Oh Snap

As I've previously chronicled, my hair is super duper dry. It could be from all those years of coloring my hair or it could be genetics. I'd like to believe genetics, but know that my hair woes are really self-inflicted.

I got my hair cut a few weeks ago and noticed that it was the best cut I've ever had for less than $20. Why oh why am I so cheap with haircuts? Oh yeah, because I wait impossibly long between them and when I finally break down to get one, I have to have it IMMEDIATELY! So a place that can serve walk-ins is a must.

That being said the stylist in that "I have to recommend a product to you to help push product sales, but I don't want to appear to be pushing product" way suggested that I try a Redken leave-in product. She called is "Oh Snap" and said that it would help heal my broken hair and have people saying "Oh Snap" when they saw me walk in.

I didn't believe her.

The actual name of the product is Redken Extreme Anti Snap Treatment. And now it is my lover. I've given it a full two weeks and it has kicked Neutrogena's leave-in out of my life forever. This stuff has my hair feeling like it did when I was sporting my natural color. My boyfriend even loves how he can actually get his fingers through my hair now without ripping out part of my scalp.

Pros: Delicious smell, actually made my hair like a virgin again, works like it says it does.

Cons: None that I can find.

Price: About $16

Rating: Super fab fierceness

Always with a smudge

Have you ever seen those girls who go off to school or work with perfect make-up, never a run in their panty hose or a hair out of place?

Well, I'm not one of those girls. try desperately as I might, I always end up looking like a Picasso painting in the morning. I look good in my mirror in the bathroom but as soon as I hit the car, I begin to notice things in the fresh morning light.

Wow! I really missed a lot of stray hairs when I tweezed last.

Whoops! How did lip gloss get on my cheek?

Why does even a little bit of shimmer make me look like a stripper? It's not even GLITTER.

That's pretty much how my morning commute starts. Yes, I am one of those annoying women who uses their rearview mirror for touch-ups. . .just not while I'm in motion. It seems like no matter how I try, my biggest problem spots are my eyes. I've watched The Hills for a while (now I'm out of the closet about it) and can never figure out how Lauren can effortlessly blend her eye make up. Not for a second do I believe it's all mark by Avon, either.

If at try 1001 you don't succeed, try try again tomorrow.

How many Layers of Pre-make up do you wear?

As I was putting on my make-up this morning, I thought of a recent experience at Sephora. The saleslady there was taking off my make up to try some new stuff out on me. I have been using Bare Escentuals for about 2-3 years now. If not the actual brand then L'Oreal's Bare Naturale. Anyway, in some way shape or form, I've been wearing powedered foundation.

If you've used powdered foundation for a while, you'll notice a few things:

1. The coverage truly is great and very light
2. It doesn't cause oily skin to get oilier
3. The colors blend so you don't get the nice line of foundation that I, idiotic make up queen, always seemed to get
4. The powder gets everywhere and is a bitch to clean up.

I kept using it for the first three reasons and finally decided to take a break because of the last one. So, nice Sephora lady recommended that I try a tinted moisturizer to get light coverage and an easy look. Great! Show me and I'm sold. She took off my make up and then proceeded to add foundation primer (I thought it wasn't a true foundation) and regular moisturizer (I thought I was going to be getting a tinted moisturizer, do I need that much moisture?) before putting on concealer, the tinted moisturizer and then powder moisturizer.

It took me FOUR LAYERS of "pre make up" before I looked good enough to be in one of those "Stars Without Their Make Up" segments of US Weekly. I was a little scared. Then I realized that I normally use at LEAST three layers of primer, moisturizer and mineral powder at home.

So I guess what I'm asking is: How many layers of pre-make up do you need?

It's like Cauterizing Your Underarm Sweat Glands

Not really, but I haven't been moist for days. Last week before I spent two days moving furniture, I decided to try a new deoderant. I thought I was the only one out there that had to switch up my deoderants every few months, but then Julie told me that she has to as well.

See, every couple of months, I notice that at the end of the day, my arm pits are both sweaty and musty smelling. I get paranoid and start asking friends and co-workers if they can smell me. They swear they can't, but I can. That's when I know it's time to start working with a new deoderant to take the edge off the smell.

This time I decided to switch from Dove Cool Moisture to something a little more hardcore. I wasn't going to go all Certain Dri on my underarms because I wasn't sure they could take it. So, I tried Secret's Clinical Strength deoderant in powder fresh.

