2013 Must-Haves: Hair and Nails

Here is the third part of my "2013 Must-Haves" series, this time on the hair and nail products that were my favorites of 2013. Hopefully, this series will help you get a feel for what types of products I use and enjoy!

Hair

I'm not as big on hair and nails as I am on makeup, but I still know what works for me and what doesn't, and I'm also constantly searching for the perfect products for that work with my hair. Though it definitely is not glamorous, my hair is temperamental and I sometimes suffer from a dry, itchy scalp along with oily roots. In an ideal world, I would only have to wash my hair a few times a week, but the longest I can go while still maintaining some level of style is washing my hair every other day. And even then, I have to dutifully rely on dry shampoo to cut back on the dirtiness and griminess of my hair. However, these products are what I turned to to take care of both my scalp and my ends.

Shampoo: Everyday Shea Moisturizing Shampoo (vanilla mint)

Conditioner: Herbal Essences Shine Collection Brilliance Conditioner

Leave in Conditioner: It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin

Hair Mask: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Styling Product: Sunsilk Layers Texturizing Wax (discontinued)...alternative: Aveda Light Elements Defining Whip

Dry Shampoo: Batiste Dry Shampoo Original

Heat Protector: TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Protector Spray
Hairspray: Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly

Nails

My favorite nail polishes come and go with the seasons and with my moods, which I think most of you can relate to. Though, there are those colors that I want to wear constantly and these are those polishes of 2013 that I got the most use out of. I don't always stick to the typical polish colors for the seasons, but my favorites clearly represent each category: gold for winter, pastel for spring, neon for summer, and oxblood for fall. In general, I like to change my nail polish every week or two, depending on how much time I have with school and all, but my polish is able to look fresh and acceptable for at least one week because I use four layers. I start with one layer of base coat, two layers of color, and end with one layer of top coat. This sandwich of nail polish really keeps my nails from chipping for quite a long time.

Winter Polish: Essie Pennie Talk

Spring Polish: Butter London Muggins

Summer Polish: Circus By Andrea's Choice Ringmaster

Fall Polish: Revlon Vixen

Glitter: Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire

Base Coat: Revlon Colorstay Gel-Smooth

Top Coat: Revlon Colorstay Gel-Shine

What hair and nail products were your 2013 winners?

Four Steps to Morning Skincare

Mornings are often the hardest times for all of us sleep deprived individuals, but with a solid beauty regimen, I am able to slightly alleviate the burden of waking up. In the mornings, I don't want to have to think very much about what I am going to do, wear, or put on my face--which is why I always lay out my outfits for school the night before. Instead, over time, I have developed this habitual process that makes what comes immediately after waking up more of an innate reaction than a thought out response. Also, if this process seems tedious to you, know that all these steps honestly have a purpose. By being kind to your skin, your skin will be kind to you. 

(for a full list of my skincare products and links see my "Must-Haves: Skincare")

1. Cleanse

My day truly begins after I have washed my face with cold water, using my trusted Clarisonic Mia 2 ($142.50) and Boots Expert Anti-Blemish Cleansing Foam ($5.49). I first got the Clarisonic as a birthday present two years ago, and I must say that it has changed my life. That may sound dramatic to some of you, but it may be the Clarisonic by itself, or the combination of it with the rest of my routine that has made my skin more clear and evenly toned than before. Even though it is expensive, it truly is an investment, especially given the two year warranty and great customer service: I don't know what I would do without it! Back to my routine, I find that using a foaming cleanser with the Clarisonic is ideal for my sensitive skin, and I go through bottles and bottles of this cleanser from twice daily use--I actually have four in my bathroom right now--so the price doesn't hurt.

2. Treat

After I wash my face, I apply treatment to any spots or breakouts I may have. I use this prescription from my doctor: Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel 1%. I've used this since middle school because Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide really weren't working well for my breakouts, and this was the only acne product that helped clear up my skin. If you have had a similar experience as me, be sure to talk to your doctor to see what they recommend. I use the treatment under my moisturizer so that it has the most contact with my skin, delivering the most direct effect. 

