitamin D and vitamin K.) They recommend a certain number of capsules, but if it's too much, you can adjust it to your liking. For example, they recommended 3 Calcium capsules, but I take 2 now. I will be adding Tumeric back in as soon as it's in stock, hoping it will help with my chronic back pain, and for overall joint health.

I am currently on my 4th month of vitamins. Side note, you can push back your box if you keep forgetting to take your vitamins, take it from me. And seriously, the cute factor is what sold me:

I am looking forward to changing a few things up- I also take Hair Skin and Nails (biotin) gummies, a probiotic, enzymes (gallbladder or lack of, assistance) and up until this week, vitamin D. I had read vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, and as I avidly avoid the sun, an extra boost especially in the winter. Having learned this week, it's actually included in this calcium pill from Care/Of.

As you can see, you receive a tall box with a month's supply of vitamins, each packaged in an easy-rip baggie with "Hello, Amy" and a cute saying or fact on it. Again, cute factor. Love it!

They have an app. Millenials REJOICE! Well, anyone else too who is obsessed with apps. The app was a welcome addition, with things like fun facts, the ability to set automatic reminders, access to your pack, and the best part- A TRACKER. Once you take your pills each day, go into the app and touch the large circle at the bottom, "vitamins, check." A little party appears on your screen, and you clock in another pack of pills. Throughout taking and logging your vitamins, there are achievements you can unlock, free vitamins, free packs, referrals for friends:

PRICING

I pay $32/month for 5 pills, which I do not think is super unreasonable. If I take my vitamins everyday and log it in the app, I'm guaranteed a few free packs over the course of a month or so, plus honestly between the calcium plus and the fish oil, I am close to retail price.

REFERRAL LINK

So if you're interested in joining or trying out Care/Of, I'd LOVE it if you used my link! I get $10 for everyone who signs up (yay new referral program!) and YOU GET $40 OFF YOUR FIRST BOX. Yep, $40. Keep it at or under, and it's free, what's there to lose?

Click HERE to purchase your first month of vitamins for $40 off!

What vitamins and/or supplements are you currently taking?

My Lipgloss is Poppin' | Universally Flattering Fenty Glow Lipgloss

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Mon, 07 May 2018 04:00:00 +0000

In the event you did not know, Rhianna launched a beauty line called Fenty this past fall, and it's actually really good. I say really, because you know as well as I do, when celebrities jump into something and slap their name on it, quality is usually lacking.
Now, I will say this is one of three products that I even have from the line, the others being the red lipstick and the primer which are both still in my untried box. Aside from my limited hands on experience, I have heard many great things.

I didn't know I needed this lipgloss until I saw Gabriella review it here, not having seen anyone else review it. (Skip to 6:40 to hear her impressions of the lipstick.) The full name of the product is Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, with the (only) color name Fenty Glow, a shimmering rose nude.

There is only one color, as it is meant as a universal, "unicorn of nudes that looks good on everyone." (Sephora). It has a large doe-foot applicator, which I found to like, but may be a hinderance if you have thinner lips. That is the only potential draw back I can see, it is a gorgeous nude, it smells amazing (peach and vanilla, also reminds me of pink starbursts,) the packaging is stellar, it has lasting power, and most importantly? It's a gloss that IS NOT STICKY.

Yep, you read that correctly- it's not sticky. Now it's not dry or creamy, it definitely still feels like you're wearing a gloss, but it has shea butter in it which feels exceptionally nice on your lips. You can wear it alone or layer it over a lipstick. I personally use a light layer of my OG balm Fresh Lip Treatment.

DETAILS

-Purchase from Sephora here for $18, from Fenty Beauty here for $18, or a MINI SET here for $22 including a mini Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I'm very happy with it, the color is a slight difference than my normal color, so it just enhances my natural lips. It feels really nice for a lipgloss as I said earlier, and it's an excellent color to keep around for more cool toned makeup days. $18 is a pretty median price for a lipgloss, and while it may seem steep to some, at this time, how many crappy, unused lip balms are sitting in your makeup unused?? I personally am trying to focus more on quality purchases which I will actually use.

Have you tried anything from the Fenty line that I need in my life?

Glow Recipe | Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask & Pink Juice Moisturizer | An Honest Review

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:25:00 +0000

There has been serious hype surrounding these products, and to be honest, rightly so. The mask was first on the scene, followed up by the moisturizer. The mask is a sleeping mask,
meant to be applied at night before bed, as the last step in your skincare routine (after washing and moisturizing,) then washed off thoroughly in the morning. OR, if you have sensitive skin like in my case, apply it more like a traditional mask, for 10 minutes, washing residue off immediately.

I have tested the waters, leaving it on for 20-30 minutes, with no repercussions to speak of, but I recommend if you have sensitive skin (AS WITH EVERYTHING) to do a patch test, or to keep it on the recommended 10 minutes.

The consistency is a jelly formula, as Sephora describe it, a gelatinous, gel-like texture that does require mixing prior to use. It is formulated with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which increases your skin's sensitivity to sun, so use precaution with sun exposure after using. AHAs work to clear dead skin cells as well as binding moisture to the skin for prolonged length. The mask is described as a facial-in-a-jar, and they are correct. Your skin feels immediately softer and more supple, lasting all night and into the next morning, even with just the 10 minute- sensitive skin application.

The moisturizer- ehh- nothing really to write home about. I do like applying it after the mask, and it does leave a light, moisturized, SUPER SOFT skin feel, but will I replace it when it's done? Probably not. It is lightweight, and after reading more on it, would consider it more of a serum to be applied under your daily moisturizer rather than a full on moisturizer. I would definitely say if you have dry skin to use this as a serum, I believe this could be of assistance.

Glow Recipe recommends using the moisturizer in the morning, the mask at night. The moisturizer is also a gel-like texture, and sold me with the words "soothing and cooling." I am a sucker for anything that promises soothing and cooling as I suffer from rosacea, but this didn't exactly offer what I thought.

Purchasing/Pricing

-Sephora offers the mask HERE for $45 for the full 2.7oz size, and HERE for a 1oz mini size for $22.

-Sephora offers the moisturizer HERE for $39 for the full size 2oz.

-BEST OFFER: Sephora offers a mini set of both HERE for $45, with a 2.03oz moisturizer and 1oz mask. The moisturizer is the full size in this kit, and valued at $39, you're paying $6 for the mini mask as opposed to the $22 price tag above.

Overall Thoughts

-THE SMELL: I should have started the post with this, because it's the best part of these products. The watermelon smell is amazing, fresh, and makes you crave watermelon jolly ranchers upon sniffing.

-THE PACKAGING: Gorgeous, stunning, brilliant. The packaging receives an A from me- the clean, simple label, the blush pink color of the product, and the mis-shapen glass jars all add to the charm of the product.

-EASE OF USE: very easy to use, proceed with patch test or shortened mask time with sensitive skin. Pump on the moisturizer is an excellent addition, allowing only the required amount to be disbursed.

-This would make an EXCELLENT gift- the presentation is outstanding, and the smell is pure bliss.

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts?

