2020 GIFT GUIDE

Let me first start off by saying that I am a clinically (not really) diagnosed (and proud) shopaholic. I spend days researching, finding the best deals, and making sure I’m buying quality products. My family and friends trust me to guide them in the direction of the best items all while saving them $$$ (humble brag). I wanted to create a gift guide that not only could save you cash money, but that’s also full of my favorite things! AND of course, all vegan and where possible, sustainable! Not everything on this list needs the title of “vegan” (point me in the direction of a non-vegan air fryer and I’ll be concerned??) but at least you know you’re staying cruelty-free while you shop these products.

You’ll find a link to each of these products in the description along with any sort of coupon code if applicable. I also HIGHLY recommend you use the app Rakuten to shop this holiday season. What’s Rakuten you ask? Simply put, it’s an app that gives you cash back for shopping at stores you’re already shopping at! I’ve been using it since 2018 and I’ve made over $800 by literally just shopping through the app and making purchases I was planning on making anyways. Right now, if you sign up using my referral code and you spend $40+ using Rakuten, you’ll get $40 cash back! It’s that easy. Click HERE to start making money for spending money (literally, my dream job). This isn’t sponsored, I just genuinely love this app and helping people save money is like the best form of a high for me. I do not know why anyone does drugs.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

We’re starting off strong with my absolute favorite kitchen appliance of all time. Seriously, talk to anyone who knows me and they will let you know I’ve tried to sell them this air fryer. I don’t work for Cuisinart, and I don’t make a commission off of making people buy these. But I should. Because I’ve made nearly everyone I know purchase one. Everyone says you need an air fryer, and while they’re right, they forget to mention which one. It’s this one. If you have someone in your life that loves to cook, is a lazy cook, needs an all-in-one appliance due to lack of space, or you just really really love that person- I suggest you pick up this bad boy. It’s not only an air fryer, but also a convection oven, a broiler, a warmer, and a toaster. I make tofu, chik’n nuggets, pizza, toast, bagels, tempeh bacon, fries, and basically everything else with this thing. One of the best parts is that it cooks your food QUICK too. Also, have you ever reheated food in an air fryer? It’s the only way it tastes fresh again. Go buy this for your loved one. Go buy this for yourself too, while you’re at it. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Buy at Bed Bath & Beyond (and use your 20% off coupon, I know you have one).

Does your loved one really need a fancy milk frother? Probably not. But if Christmas was about giving people what they needed instead of what they wanted, it would be all socks and therapy sessions. So if you’re going to splurge, I highly recommend busting out the SMEG Milk Frother. I enjoy coffee just as much as the next basic white girl, but I actually use this most often for the hot chocolate feature. It makes the most creamy, frothy, delicious hot chocolate you’ve ever had in your life. What’s also great is that it has options of frothy or really frothy, hot froth or cold froth, and then of course the hot chocolate feature. It blends plant milk like a dream. The stainless steel cup is detachable and dishwasher safe (can I get a hell yeah), and this is a gadget they’ll want to keep on their kitchen counter. Nothing says “look, I’m bougie” like a SMEG kitchen appliance.

I’ve never seen SMEG products on sale, the brand is sort of like Apple that way. However, you can purchase from Williams-Sonoma and get free shipping!

Immersion blenders are one of those things that someone doesn’t realize they need until they decide to randomly buy one and then they’re like, “why have I been living my life without this?” When I bought this I wanted to be *that* bitch who made soup with an immersion blender like they do on the Food Network. I got lucky and I found one with this entire set, which I recommend getting if you can swing it because it’s not that much more expensive than buying the blender alone. While it’s amazing for soup and anything else you need to *~*~blend while immersed~*~*, the extra accessories make it totally worth the buy! The whisk is amazing for, well, anything you need to whisk… and the mini chopper attachment, are you kidding me?! This thing is more powerful than some food processors I’ve had. It’s the perfect size for two (or if you’re just whipping up something smaller and don’t want to lug out the blender). Perfect gift for the foodie in your life that has *almost* every kitchen gadget you can think of.

Buy this set at Target! (Use your red card for an extra 5% off, and also watch out for any deals Target offers. They do a TON during the holidays).

Obviously there was going to be a vegan section. I know you’re not shocked. I wanted to start with this gadget because even if you’re *not* vegan, this is totally something anyone can benefit from! It’s called an Almond Cow and it’s basically one of the best inventions I’ve ever come across. I cannot tell you how many times I realized way too late that I didn’t have enough milk left for a recipe, and my Almond Cow came in and saved the day! If you buy any sort of plant milk, this guy can make it for you instead. It truly could not be easier either. You take your nut/legume/grain of choice (I’ve made everything from almond milk, to soy milk, to oat milk!) and put it in the basket on the inside of the machine with any sweeteners and a little salt for longevity. Fill the main container with water, pop the top on, press a button, and in less than a minute you have your own homemade plant milk. If someone you love buys plant milk and/or they love to live sustainably, this is an amazing gift. You can even create recipes with the leftover pulp! We love a no-waste moment!

Buy the almond cow from their website, here. Also, you can use this link to save $10 off of your purchase!

Even for the seasoned vegan, I LOVE this book. It’s actually more of a manual, if you will. While it talks heavily about nutrition on a vegan diet (also great for anyone who doesn’t think you can get enough protein on a vegan diet, yawn) this also discusses the ethical impact of being/becoming vegan, and includes ideas for meals and what your plate should look like! If you have a baby vegan in your life this is a great addition to their library.

Purchase Becoming Vegan on Amazon.

Can I tell you how HARD it was to find good, solid, vegan hiking/winter boots? It was like searching for the Holy Grail. Although I do love my Hunter boots (another great vegan option), I wanted something that would work better for longer treks and withstand any excursions I decide to go on (you know, if I ever decide to be that kind of person. I like to keep my options open). Not only are these boots non slip and water resistant, they’re 100% vegan AND SUSTAINABLE. What?! Yep! The water resistant rubber is repurposed from marine plastic, the temperature control lining is 100% recycled synthetic wool, and the anti-slip sole is made out of 45% recycled rubber. How amazing is that?! These are a bit of a splurge, but I truly believe they’re totally worth it. A word of caution, order a size up. The website says they fit true to size but I definitely had to swap mine out for a bigger size so I would be able to wear them with socks!

Buy the Weekend Boots on the Alice + Whittles website. Sign up to receive their emails for $10 off your purchase!

Literally anything, and I do mean anything, from the brand Girlfriend Collective is INCREDIBLE. I never shut up about how much I love this brand. I’m putting this under the “vegan” section because it’s a sustainable/ethical brand, but seriously anyone who likes athleisure will love you if you purchase them anything from here! First off, the company as a whole is amazing. They’re a USA-based company, but they make their clothes in a facility in Taiwan. The factory is SA8000 certified, which basically means their workers are paid fair wages, provided a safe work environment with adequate breaks, no child labor is used, and they’re able to unionize. They’re also a slow fashion brand, eco-friendly (even down to the dye), all of their clothes are able to be recycled, and they make all of it from recycled water bottles, polyester, nylon, cotton, and/or fishing nets. They’re also size-inclusive, actively support BLM, and use models of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and ages to showcase their clothing. Seriously, I could go on and on about how great they are. You can read more in-depth explanations of their practices here.

My favorite pieces from them are the Topanga bra, Paloma bra, Dylan bra, FLOAT seamless bike short, R&R joggers, and their quarter crew socks. But honestly I could put the whole website under this because I own just about everything they sell, and all of it is just that good. They also have gift cards if you’re unsure about what they would want.

Buy from Girlfriend Collective here. Save $15 off your purchase by using this link here, and save 30% during their Black Friday sale as well!

If you’re shopping for someone who lives for the *~*~aesthetic~*~*, pick up the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser. This diffuser fits perfectly in any decor setting (I own it in the terracotta color you see here as well as the blush pink color!) and even though it’s small, the smell travels FAR. I love that it has the option to run continuously (4 hrs) or in short bursts for a longer period of time (8 hrs). It’s also great for the friend who you don’t trust to keep candles in the house. Don’t forget to include the diffuser oils!