3. Moisturize

After the spot treatment has dried, I use my Philosophy Take A Deep Breath Gel Moisturizer ($35.00) all over my face and neck. If I were to only give one beauty tip, it would undoubtedly be: Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! It doesn't matter what skin type you have, you can find the perfect moisturizer for your skin (which really is the difficult part). This moisturizer is good for my skin because it is an oil-free gel, so it is lightweight, doesn't clog my pores, and soaks in quickly. Don't be stingy, slather it on, gently of course. Moisturizing now will pay off in the future. 

4. Protect

Easy to forget, but important to remember, sunscreen cannot be forgotten...ever. It doesn't matter whether it is winter, summer, spring, or fall, you always have to protect your skin from the sun's rays. My sunscreen of choice actually came to me as a sample from Ulta, and I'm glad that it did. It's the CōTZ Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40 ($19.99). This sunscreen has a matte finish, so it isn't greasy and it won't make your skin look oily, which is an important feature for me. It is tinted to a generic skin color, so it does give you the tiniest hint of coverage, but it isn't too noticeable and doesn't affect the product's appeal. 

What is your morning skincare routine? Do you have any skincare products that you swear by?

All About My Eyebrows

I will begin by stating how I absolutely loathe red-hued eyebrows. However, if reddish eyebrows flatter you, by all means, go for it, but they do not suit me at all. In my opinion, cool-toned, bordering on grey colors look far more natural than their warm-toned counterparts. My hunt for the perfect cool-toned product seems endless, but for now, I have found a few products that work well for me. 

NYX Brow Cake Powder in Taupe/Ash--$5.99

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash--$21.00

Top: myglam Eyeliner Brush  Bottom: Real Techniques Brow Brush 

Brow Powder

NYX Brow Cake Powder in Taupe/Ash--$5.99

Personally, if I only put on one thing, I always always always fill in my eyebrows. Despite my British mother, I have inherited my dad's sparse Asian eyebrows that do not show up in any photographs unless they are filled in. I cannot emphasize enough the need for a well-defined brow because it instantly completes any face--with other makeup on or without. My current eyebrow product that I must have with me is the NYX Eyebrow Powder in Taupe/Ash. Aside from it's extremely reasonable $5.99 price, the brow powders are the ideal colors for me because they are cool-toned and ashy, meaning they don't have any red in them. On a side note, please excuse how extremely gross the brow wax is in the product--the powder mixes in and it gets messy, which is exactly why I don't use the wax anymore.

Brow Pencil

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash--$21.00

Brow powder and brow pencil are completely different products that achieve a similar, but noticeably different, effect. Powder tends to stay on the slightly more natural side, while pencil can often look drawn in. The NYX powder is obviously far more affordable than the brow wiz and lasts twenty times longer than the few month life of the brow wiz (from daily use). However, the brow wiz is a cult favorite for a reason: it's faster to use, more travel friendly, and the formula is not too soft and not too hard so it stays on all day.

Brow Gel

Chella Defining Eyebrow Gel--$18.00

I don't really use brow gel that often, but if I feel that my brows are just too uncontrollably long and need to be tamed, this is the one I use. I am also not too fussy about brow gel, but this is the one I have. I am sure that Maybelline Great Lash in Clear would work just as well.

Brushes

myglam Eyeliner Brush

This brush is what I use if I want a really sharp and defined line. Because of how dense the bristles are, it manages to get a fine line, but it doesn't pick up and hold as much product. Therefore, I often have to go back into the powder several times in order to achieve the effect that I want.

Real Techniques Brow Brush (from Starter Kit)--$17.99

I am a huge fan of all the Real Techniques brushes, this one including. Larger than most angled brushes, this brow brush really allows me to fill in my brows quickly and precisely (which is exactly what I need when I am rushing to fill in my brows while in the car, on the way to school). The bristles are more loosely packed so it picks up and holds powder well which means I can use less product and achieve the perfect effect. This really is a must-have brush for me!

What are your favorite brow products?