Spring | FabFitFun

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 04:00:00 +0000

This is the only box you need. Buy it right now. I rave all the time about my PopSugar subscription, but my true favorite is FabFitFun, I really wish it was once a month rather than once a quarter.
The fact that it's seasonal does in the very least make it more affordable, averaging out to $16.66/month.

If you have been under a rock recently when it comes to social media and have not heard of FabFitFun, it is a seasonal box featuring home goods, makeup, fitness, food, and jewelry items. I say under a rock because FFF is promoted by celebrities like NONSTOP.

Here's what I got in the Spring Box:

Left to Right: dr. brandt exfoliator- I will be passing this on as my skin will freak out if I use this, Briogio restoring milk conditioning spray (hmm, torn?), Deborah Lippmann nail polishes (x2,) and a lip kit!

This lip kit. The little inspirational sayings on them are just darling aren't they? I cannot wait to try these out- stay tuned, I'll let you know how their quality is.

And now my favorite part:

I actually received another one (Haute Mess,) but RAN to Poshmark to find these two- I mean come on, how perfect?!?! They are lined- perfect for keeping valuables safe on the beach or at the pool, and bonus- since they are lined they can hold a wet bathing suit!

I also received a set of rose gold earrings, valued at $85! I absolutely am obsessed with ear climbers recently and they're rose gold.

It was getting dark when I was taking these pictures, so I apologize for the clarity, but trust me they're stunning.

Next up? A box of masks:

I've never tried this brand of masks, but I am obsessed with masks, and cannot wait to try these out.

I'm not done, there's more. I know, it's absolutely CRAZY what you get for the $50:

I was a little underwhelmed with this. I haven't opened it yet because I don't know if I am planning on keeping it. It unfolds into a giant circle picnic-like blanket with tassels around the edge. It's a gorgeous print, its just made from a super thin material. About a year ago PopSugar provided a similar item that was a Terry cloth towel- same size but a thick towel which I think is more practical. Gorgeous though, and valued at $50! You can shop the different designs HERE for $35/each on sale.

In addition to everything above, FFF also threw in Hair Skin and Nails gummy vitamins and a sample of Burt's Bees new protein shakes.

So, what do you think? Impressive, right?

If you would like to sign up, CLICK HERE for $10 off your first box!

Product Love | BeautyCounter Cleansing Balm

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Since entering my 30's, I have been trying to be more vigilant with the level of toxic chemicals I am putting in and on my body. This has become an expensive struggle, constantly trying more and more organic and natural products, all in the effort to minimize what I am consuming.
I have a history of cancer in my family, and considering I have had 2 growths removed from my body by age 31, I am hyper-sensitive at this point. I know there are genetics that I cannot avoid when it comes to the big C word, but I am determined to do what I can to prevent any other ways it can infiltrate my body.

When it comes to beauty products, it gets expensive. And frustrating. Much like other products, natural and organic beauty products do not stand up to the quality of others- those tested on animals, those with harmful and toxic ingredients in them. This is beyond frustrating, considering the ticket price on these items can be twice, if not three to four times the price. Enter BeautyCounter.

I found this brand thru my PopSugar subscription over a year ago in my monthly MustHave box. Only upon researching it to repurchase did I find out it is a direct sales company- not that it's a bad thing, just figured I'd point that out. Once I found that out, I reached out to my friend Andrea of Howe We Live to talk more about their products.

Before I dive into the benefits and details of the products, let me chat with you about BeautyCounter's mission and goals. This is an amazing company, and the more I read and learn about them, the more I'm intrigued and motivated to support them.

*Edit: I recently became a consultant with BeautyCounter as I am in love with their products, their mission, and the fact that they are a high-scoring B Corporation*

From what Beauty Counter states on their websites and promotions, there have been no federal laws passed in the United States to regulate ingredients in personal care products since 1938. OMG WTH, right? Upon doing a little research for this post, I found countless studies conducted over the years of the harmful effects toxic chemicals we imbibe, inhale, or topically apply to our bodies are doing to us- there are rises in infertility, cancer, asthma, and other ailments as a result of it. This terrifies me and keeps me up at night, hence the efforts I take to limit reduced fat, fat free, formaldehyde, etc in products.

Take time from your day and watch the first 2 minutes of this video- you'll be hooked too. You can watch longer than 2 minutes, but the first 2 minutes are the meat of what BeautyCounter promotes.

The consistency of this product is that of coconut oil at room temperature, melting slightly when you rub it between your fingers. When you apply it, you are to rub it in, melting it more with your body temperature. Applied directly on dry skin and without water, this gives a refreshing, moisturizing feeling as you gently massage into your forehead, cheeks and eyebrows. The balm comes with a muslin cleaning cloth which you wet with as hot a temperature of water that you can stand to wipe off, followed by a wiping down with the same cloth in cold water. The hot water will open up your pores, while the cold will close them ones they are cleaned and have soaked up the nutrients in this balm.

As you can see, my PopSugar container is an empty- I replaced this about a month ago thru BeautyCounter's website. The cost is a little steep at $80 for 2.75oz, but this container will probably last me at least a year. I only use this to wash off my makeup which I wear about 1-2 times a week, and maybe an additional time during the week. So twice a week makes 104 times a year, at an almond size application, I'm thinking at least a year, right? They recommend using it nightly, but I have other rosacea products I prefer to use.

Speaking of rosacea, this IS friendly for those of us rosey-cheeked girls as well as sensitive skin. Of course I am not a dermatologist and not speak to your individual needs, but as someone who suffers from redness from rosacea, this product does not irritate those issues at all.

This picture above shows the products I use in my daily life from BeautyCounter, posts to come in more depth for the Nourishing Night Eye Cream, Rose Mist, Lip balm, as well as this special edition for Valentine's Day, 2 months late is better than never at all:

Again, these opinions are 100% my own, this is not a sponsored post- I just want to tell you how amazing this product is. Feel free to reach out to me anytime or just go purchase the cleansing balm HERE

Have you tried any BeautyCounter products? Any you think I should try?

Health & Wellness Vol. II

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

On my current to-read list...

My first Health & Wellness update was on January 9th...yikes. Needless to say, I've slipped in that department, fallen off the wagon and rolled down hill a few miles. Time to rectify that immediately.

There were ~~reasons~~ excuses why I gave up- my knees started bothering me from tennis, a busy season in our Etsy shop we were not expecting, stressful weeks at work...I could go on, but these are all issues of life, and issues I need to overcome and not let affect my eating and activity plans.

I'll start off with my meal plan for the week, then follow with activity and wellness goals. I use a notebook that I received in a you-guessed-it PopSugar box a few years back, which I have since scoured eBay for and repurchased. I list out the meals by day, but it's just to get a food shopping list prepared, these meals and their order are always subject to change.

HF= Hello Fresh. When we're in the middle of a busy season for the shop, we find ourselves eating out more which adds up, not to mention is detrimental to our energy and health. I've blogged about my love for Hello Fresh in this post, and plan on a more comprehensive post comparing and contrasting multiple boxes in the coming future. Hello Fresh is definitely my favorite- for $69/week we get 3 meals for the two of us that are simple, healthy, and overall delicious. I will admit there are a few recipes I get skeptical about, but I trust the recipe and 99% of the time they turn out amazing.