Buy the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser here. Save 30% during their Black Friday sale + get $15 off by using this link.

Oh yes. I KNOW you’ve seen this pan on your instagram feed, and for good reason. This baby is called the Always Pan by Our Place and it’s a fricking miracle child. When I’m not using my air fryer, I’m using this to cook my meals. Stir fry, macaroni and cheeze, fried tofu, lentil taco “meat”, vegan dumplings, the list goes on. I especially love making mac and cheeze because I can boil the water, cook the pasta, drain it, and add my ingredients for the cheeze sauce all in this one pan! Anything that makes it so I don’t have to do more dishes is worth any amount of money in my mind. It also comes in all sorts of instagrammable colors! This is perfect for your friend who loves to cook, someone with a small space who needs to clear out kitchen clutter, or if you just want to make someone’s life easier.

Buy the Always Pan here. Use this link to save $20 off your pan (PS, it combines with their Black Friday sale!)

I want to apologize in advance for the price of this gift, but it’s in the splurges section so you can’t be that surprised. Do you have half a grand laying around and you want to treat someone to the most amazing hair of their life? Enter: the Airwrap Styler. Seriously worth the cash if you’re willing to cough it up. I have insanely thick hair and the speed in which I can dry and style it with this thing is literally mind blowing. It’s a blow dryer, curler, and straightener all in one. It doesn’t use extreme heat so it’s great for those who are worried about damage from hot tools. Or honestly if you don’t even know anything about hair but you have someone in your life that loves the latest and greatest beauty buys, add this to your cart and they’ll love you forever.

Buy the Dyson Airwrap Styler here.

Dagne Dover is my go-to brand for bags. I only buy from their neoprene line (they do still use leather in some products, unfortunately, so stick to the neoprene to keep it vegan), but they have TONS of options! They sell duffle bags, backpacks, cross body bags, diaper bags, fanny packs, makeup bags, tech holders, and more. Literally any shape of bag someone would need to put their shit in, they sell. They have the cutest colors and they’re super easy to clean if the person you’re getting a gift for is the type of human that just throws their bag around with abandon. I am one such individual. You can definitely splurge on some of these pieces, but there are plenty that are totally affordable too! New moms, jet setters, students, and anyone who loves a good way to carry their life around will love anything from Dagne.

Use this link to save 10% off your purchase at Dagne Dover.

If your plant-lover friend or family member is anything like me, they’re a sucker for a good coffee table book. This one is not only aesthetically pleasing because of the gorgeous foliage on the cover, but it’s also full of plant-care tips! If they’re just starting off being plant parent, or even if they’re a seasoned plant owner, this is a great way to show you care about their hobby! (or let’s be real, if they own enough plants, part-time job).

Get Leaf Supply here. Also, include this with a purchase of two other qualified books on Amazon and get one free!

Yes, I’m absolutely hitting you with another coffee table book. I mean, look at it! The vibes are immaculate. This book, like Leaf Supply, has a great range of plant tips and tricks to keep your loved one’s plant children happy. Plant Tribe also offers plant styling tips, how to purify your home with plants, using crystals in conjunction with plants, and seriously so much more. It even features small businesses that center their businesses off of their love for plants. Another great (and reasonably priced) gift for the plant-obsessed.

Buy Plant Tribe here.

Do you have a friend who literally just keeps killing their plants and you cannot bear to watch them sacrifice yet another? This inexpensive, yet extremely useful, tool could be the solution to their black thumb. This handy dandy thermometer looking guy is a moisture meter, and it literally does just that. More often than not I notice my friends who are habitual plant-killers cannot get their watering schedule right, and this takes the guess work out of it. All they have to do is stick the moisture meter down into the soil, wait for it to read the moisture level, and they’ll know if it’s time to water or not! Pair this with one of the coffee table books above or another (less likely to be murdered) plant for the perfect hand-picked gift set.

Buy the moisture meter here. You can also find other models, but I prefer this one!

I am absolutely obsessed with these things! They’re called WallyGros and I know they look kind of weird, but when used they’re extremely aesthetically pleasing. It’s a planter that you can hang! It’s the perfect solution for people with a small space, or those who just want to extend their plant collection to their walls. The holes allow for proper soil aeration, the water reservoir in the back ensures even watering, and it’s super easy to hang. They’re also eco-friendly, because they’re made out of 100% recycled milk jugs! They have tons of ideas for hanging patterns on their website, and you can buy them in singles or in packs of 2, 4, or 12. Your loved one can use it to grow pretty much any type of plant, and they can even grow herbs in them for the perfect kitchen garden at their fingertips!

I’m linking the pink one here, but there are a ton of other color options available! They had a 30% off Black Friday sale last year, so I’m assuming they’ll do something similar this year too!

This strange looking skincare tool looks a lot more intimidating than it actually is. It’s called a high frequency machine (this one is portable), and it’s boasts a whole slew of skincare benefits! You know those translucent spheres that you can touch your finger to and the electricity follows you? This is basically a grown up (useful) version of that. I personally love to use it for zapping any areas on my face that are breaking out, and I swear to god they go down *overnight*. It also helps with blood circulation and collagen production, which help to rejuvenate and revitalize the skin. If you have anyone in your life that loves the latest and greatest in skincare, this is an amazing choice!

Buy the high frequency tool here. It’s 30% off right now!

The skincare fridge just might be the most extra gift you buy for someone this season, but it’s totally worth people making fun of you for having it. I don’t really need to explain what it is, because it’s pretty self-explanatory. Your loved one can store their many potions and tools in here to keep them ice cold (great for skincare application!) and fresher for longer. I like this version because it’s big (and as an esthetician I have a LOT of skincare products), but there are other smaller versions available that are more affordable! The front side even has a dry erase board so you can leave them cute notes about how amazing their skin looks.

Buy the Cooluli skincare mini fridge here.

I love a good at-home spa day, especially now since a lot of us are on lockdown. This facial steamer is the perfect way for your friend or family member to amplify their skincare routine! A facial steamer is amazing for relaxation, opening and softening the pores, and helps to remove dead skin cells. The Aira model even comes with essential oil baskets to add their favorite aroma, just like in a professional spa. It’s super user-friendly (yes even for your mom), and it even looks nice on their bathroom counter because of the luxe packaging.

Buy the Aira Facial Steamer here, and get it for 50% off!

Thanks for sticking with me if you’ve made it this far! I hope that you were able to find some amazing gift ideas for the people in your life that you want to spoil. Remember that while it’s amazing to get gifts, it’s even more fun to give them! You don’t *need* to splurge on anything to show someone you love them, but if you want to- I hope that I could be of assistance. Have fun shopping and make sure to save some $$$ while you’re at it!

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Clarisonic Mia vs. Foreo Luna

Hey all! I’m gonna get straight to the point because I’m sure going on a long tangent about how I haven’t been on in months doesn’t interest you. Because same.

One of the most common questions I get in my inbox is “what’s the difference between a Clarisonic and a Foreo?” or just “what skincare cleansing tool should I buy?” Well, lucky for you, I am a hoarder of skincare products and I tried both so I could let you know what would work best for you, and why.

As with all of my comparisons, I’m going to rate them in different categories. They are as follows: cleansing power, aesthetic (looks in general), ease of cleaning, cost, *~*bells and whistles*~*, and (my) overall opinion.

To give you a background of my experience with these products, I have used a Clarisonic Mia 2 since 2013. I started using the Luna Foreo (for sensitive skin) earlier this year because I wanted to change it up and be able to compare the two. I never review skincare products until I’ve used them for more than 4 weeks due to the turnover rate of the skin. Okay now I’ll start.

Cleansing Power:

***Now, with each of these cleansing systems it’s imperative to know that you need to either wipe off your makeup entirely or do a pre-cleanse beforehand. So many times people have told me they hated their cleansing tool and claimed it “made things worse,” only to find out through questioning that they were just using it on a face full of makeup. No matter how well each of these systems work, if you do that you’re just smearing your makeup around and not actually cleansing. Hence why it’s not working. Anyway, moving on.

