Stylish Things

This past week I have been doing some organizing and decorating and I finally got around to organizing my makeup brushes.  Next week I will share with you the makeup brushes I use, how I keep them clean, and a few other fun tips. 

I love all shades of yellow and a couple of weeks ago I got this yellow hair clip and this oversized clutch. The clutch was a steal at only $18 from Lou Lou Boutique in Bethesda. 

My latest interior design project is decorating the master bedroom. We have the headboard and this week we had the curtains installed. I also found two amazing and inexpensive bedside tables at World Market and a friend of mine is going to spray paint the tables white with a lacquer finish.  I cannot wait to see how they turn out. 

I am slightly obsessed with buying cookbooks and A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen:Easy Seasonal Dishes for Family and Friends is my newest addition. Even though I am not vegetarian, I consciously make an effort to prepare weekday dinners with fresh and seasonal vegetables. 

On The Go Control

I have normal to dry skin but now that we live in the Washington D.C. area the weather can get humid and as the day goes on my face sometimes gets sweaty and my T zone gets oily. I have never used oil blotting sheets but my sister in law Hetal occasionally uses them; so I asked her to give the Proactiv oil blotter sheets a try while she was visiting last week.  Not only is Hetal prone to being slightly oily on her T zone, but she also lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, which get gets super hot and humid. So at the end of a 90 degree day here in D.C. Hetal tried these oil blotter sheets by Proactiv and after just a few seconds of blotting her face with these sheets her skin looked amazing. Her make up was still intact and her skin had a nice clean and fresh matte finish. We both could not believe how much excess oil these oil blotter sheets absorbed and they didn't leave a powdery residue at all.  

So of course I am sold on using oil blotter sheets and now I carry them in my purse at all times.  They are perfect to use after a workout, when my face gets too sweaty from the heat and humidity, or just to control oil and shine accumulation over the course of the day. 

Information on Proactiv Oil Blotter Sheets

Proactiv® Oil Blotter Sheets instantly absorb excess oil on your face, leaving a fresh, matte finish without powdery residue that can clog pores. Packaged in a soft, sheer cover, each holder contains 65 sheets and comes with a 65- sheet refill pack. These blotter sheets are perfect for quick touch-ups, day or night.

Key Ingredients

Proactiv Oil Blotter Sheets control shine with 100% Natural Fiber Paper.

How to use

Remove one Oil Blotter sheet from pack and gently press on face to remove excess oil

Do not rub

Repeat as needed throughout the day

Cost

Retail: $11.00, 130 Sheets

Proactiv Member Price: $8.95

Available at www.DiscoverProactiv.com or Proactiv customers can purchase at a discounted price at www.Proactiv.com or by calling 1-888-819-2019.

1 WASH--->3 DAYS of STYLE

Hana Air hair dryer (my review here) / Spornette Prego 270 hairbrush /  Biosilk Silk Therapy / GHD flatiron (mine looks just like the one in the picture and is a few years old but this is one is similar) / Oscar Blandi Pronto dry shampoo / L'Oreal Elnett satin hairspray

There  are so many ways to maintain healthy hair and washing hair less frequently always tops the list. Washing hair every day strips away oils that keeps hair supple and healthy and if you have long hair like I do it is just too inconvenient. Most of the time I try and wash my hair every two to three days and I use dry shampoo between washes and after workouts to absorb oils and extend time between washes.   I also use Moroccan oil after each wash to soften hair and help maintain shine. Other tricks that seem to work for me include using minimal styling products that cause my hair to be weighed down or greasy, avoid running fingers in my hair, and minimize highlights to twice yearly.  

Usually after washing my hair I like to wear it straight the first day, tousled and wavy the second, and then up in a low or high ponytail or bun on the third day. But I hear Washington D.C. gets humid and hot in the summer so I might have to come up with three new hairstyles and new styling products for my naturally wavy and somewhat unruly hair. 

{Graphic design by Kirsten for STYLE'N}

This Week In Instagram Photos

{New watch and bracelet for my birthday from Aneesh, flowers from my family, and a sneak peek at an fun organizing project I am working on}

 For those of you not following on instagram I thought I would share a few photos I posted this past week.

After all the travel we have been doing lately, I am really excited to stay home this weekend and get a few things done around the house.  We are going to put up some artwork,  set up our new grill, and find some new patio furniture in preparation for my family visiting over Memorial Day weekend.  We also have a fun dinner planned for tomorrow. (more on that next week)

Have a great weekend! 

{Ariyana and me on our way to a wedding reception in Charlotte, NC}

{Friday afternoon treat-mango smoothies  and Essie nail polish in Bangle Jangle}

{A gift from my mom-her vintage gold necklace and earrings}

A Clean Sweep

When I was approached about being a Brand Ambassador for the skin care line Proactiv, my first reaction was I don't have acne and I have never even used the Proactiv 3 step acne system.  And then I couldn't help but think about Justin Bieber and Julianne Hough, two very young celebrity customers and spokespersons for Proactiv. But when I did some research and learned more about the Proactiv skin care line, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the Proactiv's skin line contains a wide variety of products suitable for all ages, including products like the green tea moisturizer and refining mask.  Proactiv's complete line of products addresses skin care concerns from acne to wrinkles and beyond  and this includes a fantastic new Cleansing Brush, Makeup Cleansing Wipes, and Oil Blotter Sheets.

As Brand Ambassador for Proactiv, I will be trying a few of the products from the new line and once a month until July I will share my review and opinions on some of these products.

First up is the Proactiv makeup cleansing wipes. Last night I was too lazy to remove my make up so I gave the cleansing wipes a try.  Let me start off by saying I am one of those people who absolutely cannot go to bed until I have brushed my teeth, taken off ALL my makeup, and moisturized my face. I have also tried lots of cleansers, eye make up removers, and make up wipes, including most recently the Olay Wipes and Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes from Target.

My review on the makeup cleansing wipes:

-I love that they are fragrance free.

-Literally with one clean sweep all my make up was removed gently and effectively.

-Afterwards my face felt clean, fresh, and moisturized with no residue at all. 

-At around $15 they are more expensive than other wipes on the market. But to me, this product is like having a cleanser and make up remover all in one so I don't mind paying a little more. 

-I feel like my nighttime routine just became simplified, especially on nights when I am tired and not motivated to go through an entire process of removing makeup, cleansing and moisturizing. 

-In two weeks I am traveling again (for another wedding) so instead of carrying a travel size bottle of cleanser,  make up remover, and make up remover pads,  I am going to pack these convenient cleansing wipes. In fact these wipes are coming with me on all my future trips!

Other features of these makeup cleansing wipes:

-The disposable cloths are pre-moistened with a nourishing soap-free cleanser and remove make up completely without water or rinsing.

-The wipes gently and easily remove lipstick, mascara, and makeup from the eyes and face.

-Infused with allantoin and lavender to soothe and condition your skin.

-One cloth is large enough to use over your entire face.

-Best feature-->Oil, alcohol, and fragrance free; and non comedogenic.