Use THIS LINK for $40 off your first box- if you get the box we do, it's $30 for 3 meals, definitely worth the try! We receive our 3 meals on Wednesday, but Monday's meal will be a leftover from the previous week. This is way cheaper and healthier than eating out, and only requires me to cook 1-2 meals a week depending on our schedule.

I'm trying a new recipe for oatmeal this week- it serves four, so I may quarter it in the event I hate it. It's from Cooking Light, and it's called Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl. It involves soaking steel oats overnight in almond milk, adding blackberries, oranges, grapefruit, and granola to the top. I'm skeptical, but I'm always looking to spice up my oatmeal. My favorite oatmeal of choice is below, varying the flavors and usually adding almonds, raisins, or an apple to it. Very good, and very convenient. I'm in need of some good oatmeal recipes, so if you have one- pass it along!

Lunches are pretty standard- half turkey sandwich with a slice of Swiss, lettuce, tomato, and a smidge of mayonnaise with veggies cut up on the side, sometimes with popcorn. Another regular in the rotation is a bowl of veggies, pita, feta, and hummus. I have cut it down to half a pita since this photo:

I already drink on average 64oz of water a day- it's easy for me, I prefer it over soda or any sugary drinks, plus I need to drink a substantial amount with a current prescription I am on. My goal is to get that up to 80- I work from home, so there's no reason I shouldn't be able to get that in- there's a bathroom across the hall from my office for crying out loud.

Activity

I wish this was me on the daily- this pic is from Emerald Isle last summer and I look at it all the time wishing I lived in a neighborhood that was bicycle friendly! Of course that's a ridiculous reason not to ride- I could take my March work commission, buy us 2 bikes and a bike rack, and drive somewhere to bike. I think this summer this will happen.

It's going to remain pleasant here in VA for a hot minute, so we need to get back out walking before it becomes unbearably hot. Working from home affords us a bit more time to walk before work, over lunch, or even afterwards. I work a pretty stressful job, so mentally afterward I am usually tired and not able to do the usual 3 miles, so we try to walk before work or over my lunch break.

Goal is 4-5 days a week. Raining? We have a universal gym membership with one of the gyms 2 minutes from the house. No excuses.

Wellness

This is just as important as diet and exercise, so this will continue to be a routine for me. This includes face masks, manicures, reading, and daily cups of tea.

Oh and maybe self care this week will include picking up new Stella & Dot summer pieces on Tuesday. And by maybe I mean definitely.

What are your health and wellness goals for the week?

PopSugar February Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 05:00:00 +0000

I better share this before February is over, right? Then again, if I share it March 1st, I won't spoil it for anyone waiting on their box, right?

I've been getting the PopSugar Must Have Box for a few years now,
I think it's actually over 5 at this point! I will be honest, the quality is gradually declining as time goes on, but doesn't everything really? I know I have extremely high standards and I'm frequently disappointed due to these expectations, but recently the boxes haven't wowed me. Over the years I have found so many amazing products and brands, which keeps me subscribing and coming back every month.

They do offer special edition boxes ( I think) four times a year, which I have found myself looking forward to more than the monthly box. They are more expensive at $100/box, but they feel more like the original boxes did- bigger, substantial products, a bigger bang for your buck.

This box is valued at $223, and I have to be honest- not one product wowed me. I'll show a bit of the products below, describe them a bit, then tell you my favorite piece from the box.

Tribe Alive Folder-Over Pouch ($98) This is quite a nice clutch, I just don't think it's my style. It's a little too bohemian for me, if that makes sense? There is a good back story, with each bag being woven by hand and supporting impoverished women, providing safe working environments for them. This will go into the eBay bin, in an effort to be realistic and only keep things I'll actually use.

Battington Lashes & Glue ($28) Silk eyelashes that brag they can be used up to 25 times. This intrigues me, and I will report back! They are definitely natural looking which I like- a little bit of drama, but low key enough for every day.

Kris Nations Love Necklace ($48) I have a silver similar version of this necklace which has seen quite some use over the years. This is very tiny, definitely a very delicate necklace, but I will be keeping this to wear. Did you know statement earrings are coming back? This is perfect to pair with a pair of amazing Stella & Dot earrings, just saying...

Chuao Cinnamon Cereal Chocolate Bar ($6) This was super disappointing. You can't taste the cinnamon cereal at all- just tastes like an off market brand of a Hershey Krackle bar. I ate 2 small squares and threw the rest out.

Juara CandlenutBody Creme ($35) I wanted to love this. I need a new rich-creme lotion, but I just don't love the scent. Maybe after trying for 5 minutes to get it open I should have take the hint that it wasn't meant to be. It's definitely a thick creme lotion, very rich, and very hydrating. Just a little strong on the perfume! This will go in my giveaway box-- seriously, come visit me, I have bins of goodies!

Revlon Love is on Lipstick ($8) This is a gorgeous red lipstick, but I don't need another red lipstick, so this is going in the bay bin as well.

So, favorite part? I'd say the lashes. I'll give them a try this weekend and post on Instagram Stories my thoughts on them!

Another month goes by hoping next month will be better. Sigh.... Oh, and I prepaid for a few months, so no canceling for awhile. Popsugar is $40/month, keep your eye out for sales though! Black Friday/Cyber Weekend I was able to pick up 6 months, averaging $19/box- definitely an amazing deal! Makes for a good gift too.

So I don't end this post completely in the dumps, here's my favorite product from January, it's tea, are you surprised?!?!

via

Currently

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

The Clock Tower, Staunton VA

I absolutely love reading currently posts on other blogs or watching vlogs on this topic. It's a great way to find new shows, books, products, recipes, etc and a way to interact more on topics normally not discussed or as often.

For awhile I debated combining this with a Favorites post, but figured I'd keep that separate. I try to use products a few times before labeling them a favorite, it's easy in blogging/vlogging to label everything as a favorite, and it's hard to see the true opinions of the writers. I do not rely on the blog for income, it is purely a hobby, so I will be as transparent as I'd like when it comes to my opinions on products.

I would like to have some cool graphic I designed in Illustrator or Photoshop to express all these in a creative, streamlined picture, but for now a list works!

WATCHING
-The Crown, Netflix. Among a few other ongoing shows I watch, I've been enthralled with The Crown. Did you know that this week the queen celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee, celebrating 65 years on the throne, becoming the first British monarch to sit on the throne for 65 years? That is incredible and just astounding. Now I need to finish watching this series. I am dragging it out to savor every episode- so many shows I rush thru and binge watch, then find myself in a show hole. Maybe tomorrow night I'll create some ambiance in my office with lights, candles, a blanket, and watch an episode with a cup of tea. *Have I mentioned I'm a massive anglophile?!*

READING
-The Quiche of Death, M.C. Beaton. My mother in law, my fellow murder-mystery enthusiast, found this AcornTV series in their catalog, pointing it out to me back in October. Well, on the way home from dinner that night I ordered it on DVD thru amazon. I have since binge watched Series 1, and found myself in said show hole. For now the fan group on Facebook and the books are tiding me over. Only downside? Books are nothing like the show, so I'm having to re-picuture every character!