Clarisonic-

There is no doubt in the cleansing ability of the Clarisonic. There’s a reason it’s been such a popular product for such a long time. The results obviously lie in if you use it properly, i.e. if you’re washing your face beforehand/you’re using the right brush head for your face. Personally I have pretty sensitive skin, so I found myself sticking to the sensitive brush heads, which is what they come with. I would swap it out for the deep pore cleansing brush heads if I felt I had a lot of congestion or breakouts. I’m going to go into brush heads more in the bells and whistles section, but a large portion of the cleansing power of the clarisonic is due to whatever brush head you choose to use. To cleanse your skin, you wet the brush and your face, and apply cleanser directly to the brush head. 60 seconds later, you’re done!

One problem I have with clients using clarisonics is that so many of them (them as in people) are WAY too rough on their skin. The brush head is specifically designed to move on it’s own accord, yet people push it onto their face almost violently because they think it’s going to cleanse better. All you have to do is move it around your face in the sections that require cleansing. Obviously this is a user issue, but it factors into the results you get.

Clarisonic Cleansing Grade: A

Foreo-

This cleansing system is ~relatively~ new on the market, especially compared to the clarisonic, which was why I wanted to try it out. (I obsessively buy new skincare items and since it’s my job I justify it, but it doesn’t take away the fact that if my bank account could talk it would ask “what the HELL are you doing woman?! Stop for the love of god!”) Anyway, It has the same concept as the clarisonic, but it’s entirely different in it’s execution. First of all, there are no brush heads. You choose your Foreo Luna based on the type of skin you have (Dry, Oily, Normal, Sensitive, or Combo.) There’s also one for men, and I’m almost positive it’s the exact same as the oily skin version but it’s in black. Because god forbid if men had to use a blue skincare tool. But honestly whatever floats your boat. If you’re unsure of the one you should use, the foreo website has a handy “consultation” tool here. Each of them have a different pattern of silicone “touch points” that cushion the skin when you cleanse and work for each different skin type.

love the cleansing power of the Foreo. You apply your chosen cleanser to your face instead of the brush, wet the brush, and get jiggy with it. This system is also 60 seconds, so either way you can’t escape at least spending a minute on your skin morning and night. I will say I feel as if the Foreo is much more gentle on the skin when it comes to cleansing, yet it still cleanses just as well as the clarisonic. So if you’re a bit more sensitive, this might be your better option.

Foreo Cleansing Grade: A

Aesthetic:

A lot of people care a great deal about the way their products look for one reason or another. I love the option of being able to choose my color, because I feel like it adds a pop of personality to an otherwise basic tool.

Clarisonic-

The clarisonics have a million color options. Sometimes they even release special edition patterns for random reasons, so it gives users the ability to pick whatever color or pattern their heart desires. The design is simple, easy to hold, and looks like this:

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Clarisonic Mia 2 in Lavender

It fits into the contour of the hand and it’s buttons are easy to decipher and use. The only downfall is that it’s a bit large, and the carrying cases only make it larger to travel with. So if you’re someone who travels a lot or just likes things to be compact, there is a size option that works the exact same but is much smaller. Check out the Mia Fit if you’re a gal (or dude) on the go.

Clarisonic Aesthetic Grade: A

 

Foreo-

Here resides the downfall of the foreo IF you’re big on choosing the color of whatever you’re purchasing. The colors are assigned to each skin type so you don’t have the option of a different color. They are pictured here:

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From left to right: Normal, Combo, Oily, and Sensitive

As I said before I have sensitive skin so I have the lavender color, which I love so it doesn’t bother me. I do wish they would release color options just to give it that personal aspect but at the end of the day if it works it’s not a huge deal.

The foreo is also smaller than the clarisonic. It fits in the palm of the hand and it’s really easy to travel with. It comes with a luxe drawstring holder to carry it in to protect the device. I don’t find issues holding it even though it’s more of a flat design, and the buttons are easy to work. They do have smaller options as well, three to be exact. The mini, the play plus, and the luna go. The mini and play plus are only based on color, the touch points all look the same, and they also come with a smaller price tag which I’ll touch on later. Personally I like having the regular size, but you do you boo.

Foreo Aesthetic Grade: B (for lack of color options)

Ease of Cleaning:

Clarisonic-

This, for me, is the clarisonic’s biggest downfall. I’m huge on sanitation, which is necessary in my industry, and keeping a clarisonic clean is hard even when you know what to do. First of all, you need to clean your clarisonic brush heads. Not just with soap and water, with an actual sanitizer. They do not recommend you share brush heads so you should only be using it on your own skin, but even then you run the risk of spreading bacteria especially during times where you have breakouts. Most people don’t do even this, which is the bare minimum. You also need to clean underneath the brush head. Since these tools are waterproof, people don’t worry about drying them off so water stays under the brush head. I don’t even want to imagine the amount of bacteria that starts growing there. I would venture to guess an obscene amount of people could prevent breakouts if they would just clean their tools and belongings (makeup brushes, pillow cases, phones, etc.) While I realize that this is a user issue and depends on the consumer being proactive in cleaning, I wish there was an easier way for people to keep these devices clean so they didn’t even have to think about it.

Clarisonic Ease of Cleaning Grade: C

Foreo-

On the opposite end of the spectrum, this is one of my favorite parts about the luna! Foreo uses nonporous medical grade silicone that is 35x more hygienic than nylon bristles. So you don’t have to worry about setting aside time to clean your device after you use it and the chance of it harboring bacteria is extremely low, if at all. I just rinse mine afterward (with a cleansing soap) and it stands up so any leftover water isn’t able to stay in the device to sit and grow more bacteria. So easy and user friendly!

Foreo Ease of Cleaning Grade: A+

Cost:

*Both units are the “2nd generation” and I also included their travel size companions

Clarisonic-

Cost is $169 which includes the device, one brush head, the charger, and a sample size cleanser (1 oz.) The downfall of the cost when it comes to the clarisonic is that the cost doesn’t stop there. They recommend you replace the brush heads every 3 months, to the tune of $27. Adding up to $108 a year. They do offer a box option which allows you to get the 4th brush head for free, so it’s $81 at once. However some people can’t afford to drop the $81 at once, and you are left with spending the extra $214 in a two year span. Ouch. I don’t like the idea of constantly having to replace something, and that was another reason why I wanted to try something that didn’t have the extra cost associated with it.

In addition to that, somehow the travel size is a whopping $50 more? How is something smaller more expensive? Like I’m already shelling out what would require someone making minimum wage 24 hours of work to afford, and that’s before taxes. Not my favorite thing ever.

*Comes with a 2 year warranty

Clarisonic Cost Grade: C

Foreo-

The price point is set a bit higher at $199, but the huge upside is that you don’t have to buy any brush heads! So while you’re spending $30 more up front, you save $108 a year. Yes please!

The travel size options are also at a lower price point which is how I believe it should be. The technology of the device doesn’t change, with the exception of the speeds on the two smallest models. The mini luna 2 is set at $139, the luna go at $99, and the play plus at $49. The play plus ONLY has the cleansing option, not the anti aging option, which is included in the next section.

*Comes with a 2 year warranty and a 10 year quality guarantee

Foreo Cost Grade: A

*~*Bells and Whistles*~*:

Clarisonic-

The clarisonic (Mia 2 and FIT) has 2 speeds to switch between, referred to as “Delicate” and “Universal”. So if your skin is more on the sensitive side you’re obviously going to use the lower speed, and less sensitive skin can use the universal speed. It’s waterproof which is necessary for these types of products due to people using them in the shower, bath, and at the sink. It’s also rechargeable, and using mine the charge would last about a month at a time or less.

However I believe the biggest bells and whistles of the clarisonic are within the brush heads. Obviously you have the option of brush heads for your certain skin type, but there are now also brushes that go even beyond that. One of the brushes is a foundation head that you can use to apply your makeup. Now I haven’t used this brush head personally, but I’m old school when it comes to makeup application and I prefer a dense synthetic brush for foundation application. This brush appears a lot less dense than what I’m used to, and by reading reviews I’ve heard it also tends to shed. But again, I haven’t used this personally and it might work great for other people! It retails for $35.