After a day of moving furniture, I noticed that I was sweating everywhere. . .except under my arms. And that I didn't smell. I didn't smell like powder fresh goodness, but I did not stink like a construction worker in July, either. Both of which are good things in my book.

Pros: Left me high and dry.

Cons: Leaves the typical weird skin feeling under your arms. That slick, smooth, no pores kind of feeling. Only comes in unscented and powder fresh.

Price: About $8- a little expensive for deoderant, but worth it.

Rating: Relatively fierce. I'll keep buying it until it stops working and then I'm on to another!

Guess it only works for the Barrymores

I want to let you know I will buy anything in an orange tube.

I am always on the lookout for a great, inexpensive mascara, and I think I am still on the lookout after Lash Blast. I was not a fan of the brush, most end in a nice point, but this was like the eraser end of a No.2 pencil.

What CG says: Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Now in waterproof, too!

Pros: I had no raccoon eyes, even after a rock star night. My eyelashes even looked fake!

Cons: My lashes were thick alright, but no curl whatsoever to them. Thick and sticking straight out. Odd looking.

Price:$7.65

Rating: So-So Fierce. If you curl your lashes first, then use this, it's all good. That's too much work for me.

Fab Frederick!

I have a new love in my hair care life. His name..Frederick. As someone who has adored Frederick Fekkai for years now, (I had the pleasure of seeing him work during awards seasons in LA) I was pumped to see he had released a new line of hair care sold at Sephora, Bath and Body Works and other fine retailers. Great hair for the masses...democracy at its finest. My fab mother-in-law was wonderful enough to get me his new Glossing Shampoo and I was sold. It smells so divine and leaves my hair noticeable shinier and supple. Check out my fierce four:
Pros: delightfully shiny hair with noticeable sheen, so soft I can skip conditioning
Cons: don't use everyday unless you have really dry hair otherwise you look a little greasy at the root
Price:$32.50- maybe a little more then your typical purchase but totally worth it! Put down those $200.00 shoes and remember you wear your hair everyday!
Rating: So Fierce-a must have for the dry winter months!

Not so Perfect 10, but not half bad

I'm a do it yourself kind of beauty gal. I'm either uncomfortable with someone scrubbing my feet or too lazy to make an appointment to sit in a salong for over an hour to have my hair colored. Or I'm too poor to have someone want to put in highlights and lowlights every 6 weeks at $200 a pop. For as many things that are cheaper in Nashville than in other metropolitan areas, professional hair care is NOT one of them (I blame it on the music industry).

That being said, I've been dying my own hair since I was about 16. Although I've tried other colors and brands on occasion, I've primarily been a Nice 'N Easy 103B kind of gal. A nice light ash blonde that is lighter than my natural dishwater blonde look, but not too far away that I glow under blacklight. (Side note: Back before I knew better and was just trying to be as blonde as I could be, I went to a college party where my hair actually did glow under the blacklight. It was simultaneously cool and embarrasing).

So with the onslaught of Nice N Easy's Perfect 10, I decided to mix it up a bit. I use Nice N Easy, so it's not that big of a stretch, plus if it looks better and takes only 10 minutes. . .bonus.

They say it smells good, only takes ten minutes, covers gray, adds high gloss, has an easier to use comb, and is better for your hair cuticle than normal coloring.

Fierce Four

Pros: It actually colored my hair in about 12 minutes. It did smell slightly better than regular Nice N Easy, but chemicals are chemicals. When you use more chemicals to cover the smell of other chemicals, eventually no matter how good it still smells like. . . chemicals. However, the after color conditioning treatment smelled wonderfully of coconuts.

Several people commented that my hair looked healthier the next day. I'm not one to ever think that coloring hair makes it remotely healthier, the conditioner did do it's job of adding gloss.

Cons: It left my hair brassier looking than Nice N Easy normally does. I used the color closest to my normal shade and the roots ended up having a reddish tint for the first few washings.

The color palette is pretty small in comparison to normal Nice N Easy or most colors, but I'm sure if the product takes off, the colors will increase.

The "easy to use comb" tip applicator was not so great to use. It separated the hair, but once it was coated, doing the next bit was harder than just using it all over. In the end, I ended up just using the comb for my roots and then my gloved hands for the rest.