DRINKING
That big ass cup of tea above, didn't you catch that hint? That cup is just absolute perfection, and is my current favorite tea cup. I bought it for myself Christmas Eve, sitting beside a pool, at the beach, hand in hand with my husband, feeling sorry for myself. I know, pathetic. I'm working on dealing with holidays and expectations, and loneliness, and rejection...yada yada yada. This tea cup reminds me of the occasion and setting when I bought it, but in a good way. I have an amazing life and need to remember that daily- especially when sipping Black Currant tea and nibbling on Cranberry Almond thins from Aldi. Here's another shot:

EXCITED
I'm super excited to start sharing videos on here and Youtube- well, maybe equal parts excited and terrified. I have filmed 2 get ready with me (GRWM) videos and need to hurry up and edit them so I can post them and not chicken out. I haven't really decided what else to film yet, maybe hauls, vlogs, ??? I seriously don't know yet. What I do know is I have a ton of fun filming them, so hopefully you'll like them as much as I do!

FOOD
I have never been a fan of avocados, but have been trying them different ways recently in an effort to get us to eat more healthy fats. I've been making a simple guacamole recipe that I don't love, chopping them up over salads or rice bowls, and actually that's about it.

Chicken Fajita Salad with Cheddar and Greek Yogurt

I tried avocado toast over a year ago and hated it. Maybe I'll try it again now that I've eaten it more? I have been craving an egg salad sandwich recently, and upon grabbing this cookbook to flip thru this past weekend while meal planning, I flipped to a recipe for egg salad with avocado and pickled celery. That to me sounds divine and I cannot wait to report back.

OBSESSING
This nail polish. OMFG. I just can't. I literally cannot. This is Alysha from Julep Maven, and it's in the top 10 polishes of my life. That is not trick photography, that's what it looks like in direct sunlight. I also picked up a nude and a cobalt blue holo the same month and cannot wait to use them now as well!

What are you currently reading? I have 20+ books on my kindle in queue to be read, but I'll always take a recommendation!

BareMinerals Dirty Detox Mud Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

During the Super Bowl, or just Sunday night as it was called in my house, I had 15-20 minutes to kill until it was time to get a ham out of the oven. I had been meaning to talk more about my love for this mud mask for awhile now,
and I was finally able to get some good pictures in the other day. So I popped it on again and was mindful of all the lovely details.

I am very hesitant when it comes to products I use on my face due to my *extremely* sensitive skin. Although I'm overly cautious, I also like to promote self-care, and well let's face it, FORCE myself to relax. That's pretty much what a mud mask is, isn't it? Or any mask for that matter. You try not to smile, laugh, cry or frown, so you lay as still as you can. Turn on Pandora spa radio, dim the lights, burn some candles and voila at-home spa.

I decided to give this mud mask a try, as I can use most, if not all BareMinerals products, and trust them to be easy-going on my skin. I did purchase the additional brush and cloth kit ($18) and I am very happy I did. The brush is contoured perfectly, and allows you to get an even distribution and around eyes and your mouth with ease.

The mud mask itself is green in color, silky smooth, and smells divine, with hints of bergamot and eucalyptus. The mask itself contained 4 mineral-rich clays, charcoal, and papaya enzyme for a "fresh and ridiculously healthy looking glow (bareminerals.com)"

Immediately upon application, I had a cooling sensation, partly I'm sure due to the temperature of the product, but it was a refreshing, soothing experience. It took all of 2-3 minutes to paint my entire face, then I left it on as the instructions say, 10-15 mins.

You may notice two different outfits- pajamas and my Eagles sweatshirt.... I'm using pictures from my first experience using it and my most recent.

While wearing it, my skin does feel tight and taunt, as to be expected when wearing a mud mask and it is drying. What I do like is that even when wearing it, I can smile and laugh- see photos below...smiling caused wrinkling, but no cracks!

When it's time to remove the mask, all you need is a wash cloth and warm water. Again, I purchased the add on brush and washcloth kit, which contains a black, waffle-textured cloth. The mask itself wipes right off, first swipe shown here:

Wipe, rinse, wipe, rinse, wipe rinse. Done!

I do want to add- in the picture where it's in the process of being wiped off, my skin is slightly red, but only because of the temperature of the water and my sensitive skin. Once it has a second to cool down, my skin is even colored. And feels divine. Soft, nourished, hydrated, and refreshed. No, seriously it does. This stuff isn't 5 stars on every site for no reason!

I did not immediately put on lotion as I wanted to experience all the benefits of the mask. About an hour later I threw on some of my night cream from Beauty Counter to ensure hydration overnight.

Now, here's the bad news. It's AH-MAZING, so it's sold out like everywhere. It retails for $35 on their site, and you can sign up to be notified when it comes back in stock. I bought mine awhile ago on Ulta or Sephora, and will be replacing it when I run out. This is definitely a keeper!

Side note- please, please, PLEASE be careful when using masks. Please spend the extra money, read reviews, ask friends (OR ME!!) for referrals for safe ones, because there are some toxic masks out there. I know I am overly cautious and super hesitant to try most non name brand products, but it's usually for a reason. My sweet friend Jen just this week used a black mask, and the results were catastrophic- we're talking not able to be removed, horrible reaction, and red, puffy, irritated skin 24 hours later. PLEASE be careful my sweet friends!

Do you have a favorite mud mask? Do you prefer sheet masks?

A Self-Imposed No Buy

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

August 2012 I had my first self-imposed no-buy, I survived to tell about it, and haven't been able to stick to one again since.
FOR SHAME. Over 4 years I have bought what I want, when I want, and WTF enough is enough. My sweet blogging friend Elizabeth over at Cheers Elizabeth has inspired me to join along with her for the month, stop by and say hello!

I'm writing this on the 3rd, and it will go live on the 6th, but I did start on February 1st! Trust me, I binge shopped an Ulta and a Sephora order around 10:30pm on the 31st of January, but tightened the belt on the first.

I define my no-buy as any extraneous spending over my monthly "allowance" of spending cash. I haven't decided if I want to disclose what that amount is, but for now I'll say $XXX amount. I have already spent some of my allowance on my favorite subscription services, which I will break down below. Some of my subscriptions will come out of the house fund, but majority of them will come from my allowance. As will the pedicure I thoroughly enjoyed tonight after work. ($35)

I definitely have my fair share of subscription services, I've listed them below.