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Various options for Clarisonic brush heads

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Clarisonic Sonic Foundation Brush Head

Clarisonic also sells pedi brushes as well as body brushes. The downside is that these are not compatible with the original Mia, Mia 2, or the Mia FIT. You have to purchase a separate clarisonic for these to be able to be used. Another costly addition. The last face tool is a “massage head” that is meant to be used as an anti aging device. It claims to help with signs of aging including wrinkles, firmness, and sagging. They have studies with pictures on the clarisonic website if this is something that intrigues you! You can find them here. This brush comes in at a hefty $55 and again is only compatible with the separate device (the Smart Profile) that costs a whopping $349.

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Clarisonic Pedi Brushes

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Clarisonic Firming Massage Head

Clarisonic Bells and Whistles Grade: B (lots of options, but a bit too costly)

Foreo-

The luna also has speed options, however this device has the option of 12 different speeds. I only ever use two, but I like that it gives a ton of options to really cater to your specific skin type and how you feel. Also waterproof and it has a flat bottom so it can stand freely which I love. The luna 2 also only requires one full charge EVERY. SEVEN. MONTHS. What?! That’s insane to me! If only iPhones had that capability!

Another big selling point of the Luna to me was that it already comes with an anti aging aspect. It’s on the back side of the device and looks like this:

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Foreo Luna 2 Anti Aging side

This also claims to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. It helps with the absorption of products into the skin which is a great benefit especially if you spend money on serums since this will maximize their benefits. It’s a 60 second cycle as well, uses a low frequency pulse, and the manual tells you exactly where to use it on the face. The best part is that this is included on the device already and doesn’t require you to spend more money (because let’s be real, skincare is ALREADY expensive AF.)

Foreo Bells and Whistles Grade: A

 

Overall Opinion?

Having used both devices for a substantial period of time, my preferred tool is….

The Foreo Luna 2!

I just love this device and although clarisonic was my first cleansing love, it was time to grow up, move on, and save money. The foreo works so well with my sensitive skin and I truly believe every one of my clients could benefit from using this device. The price point is worth it and saves you money in the long run, and the additional features really add to the value of this product. I can’t say enough great things about it and since using the Luna 2, my skin has never looked better!

 

I hope you found what you were looking for within this post and that I answered any lingering questions you had about these two skincare devices. I challenge you to see your skin as an investment and not as another expense you’re wasting money on! You only have one face and while you can always get the botox and laser treatments and what have you, but an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

If you have any other questions feel free to leave them below and I will do my best to help answer them! Happy cleansing my loves!

 

xoxo Shelby

 

“Why Won’t My Skin Get Better?”: Common Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

You buy the expensive products. You read the various articles online. You even might have seen your local esthetician for advice, and still NOTHING has helped. “WTF?!” you scream into the mirror after many days/nights of using your $200 regimen that was sold to you with the promise that your skin would look better; only to find your skin looks the same…. if not worse. Sound familiar? You’re not alone! Hello there, your friendly online (and real life) esthetician here to help you with yet another skincare crisis.

If you haven’t figured it out by now (and it’s likely you haven’t, due to the fact you’re reading this), it’s HARD figuring out your perfect skincare routine. Not one person’s skin is the same, and we all have unique needs. That being said, I’ve noticed many trends among people who seem to struggle with skincare issues that can be easily changed or avoided.

It’s an unfortunate matter of either hearing the wrong information about your skin or just not knowing, and neither are your fault. That’s where I come in. Now, I’m not saying that if you change these things about your regimen your skin will magically turn around. Some (and most) skin issues are caused by internal factors (hormones, diet, water intake, stress levels, etc.) in which case you should consult a physician if you’re really unsure. However, these changes in your regimen could make all the difference!

To make this easier to navigate, I’m going to organize it into sections for specific skin types. If you want, just scroll to the section that best fits your skin description! There is also a general section at the bottom that could also apply to you.

 

OILY SKIN (acne prone, large pores, excessive oil production)

“I have oily skin so I don’t moisturize because I don’t need it.”

Um, yes. You do. Strangely enough, you will get the opposite effect if you go by this logic. If you have oily skin and you don’t moisturize, your skin will react and actually create MORE oil. Potentially creating more breakouts and more sadness. If you’re oily and for this reason you dislike moisturizers, opt for something very light and absorbent. Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion is a great lightweight option.

“I use a salicylic acid cleanser every day for my acne.”

This is *generally* a bit excessive. Using too much of an acid can be detrimental to the skin, because it strips you of the natural oils your face NEEDS to be healthy. Not all oil is bad people! Plus, if you have TRUE acne (not just breakouts on your chin when it’s your time of the month, or a breakout when you sleep in your makeup) you should be consulting a dermatologist or medical esthetician for your skin’s needs. Opt for a gentle gel or foam cleanser (my favorite is Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser) and use a spot treatment for breakouts. I like using The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Solution directly on blemishes before I go to bed!

DRY SKIN (dry, flaky, tight-feeling, and lacking oil)

Not incorporating a hydrating serum into your regimen

I swear by hyaluronic acid to combat dry skin. Moisturizers are obviously fantastic (and necessary) for dry skin, but the molecular structure of a serum (like hyaluronic) is so much smaller than a moisturizer. This allows for the product to penetrate into the skin instead of just sitting on top and just masking the dryness. The Ordinary has a great Hyaluronic Acid, especially if you’re ballin on a budget.

“I don’t exfoliate because my skin is already so dry and I don’t want it to get drier.”

Exfoliating doesn’t mean you’re drying out your skin! Using BHAs and other products that strip the skin can be drying, but those are also typically formulated for more oily skin anyways. If you don’t exfoliate and you have dry skin, your dead skin cells will just pile up on your skin and any moisturizing products you try to use won’t moisturize your skin properly. It’s like trying to put sunscreen over your clothes. If you’re dry, try using a mechanical exfoliant instead to help slough away the dead skin cells. I enjoy Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Radiant Skin Refiner or GlamGlow’s FLASHMUD Brightening Treatment to keep my skin exfoliated and luminous!

“I just use coconut oil.”

No offense- but literally, cringe. Please refer to my Coconut Oil is Ruining Your Skin blog post in regards to this.

COMBO SKIN (a combination of dry and oily qualities, primary oily t-zone and dry cheeks)

Only treating one part of your skin

Multi-masking is a blessing my friends. Instead of always using drying products that combat oil, or vice-versa, and making one condition worse, try treating both! I consider my face combination skin and I’ll make it a point to use detoxifying masks on my t-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and hydrating products on my cheeks and neck. For my detoxifying masks I really love the GlamGlow SUPERMUD Clearing Treament or Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Deep Cleansing Clay Mask. For hydrating, Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Mask or GlamGlow’s THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment Mask. Are you seeing a trend here? I definitely have favorite brands. There are definitely other options but these are what I use and love the most!

NORMAL SKIN (not necessarily dry or oily, a good balance of both)

“I don’t have anything wrong with my skin so I don’t do anything to it.”

Although people with normal skin are generally very blessed (also we all hate you), you still need to take care of your skin. Cleansing, exfoliating 2-3 times a week, moisturizer, and SPF during the day are the bare minimum steps you should be doing. Just because you don’t have skin problems now doesn’t mean they can’t arise later, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. AKA take care of your skin now so you’re not a leathery mess later.