Price: Less than $10

Rating: Not so fierce, but not a flop. I'd probably give it another try, but then I'll go back to Nice N Easy.

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave In Conditioner

The last time I got my hair cut, I was so embarrassed. It took 5 minutes, a wide tooth comb, a round brush and a stylist with forearms the size of Popeye to comb through my hair. And I have straight hair.

Years of being common law blonde have taken it's toll on the noggin and the hair. I'd been using a spray-in conditioner to detangle, but my hair needed some extra help. I'd been reluctant to use a cream leave-in because I didn't want my hair to be too weighed down or greasy.

Feeling impulsive and needing to buy something that my boyfriend wouldn't want to share (as opposed the gummy bears that I already had in my hand), I bought Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave In Conditioner at my local grocery store.

The Fierce Four

Pros: It actually did leave my hair silky to touch and was light weight enough to be able to reapply throughout the day without looking like Steve Lavin.

Cons: Sometimes I felt the need to reapply minutes later because I didn't think I had used enough. When I finally convinced myself I had, my look great for the rest of the day.

Price: About $8 or so

Rating: Fierce-I'd buy it again!

Jell-O shot anyone?

I got a tip from an IT guy here at work. (He was working on my computer, and I said to look past the beauty blog I was working on...) He said he's heard that Jell-O is a great lip stain. Is this the powdered Jell-O or the already formed Jell-O? I am always dying to try a new lip stain. I have tried a few, like Benetint, but it just looks like I bit my lip and the blood has dried and cracked into my lips. I want to look like I have been eating berries. Is that too much too ask?

Any great lip stains out there? Anyone?

You've got to know when to hold em'.

I am loving Benefit's Bluff Dust. I don't have rosacea, but if you do, buy this. I have an uneven complexion with patches of red and this takes them completely away. I sometimes cover with my loose powder, or just use this alone.
It's the first thing I've found that doesn't wash me out, but still gives me the concealer I need in a loose form.
I tried the You're Bluffing stick and hated it. That may be better if you have really red, patchy skin. I, on the otherhand looked like I was about to head out to combat.

She's coming to America...

I have to sit down for this one! It looks like there is a great possibility that Jill Stuart will be bringing her cosmetics stateside. Currently these stellar designers’ products are exclusively sold in Japan. So spread the news and get excited about America's newest cosmetic sweetheart. If they are half as fabulous as her clothes we must all rush out and purchase.

The Love of My Life...Kerastase

As a Southern girl forced to deal with the hell that is 100% humidity, this product has saved my life. I have been using it religiously for six months and it has literally changed the texture of my hair. It gives my hair the most amazing shine and smoothness. I naturally have curly hair but with this gem you would never know it. It costs $34 but lasts; I am still on my first bottle. You can go to their website to find a salon near you that carries this hair miracle.

Luckily I didn't have Worchestshire-but I do get all new eye make up

Friday morning I woke up with my left eye stuck together. My lashes, despite my use of mascara and curling, have never been so long as to weave themselves together. So, unfortunately that meant that I had an eye infection.

After insisting that there was a difference between pink eye and conjunctivitis (there isn't), I finally relented to having pink eye. At which point I was reminded of one of the first South Park episodes that I ever saw where combining worchestshire sauce and embalming fluid makes people into zombies. The correlation is that the school nurse diagnoses everyone with pink eye.

With pink eye comes panic and two days of wearing my glasses. All of this could've been a bad weekend until I realized. . .I have to toss out my old daily eye make up! No more Wet N Wild-which I still think is a good product, but I'm ready to move on.

Wet N Wild eye shadow Trios are a great, inexpensive basic eye shadow that doesn't get absorbed too much by your skin and lasts a fairly decent amount of time. The colors coordinate in a pinch and for I was able to play with blue eyeshadow shades without feeling like I'd lose a lot of money if my eyes looked like a jean jacket.

So, now I need suggestions. I tend to go for neutrals or pinks for my eyes. What should I upgrade to for my new daily face?

