{Beauty Mark} 15 Minute Dry Cleaner with Bounce

This isn't your typical beauty review.

Part of your beauty routine, believe it or not, is how you treat your clothing. Sadly, many of my favorite pieces aren't the wash and go variety. Many require hand washing or dry cleaning, and the time and money involved can add up quick. Unless you smell like roses and glisten instead of sweat, you're going to need to wash your clothing. 

In an effort to avoid the fees and hassle of dry cleaning, I sought out a less expensive and much more convenient option. Lucky for me, I don't sweat like a linebacker, so my use and abuse of my high maintenance items is minimal. 15 Minute Dry Cleaner sheets with Bounce are the way I maintain pieces of clothing that are worn for a few hours, have a few wrinkles, and require an over all freshening up. 

These have a light, fresh scent and work beautifully for refreshing clothing after a couple of wears. It helps remove stains, treats multiple fabrics and can serve as a quick pick me up for a last minute outfit change. 

I have used it for freshening up coats and sweaters after summer storage, silk blouses that need a little lift and dress pants that don't necessarily need a deep cleaning before the next wear. I use these a lot to support my Forever 21 habit as well. Many of the items I purchase there can be touchy in the wash, and this prolongs the life of the fabric quality. 

Toss in a couple of similar items into the dryer along with the sheet, turn the heat on medium, and let the magic happen.

 {Find it here and in stores}

{Amazon} {Bed Bath & Beyond} {Walmart} {Laundry Supply}

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me nor was I compensated for this review in any way. This product was purchased by myself with my money because I felt like it. That's how I roll.

{Beauty Mark:Local Love} Hearts and Robots

Austin is known for it's weirdness. 

The hipster culture reigns supreme here, and East Austin is quickly becoming the hipster hub. Heck, it was even rated #7 in Forbes' America's Best Hipster Neighborhoods. So, when I made an appointment at a salon named Hearts and Robots, I knew I was getting someone who knew how to do something other than a bleach job and California girl style blowout. Not to say I don't love having blonde beach girl waves, but it's fall, and it's time for something more put together.

A little backstory: I haven't hair a single hair cut from my head in over a year. Due to lack of funds/time, my hair has been sorely neglected. With the presence of a regular paycheck, it was time to get myself back in full working order, starting at the top. I am incredibly nervous about finding new hairstylists, as my curly, dry, fine-textured-but-lots-of-it hair tends to be a diva in the wrong hands.

I found Hearts and Robots via Yelp, and knew instantly that I'd be a long term customer. The over 100 reviews sparkled with happy customers who loved their new hair and their hairstylist. A double bonus. Once I clicked on the website, I found not one but TWO curly hair specialists. Triple bonus. Oh, and did I mention that not only is the salon in an old home full of found treasures {swoon} but they make it a point to provide affordable hair services? My dirt cheap heart nearly exploded from excitement. 

I promptly booked an appointment online, which is incredibly convenient, by the way. A week later, I met up with Stephanie, one of the curly hair specialists, and got right down to it. She spent quite a bit of time talking to me, getting my wishlist, looking at past photos of me with bangs, color ideas, etc. She took the time to get to know my hair, examining the curls and condition and taking my needs/wants and combining them with her expertise. 

Photo via

Within 15 minutes of her beginning the color mixing process, we found ourselves chatting like we'd known each other for years. Lots of laughter, lots of similarities. At one point, we were both holding back tears as we talked about our mothers and their health. We showed each other pictures of our fur babies. We made fun of frat guys with highlights. I mean, we bonded people. How can you not when the woman standing behind you holds the fate of your hair in your hands? She was incredibly easy to chat with, and we had plenty of time to talk, as she had set aside 3 hours just to tend to me.  I felt like a valued customer, not a cow being shot through the chute.

 Another bonus- They just added a beauty trailer, the Gypsy Rose, to the back of their salon! The airstream in Austin is synonymous with 'hipster', and this full service mini salon offers esthetician services like waxing/sugaring, eyelash tint/extensions, facials, etc. So next time I plan on a bang trim/new color/whatevs, I will be booking a lash dye and brow wax to set off the freshly done hair.

Bottom line: I loved her. I loved the salon. I loved the affordability. I'll be back.

{Beauty Mark} Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Serum

I'm a big proponent of prevention and preservation. It is much easier to maintain a healthy state of being, whether that be health, weight or skin than to constantly fluctuate, or to fight against neglect. Get regular check ups, be in tune with your body, and know what you put in it. It's much easier to prevent than undo. 

As far as my skin goes, I'm kind of a nut. I'm the un-fun friend at the beach with the big hat, large sunglasses, muumuu and SPF 70 sunscreen. I get cranky in the sun, and prefer air conditioning at all costs. I'm also the color of paper. So, skincare is important for me, as I'm going to age as well 'as a yellow rose in a tornado' without a heck of a lot of prevention. Was that old southern lady enough for ya? You're welcome.

