Fab Find of The Week: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish in 330 Redgy c/o Influenster

If I could, in a perfect world, I would get a manicure every 2 weeks. But I don't have the money, and I like to think I could make a manicure last longer than 2 weeks. It took me forever to get on the "gel manicure" bandwagon. I really loved the results. A super fast drying time, no chips for weeks, but the terrible state of your nails after you take off the foil doused in acetone? SO not worth it. So I stopped. 

There have been several at-home gel manicure systems since then, but this no-light system by Sally Hansen takes the cake. It's so simple. Two coats of the color of your choice (that's the hardest part, there's so many good ones!) and then one coat of the top coat. Did I mention the top coat dries in like a minute? It's great. No more planning your day around painting your nails. 

xoxo, Courtney

Beauty Essentials

Alright everyone, as promised, here is part deux to the "essentials" series. Hopefully you found Part 1 (Hair Essentials) to be helpful, and ran to your nearest department store to stock up on hair ties, argon oil, and dry shampoo! By no means am I an expert on the topic, but I love to recommend products that I love and hopefully others can benefit as well. As a bonus, I think I have to make a Part 3, and post my Fashion Essentials for every girl's closet. Until then, enjoy!

Left to Right: Up & Up Moisturizing Lotion / Boots Anti-blemish Foam Cleanser / Great Lash Mascara / Olay ProX System / Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse / OPI "You Don't Know Jacques" Nail Polish / NYX Eyeshadow Base / Ulta "In the Buff" Eyeshadow

It was really hard to narrow this list down. I thought I had a good set, and then I thought "Oh no, what about nail polish, and this and that." Basically, I made sacrifices, but these were the lucky ones that made the cut. 

1. I love this Target brand Up&Up Moisturizing face lotion as an alternative to the pricey Aveeno. I put it on right after the shower and it leaves my face silky smooth and soft. It does have SPF, which is great for my light skin, but it makes the lotion smell like sunscreen (my only complaint). A single bottle can last me almost a year!

2. I'll admit it, I didn't wash my face at night regularly until a few years ago. I would cheat and use face wipes (nothing against them, I like them on a late night out) instead of really washing the dirt and oil away. Thankfully, Boots (also at Target) has this great foaming cleanser I use at night and it makes me feel fresh before I hit the sheets. 

3. At one time I could be wearing up to 4 different mascaras. Is that a bit extreme? Maybe. But with all these different types of mascaras, They all seem to do something different. However, the Watermelon Tube as I call it, can do no wrong. If you were forced to only carry one on you, God forbid, then this is the one I suggest.

4. My brother got me the Olay ProX system for Christmas and I can't live without it now! It is a more affordable version of the pricey Clairasonic system. I keep mine in the shower and use it in the morning with my own face wash. After using the ProX system, you don't realize how much of a deep clean you get with the brushes versus your hands. I have totally seen a transformation in my skin!

5. I talked about the Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in a past post (here  ) so I won't reiterate myself too much. I wasn't too much of a face-makeup kind of girl until recently, when I realized I needed to suck it up. If done right, it makes you look fresh, clear and polished. This one is almost invisible, because it doesn't feel cakey on your skin. I love it! 

6. If I had to wear one nail polish for the rest of my life, I would probably chose OPI "You Don't Know Jacques". It works almost as a nude, with a bit of attitude. Frankly, that's a shade I can deal with year-round. 

7. This NYX Eyeshadow Base is perfect when you know you are going from day to night and won't be re-applying your eye makeup. When applied before eyeshadow, it keeps the makeup from creasing (my biggest problem) and looking good from work to happy hour! 

8. I discovered this ULTA eyeshadow a few weeks ago when I realized I needed a natural shadow to wear at work, interviews or on the weekends when I still want to look (somewhat) put together. This particular shade is pretty but natural. Perfect!   

What are your beauty must-haves? Stay tuned for Part 3 - Fashion Essentials. Now this is going to take a while...

My Hair Essentials

Clockwise from left: Boar bristle brush / John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo / Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray / Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo / Lucky Girl Hair Ties / Garnier Fructis Leave-in Conditioner / Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Oil Treatment

I thought I would share my hair and beauty essentials with you all (with the beauty essentials post coming later). We all have a routine and beauty regimen but sharing our go-to products is always fun, especially if you are in the market for a new product.

1. First, let's start with the basics. A boar bristle brush is crucial to maintain healthy hair and is much kinder on your strands than those plastic bristles which rip and tear at the hair. I bought one at Ulta years ago and I love it, the only trick I haven't figured out yet is how to properly clean it (I did once and it smelled God awful)

2. I get my hair highlighted and I spend a lot of money doing it. If you are like me and have color treated hair, then investing in shampoo and conditioner (like this John Frieda Sheer Blonde) is best to maintain those highlights in between salon visits. I have tried many different brands that varied in prices from $5-$30, but this is a decent middle ground one that gave me good results. 

3.  My hairstylist gave me the suggestion of getting a thermal heat spray to use before I blow dryed or straightened my hair. Since I use heat tools a lot and they can be damaging to your hair, a quick spray of this Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray will ease your hair into the high heat of these tools. I use it every time and have seen a difference in the quality of my hair!

4. My favorite hair product has got to be dry shampoo. I have tried a handful of different brands and I bought this Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo only because my regular brand was out at Target! I took a risk and I am so glad! At less than $3, it is even better than Psssst, Tressemme or Bumble&Bumble.  It has a nice citrus smell as well, and I can go probably an extra day without washing compared to other brands; it's that good.

5. These ribbon-like hair ties are the new "it" hair accessory. I got some around Christmas time and they are slowly replacing my traditional ties. They come in fun colors and designs, look cute on your wrist and are gentle on your hair (no creases or breakage). You can find them at Ulta, Target or Etsy. 

6. I have read time and time again that leave-in conditioner is the most important thing to do for your hair on a regular basis. I got lazy for a while and wasn't applying it before blowdrying, but now I am making sure to do it every time! I have very thick hair and the day after a leave-in treatment, it feels soft, healthy and re-born!

7. So I have joined the Moroccan Oil train just like everyone else. For a while it seemed there was just the $40 treatment available, so like a good business student, I waited until more brands created their own versions and I bought it on the cheap. This Garnier Fructis version is around $6 at Ulta. I have no complaints so far, but for full satisfaction, the "sleek and shine" comes through the next day, after my hair has fully dried and the oil is absorbed.

What are your ultimate hair essentials? Any products I should try? Look out next week for my ultimate beauty essentials!