Monthly Subscriptions:

ipsy ($10) I've talked about ipsy a lot, and definitely given out my fair share of free bags to try<<enabler alert: let me know if you'd like a free bag to try.>> This will be my last month of ipsy- I don't even really LOVE any products I receive, and frankly I'm kinda over the sample sizes. (I really wish I would have canceled before the no-buy, but that's ok!)
Boxycharm ($21) LOVE this box- full sizes, amazing products, and without a doubt worth the price.
Glossybox ($16) This is usually $21/month but I tried it out on a coupon code. I haven't decided my thoughts on this one yet- the last 2 months I got were excellent, but do I need another subscription beauty box? This is the last month at a reduced rate, so time to decide.
Julep Maven ($21) I do love that with Julep we get to see what's in the box before ordering it, and most months I just skip out of meh-ness. I did pick up an AMAZING purple holo, and some gorgeous oil slicks recently, but I'd say in the last 12 months, I've ordered maybe 3 times. February was NOT one of those, so this will not come out of my budget.
PopSugar ($20) This is normally $39.95, but Thanksgiving weekend they ran a special offering $100 off a 6 month subscription, making it $19.12/month for 6 months, I couldn't pass it up! I have been debating cancelling this box- they're not as good as they used to be, and I keep hoping they'll redeem themselves the next month. I still have 3 more months at this reduced rate, so I have time to make up my mind.
FabFitFun ($16.67/month) This is a quarterly box rather than a monthly, but I figured I'd add it to my monthly budget. Quarterly price is $49.99. This is an excellent box- what Popsugar USED to be. Comes with a great variety of products- I'll share a box soon I promise!
Texture ($5) Have an iPad? YOU NEED this app. I used to have a TON of magazine print subscriptions, then I found Texture, which is hundreds of magazines for a monthly charge. It's normally $9.99/month for Basic Membership and $14.99 to make it Premium- which adds People, USWeekly, Time, etc. Definitely worth checking out. Send me your email and I'll send you a coupon code- they don't have a referral code/link.
Plum Deluxe ($16) This is an organic loose tea subscription, and this comes out of the house fund. I drink water, 1-2 cups of brewed coffee, and a pot of tea a day. I LOVE tea.

All told, $88.67 in subscriptions. Yikes. And to be honest, I have a few months' worth sitting in my closet untouched. In my defense, I do only open and use products I know I'll like, everything else gets boxed up and sold on eBay in lots. I sell about 1 lot a month for $50, which brings the monthly subscriptions cost down to $38.67, much more manageable!

The second part of this no-buy is to sell $500 worth of excess STUFF and put it on debt. This includes subscription items/lots, planners and planner supplies, clothes on postmark, eBay, and Facebook sales. Oh, and I guess Stella & Dot. (This isn't realistic as any profit made from trunk shows is donated to a charity of the hostess' choice, but any outside internet sales will count.) Anything I raise OVER this, will go towards my allowance this month or next.

There are some caveats to this plan that I will deal with along the way. One such hiccup is my monthly work bonus. This is commission more than a bonus per se, with 100% of the bonus at my discretion. This month it will go on debt 100%. Or be invested into my Etsy shop.

So, who's with me? It's not too late to start! Let's close our wallets and put a little more away in savings together. I will be blogging about this along the way, and will summarize my experience on March 1st.

Health & Wellness Vol. I

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

I sat down to meal plan today, and about 3 minutes in, I put everything down and went to Instagram to scroll because I was SUPER overwhelmed. I'll explain.

I have decided in the last week, to ensure I eat a vegetarian, plant-based meal for lunch each day during the week, in a general effort to continue my health journey. I LOVED the documentary on Netflix Forks Over Knives, and bought their cookbook and inaugural magazine in the past week. When I started reading the magazine today, I was interested to see some amazing, yet terrifying statistics regarding cancer and heart disease and efforts to prevent certain types of cancers. Then it started getting overwhelming. I know we should be limiting our red meat intake, as well as processed meats such as sausage, ham, and of course bacon- ok, got it. 50g of that kind of meat increased colorectal cancer by 18%. Sweet Jesus. OK, I'll limit bacon to Saturday morning breakfasts, eat Turkey sandwiches, and limit the Italian sausage to bi-monthly.

Next up? OILS. The magazine went on to say how olive oils, coconut oil, and other oils are so processed, everything of value has been stripped, leaving them a calorie dense food, pretty much guaranteeing you to gain weight. Hmm, ok. So at this time I am not attempting a plant-based diet, but that definitely is not good. I sautè my omelette vegetables for breakfast in olive oil. I roast my vegetables in olive oil. I cook EVERYTHING in olive oil. Now what?!?

This was really conflicting information- I have tried Weight Watchers in the past, as well as LA Weightloss, both of which claim oil as a healthy fat, reminding you to have a tsp a day outside of what is in foods naturally or from cooking. Now it's harmful and could be responsible for potential gains?

I'm so in over my head. Every where I look (read,) there is conflicting information and I'm so frustrated. I'm trying to do the right thing- eat as healthy as I can, yet what one nutritionist is telling you is ok, another is telling you is harmful. WTF. So, after eating a processed lemon biscotti bar and drinking a cup of Peach Cobbler tea, I thought rationally about this and decided to continue as I have been- just doing my best to ensure my health and wellbeing. Trying new recipes, trying to cut out all the bad and incorporate more of the good. Take it one day, one meal at a time.

I am taking a page from Franish and I will be sharing my weekly meal plan and workout plan with you each week- this will keep me accountable, and if you're like me, you like seeing what other people are eating and doing to stay healthy!

Meals-Plan

Breakfasts- rotate out 2 eggs over easy with Dave's Killer Bread, turkey bacon, and grape tomatoes, oatmeal with apples, raisins, and pecans, Siggy vanilla yogurt with fruit, or egg whites with sautéed veggies. I have decided 2 days a week to have a cup of English Breakfast tea, and 3 days a week to have coffee. Coffee I only add half & half, tea I add a splash of whole milk.

Lunches- my favorite thing to make for lunches is hearty salads. It's a quick way to get vegetables in, and they are SO versatile! My absolute favorite is a Zoe's copy cat Greek Salad, but honestly most days I heat up leftovers from dinner the night before and throw it over a bed of mixed greens, peppers, onion, tomato, and assorted veggies. I am interested in throwing in a few different vegetables that I don't always use- like beefing up the salads with purple cabbage, snow peas, and shredded carrots.

Dinners- We did stop our boxed meals, so I am back to meal planning, hence my beginning rant. Meals planned for this week:

-Sheet Pan Chicken & Roasted Potatoes (Cooking Light Top Rated Recipes)
-Crock Pot Meat Sauce over Spaghetti Squash (my recipe)
-Remaining Plated Meal (Chicken and Roasted Tomato Caesar Salad)
-Leftovers
-Out

Fitness- I started up playing tennis again, which is fitness that doesn't feel like fitness because it's fun. I like to spice up my fitness routine for boredom sake as well as not becoming too complacent and doing the same workout over and over. Fitness plan this week:

-Tennis, 90 mins, 2 Days
-At home walking/HIIT DVD, 45 mins, 2 days
-Yoga 1-2 days, depending on class or doing it at home thru Cody

Wellness- I NEED to do better with getting my water in. It's literally all I drink during the day besides my cup of coffee in the morning and my cup of tea after lunch, but I am not getting enough it. This week I will start with 64oz, and go from there.

For the past few months, I start my day with a cup of warm lemon water- there are a plethora of benefits to this, but mainly I like that it cuts down on bloat, gets a cup of water in, and kind of eases me into the day.

I will also be concentrating on getting to bed earlier- I stay up WAY too late and then pay for it the next day.

That's my plan this week- what about you? Any new recipes or workouts I need to try?

BoxyCharm: October (I Think)

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Father's Day and Christmas are our busy season, and I pretty much lose myself for a few weeks. So when I say I think this is October's box, I honestly don't know. I may go do some research on the Google to rectify this, but do you care if it's the wrong month?