GENERAL MISTAKES IN ALL SKIN CARE

  1. Not letting your products dry before you apply the next one: You need to give your skin a chance to absorb each product you’re trying to use. Each serum and moisturizer goes in a specific order to allow for optimum absorption. Rule of thumb: thinnest to thickest. So serum to moisturizers.
  2. Not washing your face in the morning (or in general): It seems genuinely insane to me that I have to remind people to wash their face. Or wash their face with something other than bar soap. Now, if you don’t know… I won’t judge you, but now you know. You have no excuses. Washing your face at night is usually a given to most people…. but during your slumber you sweat, your hair touches your face, hands touch your face, your pillow cases can be dirty, etc. So in the morning it’s essential to wash your face so you’re not applying makeup over the crap you’ve slept in. And if you don’t wash your face at all, please don’t be surprised if your skin isn’t happy.
  3. Not cleaning your makeup brushes/phone: I think I say this in just about every blog post I write but you haaaaave to clean the things that touch your face the most. Phones and makeup brushes are the highest up there besides your hands, which should also be cleaned too, please. You wouldn’t believe how many people I ask if they clean their makeup brushes regularly and they’ve almost NEVER done it. Bacteria loves to live in dense places like brushes! I make it a point to clean mine every Sunday with a gentle detoxifying shampoo. As for your phone, keep a couple of Clorox wipes handy and wipe it down every so often!
  4. Not getting a proper skincare analysis: Before I went to esthetics school, I couldn’t tell you anything about my skin. It kind of felt normal, but I still got breakouts, and my makeup would slide around, but I was still flaky… etc. So I really had no idea what products to use on it either. Just because your favorite beauty blogger uses a mask, doesn’t mean that’s right for your skin.  Get a professional to help you assess your biggest concerns and give you the true 411 about your skin type. They can also usually set you up with products that are catered towards your specific needs instead of just what’s “popular”.
  5. Sleeping with your makeup on: DON’T. EVER. STOP DOING THIS. PLEASE. I can’t even begin to describe the detrimental effects doing this has on your skin.
  6. Not cleansing properly: Cleansing is more than just slapping some soap on your face and wiping it off with a washcloth. If you wear makeup regularly, you should take the time to remove the bulk of your makeup with a makeup wipe, and then cleanse the rest of it off. If after you’ve cleansed your skin you can wipe a wet cotton pad over your face and there is still residue, you need to cleanse again. Make sure to get next to your ears, into your hair line, and your jawline as well. Also make sure if you’re using a washcloth to dry your skin off afterwards that it’s gentle enough to be used on your facial skin. I like bamboo washcloths that you can get relatively cheap off of amazon. (Please also make sure to clean these regularly too!)
  7. Washing your face in the shower: Generally speaking, shower water is too hot for your face. You can cause capillary breakage, plus you can’t see if you’re cleansing everywhere properly. You should be taking the time to wash your face with lukewarm water at your sink.
  8. Using random skincare products just because they’re “natural”: I love using naturally derived beauty products. I think some are really great and a lot of people are leaning towards more natural products these days because we’re a greener generation. However, just because it says “natural” and “organic” on the bottle, does NOT mean it’s natural and organic. It also doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin either. Taken from the FDA Website, “FDA has not defined the term “natural” and has not established a regulatory definition for this term in cosmetic labeling.” So basically a company can slap “natural” on just about anything, because there’s no set definition for it. Just because it’s from Whole Foods or your local Co-Op doesn’t mean it will work, and you are still responsible for the ingredients you choose to put on your skin. I thoroughly research brands before I use them on myself, as should you!

 

All of the above “mistakes” I’ve listed are just what I’ve seen and heard of the most in my time being in this industry. I use the word “mistakes” loosely because in my experience it’s just because people aren’t aware, and that’s okay! I, as well as other people who are trained in this profession, are here to help those of you who maybe aren’t as ~*~*current*~*~ with the do’s and don’ts of skincare. There are obviously other factors that go into your routine as I stated earlier, many internal, but with these changes in your routine I hope you find some of your concerns are taken care of.

Any questions? Still feel clueless? Leave them in the comments section! I love to help you guys out as well as hear feedback from my readers.

 

Peace, love, and moisturization to all

xoxo, Shelby

Facials: The Beauty Ritual You Need In Your Life

People always ask me what the point of a facial is. They’re a bit spendy (depending on where you go), it’s an hour (or more) of your time, and some people really don’t understand the benefits of an appointment dedicated specifically to your skin. Alas, don’t fret, I’m here to explain! 

Generally people are more focused on spending their money on hair or nails before their skin, because it’s where you see immediate results. You get a highlight and wash/dry, voila! Lighter hair. Get a pedicure, bam it’s socially acceptable to wear your sandals again. Yes, you see an immediate glow after a facial service, but it’s so much more than that! Keep reading to find out why everyone (yes men, you too) can benefit from facials.

Benefit Numero Uno*: Massage

Facial massage boosts circulation throughout the face, neck, and décolleté (aka your chest area if you’re not versed in facial lingo). If you didn’t know already, blood is what supplies nutrients to the skin. Any vitamins you take go to your bloodstream. If you don’t have proper circulation, your skin can’t receive nutrients, resulting in lackluster skin. Estheticians are trained in proper massage techniques that encourage blood flow. Plus, you have no idea how much tension we hold in our faces until someone gives you a facial massage. Trust me on this.

Benefit Numero Dos: Stress Relief

A large part of skin ailments are due to stress. Ever see a huge pimple pop up right before you have a big, important event? Ding ding ding! Stress raises hormones in the body that cause our sebaceous glands to secrete excess oil, which in turn causes breakouts. Especially if you’re not properly cleansing and exfoliating. The aromatherapy and relaxation associated with facials is proven to reduce stress. An hour under the care of an experienced professional can seriously change and improve your stress levels.

Benefit Numero Tres: Exfoliation

Such a large portion of clients that I see fail to exfoliate their skin, or over exfoliate in general. Either of which can be detrimental to your skin. In a typical facial service, your technician will determine the best route of exfoliation for your YOU, whether it be mechanical or chemical. Both of which will reveal a brighter complexion underneath. It encourages cell turnover, which is essential to the health and youthful glow of the skin. It makes fine lines appear less prominent since your products are able to soak into the skin better; and it also helps alleviate congestion, which is what causes uneven texture on the skin as well as breakouts.

Benefit Numero Cuatro: Proper Treatments 

I can’t tell you how frustrated I get when I see “beauty bloggers” using horrific DIY masks, trendy machines or tools that don’t really work (or that actually damage your skin), and just giving bad advice in general. They are not licensed professionals and you should not trust them as if they are. Not to say they’re all necessarily wrong, but people blindly follow what they do and not everything is good for you. I know we all like to save a few bucks and do things ourselves, but some things are best left to professionals who were trained to do them properly. For instance, extractions. Anyone can go to the store and buy an extractor tool and go to town on their face. However, most of you are probably damaging your skin and pores due to incorrect methods. Surprise, estheticians are trained to do this for you! Plus, we’re able to get a perspective on your skin that you just don’t have access to. Since, you know, your eyes are attached to you.

Benefit Numero Cinco: Knowledge

An Esthetician is specifically trained and licensed to analyze the skin and its current state. We spend 600 hours (or more depending on what state you live in) gaining an understanding as to why the skin does what it does, and we use that information to determine what routine is right for each and every client we see. Everyone’s facial needs are so different, it’s impossible to read an article about someone’s favorite skincare and use the same products to get the same results. I can’t give people a proper skin analysis over an Instagram message, even though I try. I have to be able to see your skin to tell you what you need, which requires a visit to yes, you guessed it, the salon! We like to see clients every 4-6 weeks because that’s when the skin has gone through a complete cell turnover cycle, and we can assess and treat the skin all over again for YOUR benefit. 

PSA: You don’t have to use the exact products I recommend, but know that you will not get the results you want with a $4 moisturizer from Walmart. These are facts. We cannot guarantee results if you fail to use proper home care. Just like if you color your hair with nice products, then you turn around and use Suave. HOME CARE IS ESSENTIAL PEOPLE!

I hope this answered any questions you may have had about why you should be receiving regular facial treatments. Spa expenses may seem like a waste of money to some people, but if you’re interested in preserving your youthful appearance for as long as possible they are essential. Even going in at the start of each season can benefit you greatly, but 4-6 weeks is that sweet spot for optimum results.

Any questions? Leave them for me below! Now call your salon and schedule a facial ASAP! You can thank me later.

xoxo Shelby

*I don’t know why I decided to number these in Spanish, because I don’t speak the language. I got a C in 7th grade Spanish. 7th grade Spanish. 

