After doing a Q/A on Saturday with you, I decided to give you all my beauty must haves from Amazon. I’m finally answering the nail, skin care, hair and beauty routine questions you’ve been asking me. With Amazon pretty much taking over the world nowadays, I figure I’d make it easy on you and give you everything in one checkout.
ICYMI on my social media….here’s the round up.
Nails
A couple of years ago Essie came out with their version of the gel polish. You’ve seen those twisted bottles at the grocery store, right? Well, I’m here to tell you the Essie top coat is the real deal. Other brands don’t compare. What you see in my photo is 6 days later. Even doing dishes each day and at least 2 showers a day the Essie top coat makes my polish last. Needless to say this Essie top coat makes your nails last. Look closely and you’ll see some of these nail polishes from my list of beauty must haves from Amazon are on sale! You’re welcome. Now, can they put the Essie top coat on sale next?
How to:
Click through the slideshow to see all the new polishes I recently ordered for fall.
Skin
I am so picky when it comes to what I put on my face and skin. Turns out I am allergic to Balsam of Peru. This is an ingredient that is in nearly everything. It’s a natural substance so I have to be very careful. In the research of beauty products I’ve discovered that the law doesn’t require companies to put ingredients on products. Isn’t that wild? Of course that makes the process to find good skin care hard but I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few things.
How to apply:
- Cleanse your face
- Dr. Nassif’s Detox Pads (read instructions carefully)
- Moisturize
- Apply eye serum or cream
Click through slideshow to see my skin care must haves
Hair
This is how I grew out my hair.
Over the years I’ve learned that the best thing I can for my hair is leave it along. In November of 2014 I cut my hair short. Everyone was getting the short haircut and I wanted onboard. In December of 2014 I regretted that decision. I was lost without my long hair and don’t know who I am without! I started to rely on extensions to add volume and length to my hair. Truth is, extension are damaging. Once I realized the damage done and the growth that had been stunted, everything had to change.
I started looking into using better products, took out my extensions, decided to NOT add color or bleach to my hair…pretty much did nothing and just let it be. What resulted in that decision is now healthier, shiny, strong and longer hair.
Now look, I don’t expect you to go with out your highlights or color (I’m not crazy here). For me, I needed the break. Every time I went on a show or did a TV interview the hair and make up team would use so much heat on my hair. Thus frying my ends. My hair couldn’t take it any longer.
What I am saying is to invest in good products and if you can stop the frying…then stop! It’s tough, I know. Here is what I’ve used and have done to help the growth of my hair.
- Japanese Straightener
- Wash my hair once, maybe twice a week
- Shampoo twice when washing
- Use heat protecting products
- Take my biotin EVERYDAY
- Dry shampoo in between washes
Let me break some of these down for you.
Japanese straightener- I go to Sensia Salon in the Galleria area. This is a harsh treatment on your hair and if you don’t have curly and frizzy hair then I wouldn’t recommend it. My hair is crazy curly. This helps with our Texas humidity. It also helps me not have to wash it as much.
Washing my hair once or twice a week is something I’ve always done. I found out when I traveled to Paris, the French girls also do not wash their hair. Anything the French do, I do! Do you want to know a secret of the Stars? They hardly ever wash their hair and dry shampoo is in every travel bag. In my journey through life and of all the celebrities I’ve met, this is the one universal routine they all follow. In between washes they use dry shampoo.
Not all dry shampoo is created equally. I personally don’t like the dry shampoo that will leave my hair with a stringy feeling. I like the ones that create movement and allow air to flow through the strands. My favorite is by DryBar. I also love the Oribe for their scent. Oribe also has a dry conditioner I recommend trying. Carry a travel size dry shampoo in your handbag and it will spruce up any look.
Biotin! Let’s chat. I never would have believed this had I not have tried it myself but taking biotin made my hair grow faster than normal. My hair grows in the same rate a sloth moves! I take the 5,000 mcg pills. Biotin is on top of the beauty must haves from Amazon list. Don’t checkout without it.
With all this said my hair is finally at a good place. It isn’t as long as I want it to be but I will get there. Slowly but surely I’ll add highlights and maybe some clip-ins but with my hair in better shape that will be a slow and careful step forward.
Click through the slideshow to shop my daily products.
Susan anneheim mitchell says
Love your favorites!! Will have to try the polish. Bring a former nail tech I’m not up on all the newest and best nail products. Really am going to try hard to only wash my hair 2x a week. Soooo hard though. .especially while I’m working out like a crazy person! Oh and im off dairy now. .thank you! !
AshLee Frazier says
Seriously, read about the dairy sitch! It’s a real thing. Now that I don’t have diary in my diet, I can really tell when I have some. It’s an adjustment but so worth it…if for nothing else but the better skin and hormones!
Michelle says
Everyone always comments on my hair being so healthy especially being that I have highlights in it and my response is just how you put it leave it alone. I was my hair twice a week at most. Living in Miami with the crazy humidity your hair gets ruined the moment I walk outside so in the summer if I apply heat to my hair 3 times all summer it’s too much but I have found also that leaving it alone is best for letting it grow and keeping it healthy! Loved your tips about facials believe it or not I’m 30 and never gotten one lol was just talking to someone about it and I’m no seriously considering one.
Thanks for the tips!