BoxyCharm has quickly become my favorite makeup subscription. Whereas ipsy is sample sizes, BoxyCharm are full size products. Coming in at $21, it's twice the price of ipsy, but by far a better value. This box's retail value was $127!

Now don't get me wrong- I don't use all the products all the time, so it's never really retail value, but it is definitely worth the $21. I have added a few regular products to my daily use and my makeup routine that I have only found thru BoxyCharm. First and foremost, Luxie Brushes.

I received my first Luxie brush about a year ago in a subscription box, and it's literally my favorite brush of every kind of brush. My first brush was the Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Eye Brush, which has revolutionized my eye makeup game. It's that great of a brush. Now maybe I love it so much because I equate it with upping my skills, or maybe I just love it because it's pearly pink, rose gold, and extremely soft. Add the fact that it's synthetic and thus vegan and cruelty-free, I'm addicted to their brushes. Real Techniques and Morphe are also super popular brushes- I've used Real Techniques, but not long enough to form an opinion (maybe at a later time.)

I bought this set at Ulta purely for the highlighter fan brush and was very much disappointed. Then again, give me some more time to form a more informed opinion.

All that to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see a 3 pack of blending brushes in October's box. (I have since confirmed this really is October's box FYI.) This set of 3 brushes retails for $36, $12/brush, which is pretty low for eyeshadow brushes of quality. There's a pop up on their site when you leave the window open for a bit for 20% off your first order which is a great deal if you'd like to try them out.

Back to the matter at hand...the brush set. I have not used the bottom, longer, thinner brush as much as the other two due to lack of control. The shorter, stubbier brushes allow you to completely control the shadow you're blending or applying, whereas the longer, thin brush is a bit more loosey goosey, for lack of better comparison.

Enough about the brushes.

Up next, hair care: Briogeo Rosarco, blow dry perfection and heat protectant. Ignore the large tub in the top left, that came September in my PopSugar box. I had planned on doing a true review of the product after seeing it posted about quite frequently around beauty blogs recently. I still may, even if it's just to contradict all the "omg, I LOVE it," "this is amazinggggg" and "so goooood"'s out there.

I digress... the heat protectant creme. I would rate is a 3 out of 5 stars. It has a pleasant smell, a runny formula, but is formulated without paragons, sulfates, and phthalates. Briogeo claims it protects your hair up to temperature of 425, smooths hair, tames frizz, and enhances shine and softness. Ehh, that's a stretch. I will say it cuts blow dry time by HALF. So those of you with super thick hair who are tired of the time it takes to dry your tresses, use this. Honestly, other than that, I wasn't impressed. I'll finish it, but I won't purchase it again.

Lipstick. I love lipsticks, and this is a gorgeous hue. It's ultra matte, and promises to last 12 hours and not transfer to drinking glass or significant others. Um, sign me up. I wore it this past weekend to a family event- I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to try it out- eating, drinking, smooching, and it would be a few hours.

First off, I LOVE the color. Other than that, it wasn't great. It was sticky the entire time and I detest sticky lip products. I did use a BareMinerals lip liner first, and may have had some lingering chapstick, maybe this is why? It transferred to my water bottle too, even hours after applying. I will give this another go without lip liner and chapstick though because I just love the color. It is definitely more cranberry in color than it appears in the tube, shown here Essie Sable Collar:

On to the palette. Full disclosure- I cannot find it. I must have given it away, because I searched everywhere and cannot locate it! If I gave it to you, let me know how it is? I hope I did, because honestly with the number of palettes I have, I did not want to open it just to try.

So that's it for October's box- what did you think?

If you'd like to sign up for BoxyCharm, you can do that here.

Butternut and Brussels Sprout Risotto

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

We've been running our Etsy store now for over a year, and have determined our busy seasons to be Father's Day and of course, Christmas. During those times, it is sheer insanity around here- 16 hour days, 7 days a week, and very limited time or energy for meals.

When we were first hit with volume Christmas 2015, we were not expecting it, and did what we had to do to survive. This meant eating out. A LOT. We both put on about 15-20 pounds due to the stress and the horrible habits we were adapting. Some days I am absolutely embarrassed to say we were eating out multiple meals- and we definitely felt the effects of it. It was actually counterproductive- what we were eating for convenience was actually slowing us down. You are what you eat, right? Well, we felt like garbage.

Father's Day 2016 we were slightly more prepared. We signed up for Blue Apron and Hello Fresh, selecting 3 meals a week for 2 people. Blue Apron is $60/week and Hello Fresh is $70/week. Now I admit, this is a little steep in price, but compared to the alternatives, within reason for us. It averages $20-23/meal for the 2 of us, which is WAY better than what we usually spend on meals, and healthier than what we would be purchasing out at that price point. So when we combined convenience and health concerns, we decided it works for us during the busy seasons.

I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes going forward from my box subscriptions, and do my best to convert some of the ingredients so you can try them as well.

INGREDIENTS (for 2 People:)

8 oz. Brussels Sprouts
8 oz. Butternut Squash
1 Veggie Stock Concentrate (Buy here)
1 Yellow Onion (medium to large)
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Lemon
2 oz. Pancetta
3/4 cup Arborio Rice
1 oz. Pepitas
1 Tbsp Honey
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Tbsp Butter

DIRECTIONS

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.) Halve and trim Brussels sprouts through stem. Toss squash and sprouts on a baking sheet with 1 TBSP olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast until browned and tender, about 25 minutes. Toss halfway through.

3.) Bring stock concentrate and 4 cups water to a boil in a small pot, then reduce heat to low.

4.) Halve, peel, and finely dice onion. Mince garlic. Zest then halve lemon.

5.) Add half the pancetta (more for snacking!) to a medium pot over medium-high heat. Cook until crisp, about 4 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add onion to same pot and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 2-3 minutes. Add rice and cook until translucent, 1-2 minutes.

6.) Add garlic to pot and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Reduce heat under pot to medium and add stock to pot 1⁄4 cup at a time. Stir after each addition and allow rice to absorb stock before adding more.

7.) While risotto cooks, add pepitas to a small pan over medium-high heat. Toast until fragrant, 2-3 minutes (be careful—they might pop). Add honey, 4 TBSP water, and a pinch of salt to pan. Stir to dissolve honey. Cook until liquid evaporates and pepitas are coated and sticky, 3-4 minutes. Remove to parchment-lined plate and let cool.

8.) When rice is al dente, squeeze in juice of half the lemon. Stir in the squash, Brussels sprouts, half the Parmesan cheese, and 1⁄2 TBSP butter. Season with salt and pepper. Plate risotto and sprinkle with honey pepitas, lemon zest, pancetta, and remaining cheese.

---

This was the first time I've made risotto the real way, gradually adding the stock to the rice- it is quite labor intensive! It's needy, and definitely something you want to put the effort in to. It is worth it, but you can't say I didn't warn you. This was unusual for a Hello Fresh meal, they are usually a 20-30 minute easy sheet pan dinner- this was quite out of character, but I enjoyed it!

Finish off with a cup of hot tea on the side and you have the perfect winter meal!