After a long summer with lots of sun, chlorine and ehrm, refreshments, some find themselves a little worse for wear. They're also prepping for colder, drier months ahead with chilly winds and chapped skin and maybe want to try to undo the summer damage and protect through the winter. 

Along with a good diet full of healthy fats, proper hydration and minimal abuse, skin will remain well preserved. Granted, not everyone can live in a humidified dome and feed on a steady diet of avocados and salmon. So things like Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum are a lifesaver. It's great for helping refinish the look of your skin by leaving it velvety and moisturized, with a lessened appearance of wrinkles. 

I tend to scowl in my sleep, and wake up with lines between my eyebrows that look like '11', and two horizontal lines across my forehead. I even sleep on a satin pillowcase and yet I still wake up with some serious dents. I use this nightly and I've noticed over the last few months that the '11' looks less severe, and the creases under my eyes have greatly softened. This stuff really helps keep my skin looking glowy and smooth.

This is a mild retinol, so be prepared for some light stinging and peeling the first week. Also, if at all possible, apply this at night before going to bed. Exposure to sunlight combined with the serum can be very harmful to the new layer of skin that's now exposed. Also remember to wear an SPF 15 or higher during the day to protect that new baby skin.

Beauty Mark: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Styling Oil

I will always be a blonde. 

In the summers, however, I tend to be more 'Children of the Corn' than blonde if I'm not careful. The sun in Texas bleaches out my hair quickly, leaving it dry and frizzy, but then greasy at the roots. Well, I found a solution for the greasy part. But the fried ends and rough texture were still a problem.

I discovered this product a couple of years ago on accident. I had my hair cut and had a blowout done, but my hair never turns out right if someone else tries to straighten it. So after the blowout, I asked if she had any frizz serum or light oil for my ends, since they were the consistency of hay. She told me to look around in her basket to see if I wanted to try anything, and I found this little gem.  

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Styling Oil is a lightweight serum that smells like ginger and chamomile (yum!), and it turns my dry hair into silk. You can apply this pretty liberally without risking greasy, limp hair, and it gives my hair a soft shine without weighing it down. I would, however, advise to not put it on your roots, or anywhere close. Think of the hair that hangs past the elastic in a ponytail. That is the area to target with this stuff.

It's a great product for summer if you need to help protect and nourish areas damaged from the sun, harsh water and heat, and the static, blowdryer and winds of winter. I highly recommend this product all around, and if you're looking for a moderately priced product that will last you a year or more, this is your stuff!

Amazon

{Beauty Mark} Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo

Oily hair season is here again. I have some seriously curly hair (read: dry with a tendency to frizz) and it protests being washed. So, I have to deal with a sweaty, product ridden scalp for most of my week. 

Sexy, right? 

I find myself planning my hair wash days around the events of the week, and prioritizing my activities based on clean hair. I have used baby powder in my hair for years to mask the greasy roots and give my hair the volume it lacks after a couple of days of non washing.

I recently started experimenting with dry shampoo, and have really loved what I'm seeing. There are some that are leaps and bounds above others, and I have found one brand in particular that not only controls the oil, but builds volume and adds a touch of shine. There is no George Washington-esque white tint and the smell is heavenly. It smells nothing like a baby's bottom, or really any powder at all. It has a fresh, almost fruity smell that even got Micah sniffing my head. 

With disturbing frequency actually.

It's Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo! It runs around $3-$4 in most drugstores, and is really the best low cost version out there that I've tried. It's light, smells gorgeous, and really builds volume and leaves my roots soft. 

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a light, great smelling dry shampoo that really leaves the hair feeling a bit cleaner.

Amazon | Walgreens | Drugstore.com

{Beauty Mark} Tree Hut Sugar Scrub

I think I can speak for most everyone when I say spa treatments are heavenly.

They're also expensive.

As much as I've begged, pleaded and cajoled Micah into being my personal masseuse and spa boy for the day, I still haven't got my wish. I find myself alone in my homebound spa adventures, so I have had to get creative with my product use. My rules are:

They have to smell good.

They have to actually work.

They can't cost more than $10.

Well I have been poking around Target, Walmart and my local drugstores and have come up with quite an array of products that are just as heavenly at home, and  get the job done without actually costing us the visit of a spa day.

One of my favorites is a sugar scrub. It can be used in the shower and gently exfoliates, which lays the foundation for lotion to do its job, as well as leave your skin glowing. Tree Hut Sugar Scrub is a great way to clear off the dead skin left behind by winter and kick start your adventures in the sun. It smells insanely good, and I may have experienced some mouth watering during my shower. It makes me crave dessert every time I open the container, and it leaves my skin incredibly soft and smooth.

Win, win. 

They can be found at retailers nationwide, as well as online retailers such as CVS, Amazon and Drugstore.com.