Festival Inspired Makeup

With it being festival season and the infamous Paradiso rapidly approaching, (major jealousy and FOMO I’m feeling right now you guys, I wish I could go!) I figured what better post to give you all than to inspire you to make sure your makeup is totally Tumblr post ready.

Big shout out to Marina for the idea, Haley for her photography skills for without which I would be using my iPhone 6+, Syd for bangin out some rockin’ hair styles, and Kendal, Jordie, Micaela, and Emily for lending me your gorgeous faces to paint!

For the looks that have colored face paint, I used Ben Nye’s aqua paints. The palette I have looks like this:

bennye

They’re available online at naimies.com for $28 retail, but I got mine at my local costume makeup store in the linen district. It comes with all of the primary colors, white and black, and they threw in green to make our lives easier. You can mix these however you would like, so it’s extremely versatile for a great price. I prefer the aqua paints over others for face/body because they’re easy to work with (all you need is a paint brush, water, and a little bit of inspo) and they stay on ALL. DAY. Big plus, they come off easily with makeup remover wipes (perfect for festival camping, due to lack of running water and also we all know you’re going to be too drunk anyways).

The rest of the products used I will include under each look.

I hope you enjoy these looks as much as I enjoyed creating them!

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Emily’s super simple look was created using the ben nye paints for the design. I used a sigma E30 to create the red dots. Her face is Too Faced coco powder in Medium, Too Faced chocolate soleil bronzer, and Becca Cosmetics Opal highlighter. Her eyes are a cocktail of shadows from the Tartelette palette, CoverGirl Lash blast mascara, and the eyebrows were shaped using Anastasia Beverly Hill’s dip brow pomade in Blonde.

Her flower crown was something I made for my halloween costume last year using a thick headband, hot glue, and fake flowers from hobby lobby.

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Micaela’s look was created using rhinestones (you can use any you have, I got a giant tub of them from Hobby Lobby for 50% off) and the rhinestones were adhered using Ben Nye’s spirit gum. If you don’t have access to spirit gum, you can use lash glue, but make sure the area you’re applying it to is relatively free of makeup otherwise it won’t stick. Her brows were shaped using Anastasia’s Dip Brow pomade in the color “Chocolate”. Using my finger, took the eyeshadow pigment “Fantasy” by Colourpop, and swiped it straight across her lid and outward. These shadows are SO pigmented, and only $5 on their website colourpop.com! I kept her face natural with just a couple swipes of Too Faced chocolate soleil bronzer and Colourpop’s blush in “Pie”.

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Kendal is rocking a geometric pattern with Ben Nye’s yellow and white aqua paint. I feel like these types of face paint look best with that “painted” effect to them instead of perfect, neatly drawn lines. I added in some accent dots for fun with a sigma E05. Eyebrows are ABH Dip Brow in blonde.

This flower crown was purchased at my town’s Hyde Park Street Fair about two years ago, and I can’t remember the name of the company. If I find them I will link it here asap! but you can purchase crowns like these on etsy for relatively cheap.

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Syd’s makeup was kept very mellow with color choice, but bold with pattern. Using the ben nye aqua paints in white, we went with a “tribal” vibe to achieve her look. Eyebrows are ABH in the color “Soft Brown”. Eyeliner is Makeup Forever Ink Liner in Black.

Glasses and flower crown both purchased at Forever 21 at random times.

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and lastly, Jordie’s look was created using the Ben Nye paints in white and blue. I made solid paint lines and went back in with a smaller brush to create a rough feel instead of making everything symmetrical. Eyebrows are ABH in “blonde” and eyes are a mixture of colors from the Tartlette palette.

Here are some more shots and angles of each look. I hope you find inspiration in these pictures! If you have questions regarding the looks, feedback, or any questions/comments, feel free to let me know! Happy festival season and happy face painting my loves!

Xoxo Shelby

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Instagrams:

myself: @shelbymorgan.blog

photography: @haley.loraine

hair: @hair_by_sydneyallison

models: @emilyggrasmick // @kendalstopherr // @micaelalunsfordd // @jordiekay

Irresistible Me vs. Bellami Extensions

Hello my loves! Sorry I have been on hiatus for a minute or two… Life has been a little crazy with work lately and throw in some sleep deprivation and barely enough time to wing my eyeliner and you’ve got an anxiety-ridden borderline psychopath. Totally kidding. Kind of. Anyways moving right along to why you’re here…. EXTENSIONS! I’m talking about my two favorite brands today and the differences between the two. I’ll be going into weight, coloring, length, and overall wear. So who should you purchase from? Hopefully you’ll be able to decide by the end of this post!

Now I know there are many other brands of extensions out there to review but A. I’m not made of money and B. I did my own research long before purchasing either of these and I found the most information on these two brands… and ultimately liked what I found. It’s not to say there aren’t ones that are just as good but I’m not a walking Wells Fargo (tragically). I first looked into extensions when I chemically damaged the ever-loving hell out of my natural (very thick) hair. If I could give you any advice it would be to not bleach your hair, color it pink, then blue, and then back to blonde in the span of like, three months. I am now living with my mistakes, but you can prevent these horrible things from happening. I had to cut a lot of my dead hair off and was left with short hair that I HATED. (shoulder length is short to me)…. but luckily we live in a day and age where I can fix this problem pretty easily. Anyways lets move right along into what you actually care about….

First lets start off with the Bellami Bellissima Extensions ($209.99)

Coloring:

The set that I have are the Bellissima 22″ 220g in Ash Blonde. When I originally bought these extensions they weren’t as “ashy” as described, so I washed them once (I didn’t condition them because I hadn’t even touched them with heat yet) with Aveda’s Blue Malva shampoo and that gave me enough of the blue undertone I was looking for instead of a more golden shade. If you can avoid toning them I would. Other than that I haven’t had an issue with the coloring, it looks very natural. They’re also not just one color. They claim to use a “multi-tone adapt coloring system” and as far as I can tell, it works. I have since colored my hair dark so I’m not wearing these extensions currently but when I decide to go back blonde I’ll use them again. Bellami has a wide range of other colors as well, ranging anywhere from jet black to bleach blonde to vibrant red. They also have partnered with Kylie Jenner, Guy Tang, Samantha, and Eva Marie to bring you even more brilliant, fun shades to play with. Teal, lavender, fire engine red, and even grey are the colors you have access to through Bellami. Too fun.

PS word to the wise, if you’re ever buying extensions and they’re not light enough…. return them and get a new shade. It’s not worth bleaching them. Most, if not all, hair extension sets that you buy online will have many hair swatches (and even videos) that you can look through on their website. Also when you order them there will be one big package with the bulk of the hair that is sealed off, and a smaller package that you can open and compare your real hair to. IF YOU OPEN THE LARGE SIDE AND BREAK THE SEAL, YOU CANNOT RETURN THE EXTENSIONS. That’s why they include a tester weft so if it doesn’t match, no harm no foul. You just package it all back up and ship it and you’re golden.

Length:

Obviously when I say 22″ referring to the length of the extensions. Let me just tell you, this is a LOT OF HAIR. Like, a ton. Like I have to adjust it when I put on my seatbelt, throw my purse over my shoulder, change my clothes…. It’s really fun to have all of that length and feel like Rapunzel, but unless you’re willing to deal with the high maintenance of them, I would stick to something shorter. Bellami offers extensions in 18″, 20″, 22″, and 24″. You can also cut them if you so choose (please go to a professional if you do this) but if you’re going to pay around $200 for extensions you probably don’t want to waste a ton of the hair. Just my opinion, but I also don’t have money to just throw away. They also offer braided headbands, pony tail clips, and bang extensions if those are something you’re interested in.

Weight:

When referring to the weight of a set of extensions, it’s usually measured in grams. My Bellami set is 220g. Once again, this is a LOT OF HAIR. I don’t/can’t even wear all of it because 1. I don’t need it and 2. If I wear all of it I legitimately get a migraine because my head is trying to hold up a pound of hair in addition to my huge brain. It’s a tough life, I know. But seriously there are 10 wefts total, and I wear seven of them. Two of them are four clips, another two are three clips, two smaller two clip wefts, and then four of them are one clip wefts. (I wear one 3 clip, 2 four clips, 2 two clips, and 2 one clips, if you care.) Another great thing about Bellami is that their extensions are the same thickness throughout the entire weft, so you don’t have gross thin straggly hair at the bottom. There is nothing worse than wearing extensions and everyone is like, “Ew. Look at her extensions.”