*Note: I am in the process of finding a Recipe Card widget for Blogger to make it easier to print out recipes-- anyone have any advice, please let me know!*

I paid full price for this box and all opinions are my own.

If you'd like to try Hello Fresh, click here for $40 off your first box!

Crockpot Tex-Mex Quinoa

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:00:00 +0000

Most people hear quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) and are terrified. I once was too, so no fear! Quinoa is a seed, not to be considered a whole grain, even though it is usually prepared as a whole grain. Quinoa is a magical and powerful little seed, providing 9 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Quinoa is gluten-free, cholesterol free, kosher for Passover, and almost always organic. It's similar to other whole grains such as rice, in that it is definitely very versatile. You can eat it plain with some olive oil, sea salt, and lemon juice, jazz it up with cheddar and broccoli, or add lots of colorful veggies like in this recipe!

I found this recipe on Pinterest while looking for 21 Day Fix recipes, and could not wait to make it. I am nearing the end of the 21 Day Fix- CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO BE OVER- but will continue to make this. It makes an excellent vegetarian main course, a tasty side dish, or the perfect filling for burritos!

Crockpot Tex-Mex Quinoa
Source: Chelsea's Messy Apron

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed well
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can corn (or 1 1/2 cup frozen)
1 cup sweet peppers, diced or chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock or water)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Optional Toppings: cilantro, cheddar cheese, sour cream (or 21 DF-friendly Greek yogurt,) parsley, hot sauce, etc.

Directions:

Rinse the quinoa well- this is VERY important!
Place the rinsed quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes and corn into the crockpot
Chop the sweet peppers and the poblano pepper, removing the seeds if desired and add to the crockpot with the chopped onion and minced garlic.
Add spices and chicken stock, stirring together.
Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours. The liquid will begin evaporating.
Season with salt and pepper, stir in fresh lime juice and serve with your choice of toppings

Is that not the most colorful food you've ever seen? And SO full of flavor from all those beautiful veggies!

I did use chicken stock as I had it on hand and sitting unused in the fridge, but feel free to keep it vegetarian with vegetable stock or water.

I grilled some chicken breast and made a bowl out of dinner, topping it with cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, parsley, and sriracha- all 21 Day Fix Approved! I measured this out in the yellow container (1/2 cup) and counted it only as a yellow.

This makes a MASSIVE amount. It's just my husband and I, and we've had this for 3 meals now plus lunches, and there's still two glass Pyrex containers left. Have any of you frozen quinoa before? I may need to try it, because as delicious as it is, I'm quinoa-ed out.

What are some of your favorite quinoa recipes?

Banana Crumb Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 05:00:00 +0000

I always buy too many bananas, Am I alone? I should say, I can't eat the bananas fast enough before the dreaded brown spot(s) appear and they're ruined. I like my bananas yellow, even slightly green, with NO SPOTS. I have been craving banana muffins for awhile now, and was waiting for the opportunity to arise in the form of multiple bad bananas. I had 2.

Unfortunately the recipe called for 3. But here's the cool thing...I found the recipe on allrecipes.com, which lets you adjust your serving size! So, I manipulated the serving size until the ingredients called for 2 bananas.

Growing up my mom made banana muffins with a glaze, and no offense to her, but these are better. These muffins are absolutely delicious. I cannot believe I only ate 2 for breakfast. Pinky swear.

Banana Crumb Muffins
Adapted from here
Servings: 10 Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2.	In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, vanilla, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3.	In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4.	Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

The recipe made 7 muffins with 2 bananas, I plan on freezing a few for quick breakfasts. Are you a banana muffin fan?

Winterizing Your Hands and Nails

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

I feel bad complaining about cold weather and what it does to my hands and nails, living in Virginia, where bitter cold is 30 degrees. I apologize for any complaining I do of cold to my good friends in Wisconsin and Canada, where it gets double digits below zero. Cray. Cray.

Now that I have my apology out of the way, let's talk about taking care of your hands and nails during the winter months.

I don't know about you, but my hands turn into sand paper when it's cold out, and left unattended can split and bleed. The last few years I've become more diligent in my hand care, and would like to share some of my tips with you to keep your hands and nails healthy and moisturized, as well as a few products I swear by.

Apply lotion after every time you wash your hands. Keep a bottle of lotion at the sink so you won't forget. Soap can strip essential oils from your hands, severely drying them out. You could use this as a great excuse to get a cute matching soap/lotion set in a basket- I did see some pretty and very nicely smelling ones at TJMaxx this weekend. This is a favorite of mine, J.R.Watkins and is available at grocery stores and Target:
Wear rubber gloves while doing dishes. Another tip would be to apply lotion right before putting the gloves on- the heat from the warm water will help your skin absorb the moisturizer and give your skin a salon-like treatment. Oh, and it'll protect your manicure from chipping.
Be careful using nail polish remover. Try to use an acetone free one like Julep's Clean Slate Remover or Zoya's Remove+ , neither of which will dry out your nails or cuticles. There are times you need acetone remover for glitters or gels, but be careful to keep it away from your cuticles and skin.
When going outside, be sure to apply spf lotion on your hands. Remember, your hands show age very quickly, even as early as your mid-20s. UV Rays can be the biggest and baddest reason for aging of your skin and brown spots. And DEFINITELY apply spf lotion every time you go for a gel mani under a UV lamp!
Wear gloves. You can pick up cheap gloves under $5 at Target, Five Below, Walmart, etc. But everytime you go out in cold temperatures throw gloves on. Hey, in the very least you could prevent some germs!
Establish a hand regiment before going to bed. Apply a thick cream, cuticle treatment and a pair of cotton gloves. Wear the gloves overnight, or as long as you can stand it- the heat from your hands will act like a hot oil treatment. Trust me, you'll be amazed how your hands feel in the morning. I picked these gloves up at TJMaxx for about $3-4.
Nail splitting can be a sign of dehydration. Be sure to drink more fluids and use a nail oil designed to penetrate the nail plate, containing Vitamin E oil and Jojoba. Apply a good cuticle cream regularly, I recommend Lemony Flutter by lush. Stay strong my friends, it can take up to 6 months for healthier nails to grow in. Don't be fooled by certain products promising results in days.
An at-home treatment which is highly effective is mixing sweet almond oil with coarse sea salt, and rubbing into nails and cuticles. This will help strengthen weak/broken nails as well as nourish dry and flaky cuticles.

I had this post completed when I received my PopSugar Must Have Box for January, but I had to add on this wonder product I received in the box.

This stuff is amazing. Like run to Sephora or online shop NOW. First Aid Beauty offers some other products I want to look into, but I've been using this daily since I opened my box this weekend. It has a slight Vick's smell to it, but it's not offensive, but rather a clean smell. The consistency is a soft, but thick cream and I highly recommend it for at least #6 above, your night hand/nail regiment. It's a little steep at $30 for a 6oz jar, but that just means you need to join PopSugar- cause the box is $40/month and this was $30 of it. I WILL be replacing this when it runs out. THAT GOOD.

Do you have any tips that you recommend for winterizing your hands and nails?

One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

I shared this picture on instagram this past summer, and never followed thru with the recipe. Shame on me. But will you forgive me? Make this and get back to me.