The website lists the scrubs, the ingredients and what each scrub is made to do.

They are all great quality products, so the decision is up to you!

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me nor was I compensated for this review in any way. This product was purchased by myself with my money because I felt like it. That's how I roll.

{Beauty Mark} Loreal Sublime Bronze

Summer is fast approaching, which means shorts and bathing suits are on their way as well. And we all know how much I love that idea.

Not sure about you, but I tend to keep a pretty pasty pallor during 9 months (ok, 12) of the year. I am completely incapable of getting a tan. I step into the sun, turn pink, burn, peel, repeat. So my idea of being 'bronze' is with 6 layers of self tanner topped off with SPF 85. I'm a regular Brazilian beach bum. 

I don't quite have the cash to get airbrush tanned every 10 days or so (but if I did, I would!) so I use this stuff. 

Loreal Sublime Bronze is pretty spectacular. I get compliments on my 'tan' every time I do it, and it's pretty much foolproof to apply. The Sublime Bronze is a quick dry formula, which means it can tend to dry out your skin if applied on its own. It also increases the chance of streaks.

I buy the Deep Natural and mix it in with my regular lotion. The beauty of this is I get a medium color while moisturizing. Using it with lotion also allows me to layer it gradually to prevent that Oompa Loompa orange that too much tanner can cause. 

This product is also sold in wipes, gels, and sprays, as well as temporary color options. I am a fan of the wipes as well. If I'm going for a really dark look and don't want to spend a week building up the color, I use the wipes to buff on the color first. I use 2 wipes (1 for legs and stomach, 1 for back arms and chest) and rub in circular motions to make sure I have completely even coverage.

I let that layer dry for around 10 minutes, and then apply the lotion on top.

You can find this at most grocery stores, drugstores, Amazon and mass retailers such as Walmart and Target.

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me nor was I compensated for this review in any way. This product was purchased by myself with my money because I felt like it. That's how I roll.

{Beauty Mark} Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion

Everyone talks about the glow. 

There is the 'new love' glow. The 'pregnancy glow'. The 'just plain happy' glow.

And then there's this glow. I love having radiant skin, but a lot of shimmer creams or lotions can have a glitter effect, and it comes off a little more 'middle school meets stripper' than 'radiant glow from within'.  When I discovered this at Target, I loved the pinky undertone. It translates well on skin, and doesn't leave a silvery cast when dried. 

Also, during these summer months, we sweat. Let's be honest. This allows you to use a mattifying powder and add on the shimmer. It also gives you the chance to add more shimmer for a sexier look on those nights out where you throw caution to the wind and glow to your little heart's desire.

A little goes a long way with this, and is best applied on areas you want to highlight, like underneath the brow, corners of the eyes, high on the cheekbones, collarbone and cupid's bow of the top lip.

I have found that it mixes well with lotions as well, so a few pumps can be mixed into facial and body lotion. Don't worry- a little of this stuff goes a long way and you won't run out quickly.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great highlighting cream at an affordable price of around $13 a bottle. 

You can find it here and here. Also check out your local Target stores.

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me nor was I compensated for this review in any way. This product was purchased by myself with my money because I felt like it. That's how I roll.

{Beauty Mark} Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel

Spring cleaning isn't just for the clutter in your closet, kitchen or attic.

It's also for you! Winter brings dry, chapped skin and spring is all about the new. I myself am very sensitive to scrubs with beads or crystals and will break out at the mere sight of them. I use a face loofah in the shower, but I still feel like I'm shedding skin throughout the day.

I caught myself wandering around Ulta around this time last year, about 2 months before my wedding, and ran across these pads. I normally wouldn't spend the moolah on something like a face peel, but my mom had been getting lactic acid peels and loved them (was that supposed to be secret?) and I saw that these used lactic acid as well. I figured they were less expensive than going to a dermatologist, I was a bride possessed, and was sucking up any product that could possibly make me a more radiant, sane bride. 

These puppies didn't make me any more sane, but good grief did I glow! I would rub one of these on my face fresh out of the shower, as well as my neck, chest, shoulders and tops of hands. After about 3 or 4 uses, I started noticing a subtle glow and an evenness to my skin that I hadn't noticed before. I only used them twice a week or so, because any more and they would just straight peel my face off.

I would advise applying these at night to give them time to soak in, as they can leave the face slightly sticky for a few minutes after application. Because of the season, make sure to apply a face lotion with SPF to protect that new baby skin!

After seeing the improvements, I told my mom, and not only did she start using it, her boyfriend did as well. My husband even uses them from time to time! I have even converted a couple of friends to start using them as well! 

They may run a little pricey (ok, a lot) but I just now finished the jar a year after buying them, as they need to be used less often once you bring out that glowing new skin!

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel Pads

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me nor was I compensated for this review in any way. This product was purchased by myself with my money because I felt like it. That's how I roll.