Show Us Your Life: Beauty Secrets

Two posts from me today! I'm also linking up to Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner. Today's topic is:

BEAUTY SECRETS

Preggo, in November 2009. I like my hair & makeup in this picture. 

I don't claim to be a beauty. Far from it! However, like any good Southern girl, I've learned to work with what Jesus gave me. Thank you, Lord, for beauty products. They make me happy & easier to look at.

Here's my top ten beauty products.

Freeze It! hairspray. I've found it at Target and Walmart. Y'all, this hairspray is $4 and works better than any $20 hairspray I've ever tried. I use it to set my poof. LOVE.

A lot of y'all have asked how I get my hair to be so shiny. Some of it is healthy hair, but 60% of it is this miracle product. I use it after I blow my hair dry and flat iron, but before I tease. It leaves your hair soft, shiny, and free of frizz.

I've used this eyeliner for at least 7 years, and I'll use it until they discontinue it. It's amazing. It's super creamy and easy to apply, and it wears likes iron. I apply it on my upper and lower lash lines, and then use a smudge brush & shadow to blend. It creates the perfect smoky eye.

Bobbi Brown peony is my go-to blush. Yes, it's expensive. However, I've been using the same compact for 3 years and I'm not showing pan yet. I've heard E.L.F (Target or drugstores) makes a dupe.

When it comes to skincare, I believe simple is best. I don't believe in putting a ton of potions and products on my skin. There was a time, in my late 20s, when I applied every expensive anti-wrinkle product known to man. & you know what? My skin looked horrible. I switched to a very inexpensive skincare routine consisting of Cetaphil bar soap, Eucerin Protective Lotion SPF 30, and Merlot Night Cream and my skin looks better than it has in years.

There is one place I do think you should splurge, and that is on an exfoliating product. I used to use St. Ives, but that is very abrasive and studies have shown it actually leaves microscopic tears in your skin. I purchased my Clarisonic 3 years ago and it is still going strong. It's really helped to lighten the pigmentation (brown spots) on my skin.

Every girl should have jojobo oil in her medicine cabinet. There's so many ways to use it! Try it as an eye makeup remover. Add a little to your conditioner to boost the health of your hair. Use it as a deep conditioner for shiny hair. Add a drop to your night cream for super soft skin. Apply it to your face before washing as a makeup remover. Seriously.... I use this for everything. I even use it on Cooper's face.

I use waterproof mascara, so a good eye makeup remover is a must. This one is my favorite. If you use waterproof mascara, you need an oil based remover to completely remove it. This leaves my lashes super soft and healthy.

I've shared my love of Moroccanoil on this blog before. I'm convinced the Moroccanoil shampoo, conditioner, and treatment oil are the reason my hair is so healthy. I abuse my hair: color every 6 weeks, daily blow drying, and flat ironing at least three times a week. I was using the entire Moroccanoil line, but when I ran out the price was just too prohibitive to repurchase. However, I've found a dupe! Argan Oil, found at Sally's, is the exact same thing. Argan Oil is the base of Moroccanoil. Try it out - I promise you will love it and its price tag! This is mainly for girls with thicker hair. Fine haired girls, it will make you look greasy and weigh your hair down. Just use a tiny bit each day before blow drying your hair. I also use it once a week, slathered on, as a deep conditioner.

It doesn't matter how pretty you are, if your teeth are yellow, that is all people will see. I recently invested in an electric toothbrush, and I can already see a difference in the whiteness of my teeth. It also dramatically improves the health of your teeth and gums. Win win, girls!

How about you? What are your beauty secrets? Please share at least one product you love in the comments.