It does require quite a lot of basil, I had a huge table top pot of it on my deck this summer. Til it died some weird death, after turning grey.

One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta
Source: Slow Roasted Italian

Ingredients:

3 cups halved grape tomatoes, divided
1 large onion, sliced
1 pound smoked Italian sausage links, precooked (sliced into coins)
20-30 basil leaves, divided
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 pound dry linguine
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
4 1/2 cups water
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Reserve (set aside) 1 cup halved tomatoes, 10 basil leaves and cheese.

Combine remaining ingredients in a large (12") braising pan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, remove cover and cook 7-9 minutes until pasta is al dente (with a bite to it). Toss pasta with tongs occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking. Liquid will be mostly absorbed when pasta is cooked.

Add cheese and toss to combine. Cheese may clump but will melt into the sauce after a few minutes. Toss in remaining tomatoes and basil before serving.

December ipsy Bag: Thinking of You

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

I don't think I've ever shared an ipsy bag on here, and for that shame on me! Ipsy has become a favorite beauty box of mine, and in my opinion far outshines BirchBox and GlossyBox. For $10/month, you receive some sample, some full size beauty products along with a little cosmetic bag that fits into the theme.

I feel that the products in ipsy bags are more my style and budget, so this puts them head and shoulders above birchbox.

I am thoroughly pleased with all the products in the bag this month:

1.) Bumble and Bumble All Star Blow Dry- I don't usually apply any product to my hair before blowdrying, but figured this was worth a try. I was pleasantly surprised that my hair was less dry and brittle feeling, and had an overall smoothness to it after blowdrying. Very finished and salon quality. I am 90% sure I will purchase a full size of this when it runs out!

2.) Crown Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush- Other than the brush that comes in the Naked Palettes, I usually use my fingers to apply my eyeshadow. This definitely applies a lot more even, not to mention I don't have 4 shadows of beige on my fingers and under my fingernails.

3.) Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes- For years my go-to mascara was this one by L'Oreal, but have recently switched to They're Real! by Benefit. Ulta gave them out maybe a year or so ago for their birthday gift, or was it Sephora? Either way I love it. Oh, and 4000+reviews on Ulta.com and it's a 4.3/5, so I'm guessing I'm not alone. I recently tried Julep's mascara, but after wearing it twice had to throw it out- the fibers would get in my eye and irritate them WAY too much. I also hear good things about Better Than Sex Mascara- anyone try this? Maybe I'll try this next...

After all that, I haven't used this mascara yet. Maybe I'll throw it in my travel bag so I don't have to chance losing my $23 mascara.

4.) Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream- I don't really understand eye cream- am I alone on this? For awhile I used this one by Burt's Bees, but kinda stopped and didn't finish the expensive little pot... I will say this applies like a dream, especially for an organic, cruelty, and gluten free product! I'm kinda intrigued looking at the applicator. You know, these late nights blogging and Netflix binging have left dark circles- will this help? Check back with me, I intend on finishing this tube.

5.) NYX Butter Balm in Red Velvet- This my friends was worth the whole box. Seriously am in love. Is it "nix" or "N-Y-C?" Either way, they now sell it at Target and you need to drop $4 on this stuff. Seriously feels like rubbing butter on your lips. Even better than eos. I mean it. The Red Velvet is subtle, but good for me when I want red lips and chicken out at the last minute. Seriously, I want more. They didn't have them at my Target the other night, so I might pick some up online. (if you do, use code NYXGLITZ for 25% off.)

So, if you don't subscribe to ipsy, you NEED to. I didn't add it to my type-A list above, but the bag that it all came in is just so adorable. And you get one every month. I use them for odds and ends, or throw them in a box for gifts through the year.

Along with the awesomeness you receive every month product-wise, you can go online and review each product to collect points. Then use points for add-ons in your next boxes!

Click here to join today and get off the waitlist!

You Need: Hamilton Beach Salad Xpress

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Well, hello to the best thing since sliced bread. Or sliced cucumbers. Or grated cheese more importantly. This is the 2nd infomercial purchase my husband and I have purchased (the first being the magic bullet- um ah-mazing!) after watching the infomercial over and over.

Let me introduce you to the Hamilton Beach Salad Xpress. Slice, grate, shred, or crinkle your vegetables for your salad, or in our case, shred that cheeeeeese.

They're adorable aren't they? Well, we only use the orange one- it's only the 2 of us, so slicing up veggies for a salad really isn't that much of a chore. But shredding cheese...that's a total pain in the rear end, am I right? I avoid buying pre-shredded cheese due to the preservatives and poor melting qualities, but it sure is convenient. Side note...if you want an appliance to make your life slightly easier and need a way to *encourage* your husband to get onboard? Have him do said chore...Tee hee hee-- the minute I showed him this infomercial he said BUY IT NOW.

The attachments can be stored on the front of the shredder, with a protective sleeve holding them together. It's really meant for hard cheese, but it will work on softer cheeses like mozzarella and Monterrey jack. They do recommend throwing it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes ahead of time. I use it for any type, sometimes I mix them and get real fancy:

Wait, it gets better. It's dish washer safe:

Sold yet? It retailed at $49.99 when I first saw it, but it's down to $32 on amazon now. We picked ours up at Bed Bath and Beyond, where you can use an additional 20% coupon.

Tell me this isn't awesome?!!?

Side note...here's what I made with that cheeeeese:

Barbecue Chicken Pizza drizzled with ranch and sriracha. Holy balls my mouth is watering...

Shellac Hack: Jesse's Girl Wild Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ At the Pink of Perfection) — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I've been waiting awhile to try the "Shellac hack" for awhile now, and well boo. I don't know if it was the length of my nails or the fact that it just isn't Shellac. It lasted about 24 hours, less than regular nail polish and was chipping horribly. I am tempted to try it again with a higher quality polish, but I honestly don't know if that would make a difference.

These pictures are from this summer, when I attempted this, before D-Day and when everything was lusciously green outside.

You can pick up Jesse's Girl nail polish at Rite Aide, and retails under $5. I try not to use it frequently as it does contain formaldehyde and all the other bad chemicals the larger manufacturers like OPI, Zoya, etc. are trying to get away from. Unfortunately I've read that it's the formaldehyde that makes the colors so bright, so I guess it's a trade off.

The idea of the "shellac hack" is to alternate thin coats of Gelous (from Sally Beauty), Sally Hansen Hard As Nails, and your color of choice topped off with a top coat. You gradually apply the coats, thickening the polish on your nails.

The process is as follows:

1 Coat Hard As Wraps
1 Coat Gelous
1 Coat Polish
1 Coat Gelous
1 Coat Polish
1 Coat Top Coat

Trust me, less than 3 hours later I had this on my tips:

This is the same color, but it's extremely difficult to photograph accurately in daylight, let alone accurately inside! Again, maybe it's because I had a little bit of length on my nails that it chipped this fast? I honestly don't know...I wish I could tell you. But the Shellac Hack did NOT work for me.

You can find the original directions here, let me know if it works for you! My nails are quite long as I type this, which usually means a break is eminent. When that happens and I must return to nubs, I will try this again and update!

In the meantime, if this is something you try, let me know if it works for you!