My Daily Face Part Tre

Where to begin...I am an avid beauty junkie so I have pretty strick regiment morning and night.
-I wash my face every morning and night with Laura Mercier One-Step Cleanser and I exfoliate times a week with the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion home system. I follow up with LaMer cream and the Lifting Face Serum and Intensifier just like grandma, I am telling you this stuff is mucho $$$ but it is seriously amazing!
-I use Chanel pressed powder but I wet the applicator to make it go on a bit more foundation like-very fierce!
-I follow up with Lorac Bronzer and Nars Orgasm blush. I also heart Nars Laguna Beach bronzer but Sephora is always sold out of it!
-My eye shadow depends on the day. Right now I am loving the Laura Mercier palette in Rainforest.
-I have been a devoted Bobbi Brown gel eye liner follower for 10 years and it has never done me wrong. The stuff is sweat proof, tear proof and most importantly DANCE proof!
-I end with a coat or two of Lancôme primer and Definicils mascara, unless I am in budget mode and I go L’Oreal.

-My lip process is usually a MAC color to my liking or just plain Burt's Beez

So that is my daily face in a nutshell. I will leave you know to let this abyss of knowledge and wisdom soak in so you too can have the most fiercest of face!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My daily face.....

My daily face changes on a daily basis. I feel like an 11 year old girl in my sisters make-up every morning. Completely clueless, yet I'm still a product whore. I sometimes don't even wash my face at night. Gross.

Let me give my disclaimer now: I'm horrible at blogging.

• Each morning I wash my face with ProActiv. I've been using it for a year, but only use it once a day as opposed to twice a day. I still get zits, but not like I used to. I guess if I used it twice a day, I wouldn't, but it dries my face out way too much. I then follow up with ProActiv toner and repair lotion.
• I have been using Neutrogena Skin Soothing undereye corrector for a few months and I'm pleased with the results so far. I love the Vicks feeling it gives me!
  
• I follow that with Clinique Body Glow #3 Loose Powder. I just bought You're Bluffing Loose Powder by Benefit to reduce the redness and so far so good! I tried the tube form they had in the store and was not a fan.
  
• I change bronzers and blushes, and sometimes don't even wear them, but I do like

1. Dallas by Benefit
2. All Over Body Stick by E.L.F.

• Sometimes mascara and sometimes not. I think I'm using Full & Soft by Maybelline, but I want to try the Cover Girl Lash Blast in the orange tube.
  
• Carmex alone or followed with Benefit The Gloss in Kiss Me or Benefit Her Glossiness in Who are you wearing.

• I normally use Vaseline Aloe Skin Care Lotion for all over, but right now I am using H2O Shimmering Body Soufflé which I am loving!

I just want some direction in how to wear make-up and to find out what really works for me.

Our Daily Face

Welcome to the Fierce Face. While we don't claim to have fierce faces, we do aspire to them. Just to let you know a little bit about ourselves, we'll each let you know what's on our faces daily- our current make up uniform. We plan to update this at least monthly to let you know what we's making our faces fierce (or in some cases, not so fierce).

My daily face includes:

• Bare Minerals concealer in Bisque and powder foundation in Fairly Light
• Clinique sheer powder blush in Cupcake
  
• Wet N Wild (yes, I'm not joking) eye shadow in the Sands palette
• Great Lash Mascara by Maybelline with another coat of Lash Exact mascara by Covergirl both in brownish black (because I both wasn't born with it and like it easy, breezy)
• Clinique eyeliner in brown
• Call me a beauty travesty, but I actually wash my face with Zest soap. It's cheap, it's easy and it's the only thing, after trying many products, that hasn't broken my face out
• I use Sea Breeze astringent and follow that up with Bare Escentuals Skin Revver-Upper and Biore Skin Balancing Moisturizer
• I'm afraid of looking like a clown or street walker, so I tend to stay away from lipstick unless it's neutral. I do, however, love my cherry chapstick. There's rarely a moment where you will find me without it in my pocket or within arm's reach.
  

That's my face in a nutshell. I'm finding two things:

1. I'm boring. My routine is routine, and while I'm nearing my thirties, I'm getting afraid to ask for make up help because I feel like I should know better. I love make up, but who doesn't need a good shove to get out of a routine?
2. I'm getting older and my skin is changing in ways I never imagined. Is anyone else embarrassed about showing up to work with a huge zit or is that just me? My boyfriend asks me when I'm going to grow out of my zit producing stage and my standard reply is "When I finally hit that growth spurt I've been waiting on for the past 15 years" (I'm only 5'2").

So, if you have a product, yo I'll try it. And when we all try these products, we'll share with you.