Overall Wear:

These hair extensions are made with 100% human hair and can be used with heat tools! When I wear mine I almost always curl them with my hot tools 1″ curling wand. I feel like if you curl your hair/extensions when wearing them it makes them blend 1000x better. As far as having them clipped into my hair they stay very well. I don’t ever find myself having to adjust them or cover a weft (if I clip them in properly). Jaclyn hill has an awesome tutorial on clipping in/curling her Bellami extensions so you should check that out if you want a visual at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Ron3pc18 🙂

The only downside I see to the Bellami extensions are the options of lengths and the options of weights to buy. 18″ might still be too long for some people, and they cut the weight size almost in half when they go down in length. Not a huge deal for myself who already doesn’t wear all of the wefts, but if you really want that thick voluminous look without the length down your back, then you should look elsewhere. The cost is also a factor for most, these babies are 209.99 and the most I’ve ever seen them discount anything is about $5. Doesn’t even cover the tax, but okay. I’m willing to spend the money, because there are some things you just can’t skimp on. (They do sometimes offer a free gift with purchase, like a carrier or a brush. They’ve also recently partnered with NailHur, which offers long lasting temporary manis, so sometimes they’ll throw a free set of those in with your order.) Other than that these are amazing extensions, top quality, and I get compliments on them wherever I go. Legitimately I have had people tell me I look like a mermaid, and who doesn’t love that?! I’m thinking about investing in the Lavender ombre ones…. Stay tuned to see if my bank account or my heart wins that challenge.

Irresistible Me Royal Remy Extensions ($189)

Coloring:

I purchased the Irresistible Me Royal Remy extensions 14″ 140g in the color medium brown. Let me just tell you, it is 7 million times easier to color match your hair when you’re dark compared to light. I also feel like dark hair you can hide your wefts better because of the depth that dark hair usually has. I definitely feel that way with my mine anyway. The medium brown color was absolutely perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I took them into my stylist and told her that I wanted my hair to match them exactly and she did an amazing job. It’s always easier to buy them and take them to your stylist than trying to do it the other way around, so if you can buy them beforehand I definitely recommend it.

Before I decided to go dark I purchased the Irresistible Me extensions in Platinum Blonde, just to have a shorter length when I didn’t feel like wearing my 22″ Bellami’s. Uuuuuum, when I think platinum the first thing that comes to mind is like Barbie, right? Wrong. This color was almost yellow… honey, golden blonde. NOTHING like platinum. I was really annoyed at first, but the return process was super simple and I got my money back within the week so I didn’t worry too much. When I went back to look at the reviews online about the platinum color it seemed as everyone else gave the exact same feedback about them being too yellow/golden. However, I could not be happier with the medium brown. They also have depth woven into them so they’re not all one uniform color (this allows them to blend easier). Just make sure that you look online at real people wearing the extensions without any filters, and they have a nice video comparison as well. The same process with having one extension in a small bag to color match with applies to Irresistible Me extensions as well. So if they don’t match, return them! I know it’s a hassle for some people but it’s better than wasting almost $200.

The only downside to the colors in comparison to Bellami is that they don’t offer the funky colors such as lavender or teal. However, if you like to stick to the natural colors then you needn’t worry.

Length:

What I absolutely love about the Irresistible Me extensions is the options they have for length. I purchased the 14″ ones because it’s going into summer and I didn’t want to have to deal with the hassle of the super long hair. They offer 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″, 22″, and 24″. The shorter lengths are especially good for people who just want that extra volume within their hair. Longer lengths are obviously going to be for those who want that length and want to be able to style it a certain way (think Elsa braids). I am in love with the length I chose and it’s perfect for what I was looking for. It doesn’t take me forever to style them in the morning (and for the most part they just hold the curl until I decide to wash them) and I am allllllll about speed and efficiency when it comes to doing my hair. My little sister is the cosmetologist in the family, I stick to what I know with makeup.

Weight:

Another awesome option that Irresistible me offers is you get to choose the weight for your length. The weights they offer are 100g, 140g, and 200g. I knew from past experience that the 220g Bellami’s were a LOT of hair, so I opted for the 140g weight and I’m so glad I did. It has 8 wefts instead of 10, and I even leave out a three clip weft for the most part, and I still have so much volume. The price is obviously going to increase with the longer/heavier you go so just make sure you’re aware of that. What’s also different about the IM extensions is that they offer three different kinds of extensions all together. The Silky Touch, the Royal Remy, and the Volume Vixen. The silky touch extensions thin out at the ends like our normal hair would. The royal remy are the same volume all throughout, and the volume vixen ONLY comes in 20″ and 260g. I like how the royals are the same thickness from top to bottom, so I personally recommend those. The only weird thing about the wefts is that one of them (the four clip weft) has a thick woven part attached to the clips, I don’t know if it’s to make it so it stays in your hair better or what… but none of the other clips have it. It doesn’t bother me, I just thought it was out of the ordinary.

Overall Wear:

Same with the Bellami, you can use the IM with heat tools. I wear these ones curled as well, but even straight they blend incredibly well. I’m never having to cover my wefts, ever. I even went to my own mother’s house and she was feeling my hair and had no idea I had them in. If your own mother can’t tell, they’re damn good. Another really awesome thing about the Irresistible Me brand is that they ALWAYS offer a 20% off deal! The extensions I got would normally be $189, and I got them for $150. $40 makes a huge difference in the long run, and it’s obviously way better than a $5 deal from Bellami. The 20% off is site wide, so you can buy multiple sets if your bank account is into that sort of thing.

And that’s a wrap! 

I hope I helped and could answer some of the questions you had about extensions and these two brands in particular. I always recommend doing your own research and reading as many reviews as you possibly can before you make any beauty investments. Especially with hair extensions, because they’re not cheap (the good ones anyway) and they’re going to last you a long time. Something that works for one person won’t always work for someone else. If you have any questions or comments leave them below! Or any other posts you would like to see 🙂 have a wonderful weekend my loves, stay beautiful!

XOXO

Shelby

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit vs. Kat Von D Shade Light

Okay- let me first start off by saying that both of these palettes I love, immensely. They both have their pros and cons just like any other palette. However, both of these palettes, I believe, can serve you in different ways. I’ll explain as I go along. For the sake of not developing any additional carpal tunnel, I’ll use the abbreviation SL for shade light, and ABH for Anastasia’s kit. My grades will be based on color, blendability, cost, pigmentation, and overall usage. Let me show you how my grading scale works:

A: Perfect, wouldn’t change a thing

B: Amazing, but could use some work

C: Eh, so-so

D/F: These don’t come around that often but if they do, something has gone seriously wrong

Lets start off with the basic premise of these palettes and where the idea comes from. Both are meant for the new trend (contouring, obviously) that has taken the modern day beauty industry by storm. It seems as if we woke up one day, and EVERYBODY was contouring. This specific technique has been around for ages, but with all the Kardashian’s being contoured to the nines, we’re more obsessed with it than ever. Say what you will about the Kardashian’s- but those cheek bones can be seen from a mile away. So not only are celebs taking advantage of this beauty secret- but many companies have now given us mere mortals the tools to replicate them. In my own opinion, contouring is the equivalent of a real-world filter. It’s meant to enhance our features, yes, but also to sculpt and manipulate them to appear a different way. Contouring can be used to elevate cheek bones, shorten or slim the face, narrow the nose, etc. etc. The makeup gods have shown mercy upon us and granted us with the power and convenience of all-in-one kits, and we are forever indebted to them. Bless.

These are my personal palettes. You might not be able to tell, but I usually stick to two colors in each palette….. Wait, you can tell? Yeah that makes sense. I know they’re banged up but these babies get a lot of lovin, as they should. Also just a disclaimer- I have owned the ABH palette for much longer. They are both black and both have a magnetic closure, but you can see the SL is much larger than the ABH. It also has a mirror which the ABH lacks. Aesthetics does not matter so much to me because truly, it’s whats on the inside that counts.

