beauty tips

So, over on Kelly's Korner Blog, today is a link-up for "Show Us Your Life-  Beauty Secrets."  None of these are secrets, for sure, but it's what I do, or don't do but should do and I just want to share.  I'm linking three previous posts here because I'm lazy trying to get this done before breastfeed-er wakes and it's the easiest way to get it all in one post.

Here is my eye makeup tutorial post.  If I don't make it clear enough in the post(and because I alternate what actual mascaras I use), the type and order and amount of mascara is most important to achieve this look(I don't think I'll ever stop using that eye liner).  Lengthening, volumizing, and a waterproof. Layer,layer, layer.

A post about lotion and deodorant is here.

And this post makes me want new running shoes and more tanning mist!!

Tips:
-My number one beauty tip is, take care of  your body and your spirit.  If you want to look good and feel good about yourself, exercise, healthy, balanced eating, and an overall healthy, active lifestyle is crucial.  We HAVE to make ourselves a priority.  Natural, minimally processed eating.  ALL in moderation, and within reason.  I'm no extremist and I have GOT to have my sweets.  And my fave workouts are from TheFirm.  You won't be sorry.  Well, you might be the first few days, but keep it up because you will FOR REAL see(and you'll know they're coming because you'll def feel them first!) results quickly!
(climbs down off of soap box)
-drink water.  My goal is to get about half of my body weight of in fl oz of water a day, but that's not for everyone.
-Sleep.  I know, I know...what?! 
-Exfoliate.  I just use a baby wipe, or if I'm feeling fancy I'll use a wash cloth.  That's all.
-Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  Within 3 minutes of getting out of the shower and/or exfoliating, while your pores are still nice and receptive to it.  Face, body, all of it.  I'm horrible about this, but I think Olay is the best for face and I love using Aveeno(or Publix brand) baby lotion for all over, face included.
-Never sleep in your makeup.  Guilty.  I almost always do.  It is really bad for your(my) skin, and leaving mascara on for a long time can(does) dry out your(my) lashes.
-Bare Minerals for face makeup.  Only.  It's the best I've ever used and I love it.  A little goes a long way with this, so the upfront expense is really worth it.
-Try not to scowl.  I am making some serious crevasses on my face because I.always.scowl.  I'm not an unhappy person, it's just what I do naturally, so not scowling is like a workout for me. Hah!
-These are actually my new fave shampoo and conditioner, and I am a sucker for thickening spray and styling lotion
-Aquaphor for feet, cuticles, knees, and other trouble dry spots.  Love it.

I'm being pitifully fussed at by Axl for letting him slide down from his propped up sitting position, and Ace is being quiet downstairs...see ya!

Sweaty Pits and Ashy Skin

I'm a sweater.  Not like the kind you wear when it's cold.  Nope, sweat wears ME when I'm hot...or anxious...or, well, okay...I just sweat.  A lot.  All the time.  When I was in middle school, I had this awful prescription liquid that was toxic enough to make me not sweat and smell like a patch of onions as long as I used it nightly.  At some point, I was able to stop using it and regular(Secret, I've always been a Secret girl) deodorant worked just fine.  Every once in a while, I have had to change types of deodorant because my pits become immune to it, or something.  It stops working and I start stinking, is all I know!
And then I discovered Secret's Clinical Strength deodorant.  It was amazing!  I didn't even notice myself sweating(and going from sopping armpits in middle school to not noticing seems pretty miraculous)!  The only problem was that this deoderant is about as much as a pack of diapers.  And, true, it lasted for a while, but I hated spending that much for anti-sweat and anti-stink.

So last month, I discovered Suave's version of clinical strength.  It's about HALF the price!!  And it works!  I like it much better than the other brand...whether that's all product or mental, I love it!

two of my cheap-o beauty tricks...they work well together

Suave also happens to make my new fave lotion.  I'm a redhead and have some of the most ridiculously sensitive skin.  Ashy, splotchy, rashy, bumps on arms...pretty common for me.  I'm also pretty picky about my lotion.  My mother in-law uses Suave's cocoa butter, so when she recommended the oatmeal one, I jumped on it!  It smells good, but doesn't have a heavy floral scent, and is lightweight but lasts for a really long time(and that huge thing PLUS my deodorant was still less than the "other" deodorant)!  Score!

Does anyone use any less expensive "beauty"(or others) brands that you feel are just as good as or better than the more expensive competing brands (any BareMinerals lovers tried the drugstores' "equals," etc)?!