Moving right along. The top colors are specific to highlighting and the bottom colors are specific to contouring. I organized these swatches based on their location. For instance, whichever color was in the bottom left hand of the SL, I picked the same one from the bottom left of the ABH. Generally these colors are placed here because of their shades.

These are all swatched on me in natural lighting with no flash, no filter, and my skin tone is about an NC20 in MAC or “Light” in KVD’s Tattoo Foundation.

CONTOURING COLORS

Havana (ABH) VS. Sombre (SL)

Both of these colors are the “darker” shades in each palette. Havana has a definite clay-based undertone to it. Almost an orange against my skin tone. Sombre has a more ashy-gray undertone. Taupe, if you will. Both of these I would use on someone who has at least somewhat of a tan, because on lighter skin these colors can be difficult to blend and may appear as if the skin is bruised if done incorrectly. I also had to use more product when swatching Havana because it’s pigmentation isn’t as high as Sombre.

Fawn (ABH) vs. Shadowplay (SL)

These are the two colors I have used the most personally. They’re very similar in color with the exception being that Shadowplay in this instance is more orange based than Fawn. These colors are a little more versatile as far as being used on different skin tones. Fair skinned for a bolder contour, and darker skinned for a more subtle look. Once again I had to use more product when swatching Fawn, and I noticed this with just about every ABH color.

Java (ABH) vs. Subconscious (SL)

These two are VERY alike in color, with just a touch more of an orange base in the Subconscious. For these I have no problem using them on fair skinned people. Since they’re “lighter” than the other two colors in each palette, they’re not too harsh when blended well and used sparingly. Too much contouring on any skin tone can turn a slimmer contouring look into a drag queen look in a flash. So be extra careful with lighter skin.

HIGHLIGHTING COLORS

Sand (ABH) vs. Lucid (SL)

The main difference in these two colors is that Sand has a shimmer to it. It’s a nice iridescent color so you don’t feel like you have a pound of glitter on your face. For this particular shade I would definitely put at the top of  cheek bones, but I would stray away from using it under the eyes. The shimmer can accentuate bags and/or dark circles. Lucid would be a better option for under the eye as it is matte and won’t draw as much attention to the area if you have those imperfections.

Banana (ABH) vs. Lyric (SL)

Both of these I use the most and honestly the color difference is practically nonexistent to me. They’re both a very light color with a yellowish undertone. A highlighter with a yellow undertone is ideal for the under eye area because yellow can counteract the purple/blue hues we get due to dark circles. Who likes dark circles? Nobody? That’s what I figured. Plus these are both matte and are phenomenal at setting your under eye concealer.

Vanilla (ABH) vs. Levitation (SL)

Both of these colors are so light you can barely see them on my pale skin. I seldom use them, if ever, and it’s because I feel that even on my skin tone these can be TOO light and don’t really do a whole lot. Levitation has a bit more of a yellow tone to it but not enough to really notice all that much unless someone was 2 inches away from your face. If you’re very very fair these will basically disappear. However if you’re darker and want your highlight to stand out more, you could use these. However, be careful of a lighter tone on dark skin. The color may appear as chalky if the difference in shade is too severe.

Overall I give each of these palettes an A as far as color goes. They both have a good variety for the specific skin tone this palette is directed towards. As you may know, ABH has since released a medium and deep kit as well as this original light kit. I think that’s phenomenal that they offer those options, the SL palette does not (yet) so extra points to ABH for appealing to a larger demographic of users.

PIGMENTATION

As I mentioned before the ABH palette I found I had to get more product to compare the swatch to the SL palette. This does not work in ABH’s favor because not only did I have to use more product, but the amount of the product in the palette isn’t as much as SL when it comes to the contouring colors. Each contouring color in the SL palette has .16 oz of product, where every color in the ABH palette has .11 oz. The SL palette’s highlighting colors are only .08 oz, but I have no problem with this .03 oz difference considering the amount of pigmentation it offers.

ABH: B

SL: A

BLENDABILITY:

In all honesty both of these palettes offer a good amount of blendability as far as I can see. The SL palette has a bit more of a creamier texture compared to the ABH, which contributes to the pigmentation payout. The only problem I can see arising is that the SL palette is SO pigmented that if you accidentally put too much on the brush and start to apply, there may be no turning back. However this is a user issue and not a product issue, so I am willing to overlook it.

ABH: A

SL: A

COST: 

The difference in cost between these two as a whole is a whopping $6. The SL palette retails for $46 while the ABH retails for $40. In the end, the SL palette gives you .72 oz of product and the ABH gives you .66 oz. The difference is literally .06 oz, so you’re paying $1 more per .01 oz in the SL palette. But when it comes to pigmentation and cost, it may end up that you’re using the ABH faster. The HUGE HUGE HUGE difference between the SL palette and the ABH however, is being able to replace your colors. The SL palette does not offer refill colors (so to get the main colors you use you would have to replace the whole thing), whereas the ABH does. They don’t sell them in stores (annoying) but you can buy each color for the ABH palette separately for $14 (which by the way if you did that every time, not including shipping, it would make your palette $84 instead of $40) or buy an entirely new palette with customized colors (online only) for again, $40. So here inlays the problem- do you pay for an entire new palette every time you need new colors with the SL? or buy the colors separately whenever you need them with the ABH? I think this depends on what you’re using the palette for. If cost is your BIGGEST issue, this is how I would go about it. If using on clients, I would go with the SL. You probably won’t be using the same exact colors on every person you’re applying a contour to. So the colors will probably wear out all the same (ideally) so you could replace it all at once. If for yourself, the ABH palette. You can replace the colors you use the most because unless you’re drastically changing skin tones constantly, you’re probably going to stick to the same colors. So if you wanted to, when you go through your two favorites, you could potentially just buy another palette with 3 of each color and it would last you, like, forever. That’s just my opinion, but I don’t think cost should be your deciding factor when the difference is only $6.

OVERALL USAGE

Like I mentioned before, I’ve had my ABH palette for a good amount of time longer than the SL palette. The only reason being is that the ABH palette came out much sooner. I like having the option of both because sometimes you just need to switch it up. Playing with new products is always going to work in your benefit because you never want to get too comfortable. In the matter of SKIN TYPE (dry vs. oily, etc.) both of these are technically a powder contour, and powder always pans out better on people who are prone to normal-oily skin. It’s just a known fact that powder will dry out previously dry skin. However, with the right base foundation, this can be easily fixed.

Now, by law, we can only have one winner. The fact of the matter is, once I purchased the SL palette, I was in love. A love I knew surpassed the ABH palette. The blendability is superior, the pigmentation is off the charts, and the ONLY downfall this product has is not being able to refill it individually. Which is a matter of cost. I would gladly pay $46 every time my favorite colors run out. It’s really the pigmentation and the blendability of the ABH in comparison to the SL that it falls short. By no means does it suck in the matter of either, but if we’re COMPARING, I’m going with SL 100%. 

****UPDATE 10/02/2016****

Kat Von D has FINALLY released refillable shades for the SL palette! Wahoo! They are only available on Sephora.com right now as far as I know. The highlight shades retail for $14 and the contour shades retail for $16!

************

SIDENOTE: When I looked on Sephora’s website to research the reviews on both palettes, I found that the ABH palette had 754 reviews in total and the SL palette only had 534. Probably because the SL palette is newer. However, the SL palette had 440 5star ratings with more than 200 less reviews, and the ABH palette only had 475. So even though less people have reviewed SL, the percentage of 5star ratings was 82% whereas the percentage of 5 star ratings for the ABH was only 62%. You can’t argue with math. These are facts.

SHADE LIGHT BY KAT VON D WINS!!!

If you are still with me thank you thank you THANK YOU for reading! I know it was long but getting you the facts thoroughly and my personal opinion was important to me. If you have questions or comments please reply- I would love to answer either! Or if you have any suggestions or requests on future posts please let me know. You’re all wonderful. Happy contouring!

Xoxo Shelby