What happened when I used coconut oil as my cleanser for a month

If you stop by this little space on the Internet on a regular basis then you will know that I have a bit of a love affair going on with coconut oil. Apart from using it as my primary oil for cooking I swear by it for my hair. I’ve regularly use it as a hair mask and leaving it on over night and I completely credit it for my hair being in a good condition especially when you think about how much bleach has been on my locks! I’ve also used it on dry patches of skin when my eczema is being a bitch  and it’s like magic!

Anyways even though I have been a coconut oil convert for a while I’ve not been brave enough to use it on my face. I’ve used facial oils for a while now but was worried coconut oil was a bit too thick and greasy for my face. However I’ve heard a lot of positive comments about coconut oil being used as a cleanser and ’m always up for giving things a go though and thought I’d try it for a month and see how I get on!

So how do I use it? I scoop of tiny bit, maybe the size of pea out of the tub and massage it into my skin. As you do this it heats up and melts and you begin to look like something from the house of wax horror film as it literally melts the makeup off your face. I then use a damp cotton pad to wipe it a off. It is a fab makeup remover and gets every last bit of mascara off, so no more waking up with panda eyes even though you’d been behaved and removed your makeup the night before! Hurrah!

It can be a little messy and you honestly don’t need much or it will melt and go EVERYWHERE! Trust me I learnt the hard way! So a month down and am I still going to carry on using it? Well I have had so many complements about my skin lately and I really think it’s down to the oil. My skin is so much softer, the eczema on my cheeks has completely gone. I still get the odd spot but only during the time of the month, and I’m totally going with the whole ‘while your getting spots you’re not getting wrinkles’ thing so I’m OK with the odd hormonal spot!

Also in terms of value for money, I purchased a large tub of coconut oil in superdrug whilst it was on offer for £5. As you only need such a small amount I’ve not even used a quarter of the tub so far and I’ve also been using it on my hair once a week so it’s going to last a long time. I think long term using coconut oil instead of whatever cleanser has taken my fancy I will be saving big bucks. Happy days!

The Beauty Blogger Tag

 

I love a good old tag and have spotted this one going round for quite a while so figured I’d give it a go! I feel a little bit of a fraud doing a ‘Beauty Blogger Tag’ as I feel my blogs taken a bit more a lifestyle twist lately. However beauty is where Lipsticks and Lashes started and I can blog about my love of make up a little less, but my bank balance will confirm that I am still a complete beauty addict! 

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

I have been blogging for just over 3 years, I started writing in this little space on the internet as a way to practice my writing and to be a bit creative. I was super bored, very lost in life and need something to get my teeth into. Hello Blogging! Logging onto Blogger.com and starting this blog was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I thought it would just be me writing to myself when I first started out, I had no idea about the blogging community and that people would stop by here or be as super lovely as you all are.

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

A Beautiful Mess was the first blog that I got completely lost in for hours, I think at the time I didn’t really grasp it was a blog or what blogging even is!

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product you bought and was it worth the hype?

God I’m such a sucker for when it comes to purchasing hyped up products! I have no will power! I would love to say that after 3 years of blogging I’ve got a bit wiser but nope not at all! So what was the blogosphere hyped up product I purchased, well that would have to be Rimmel London’s Apocalypse Lip Lacquer. I think I liked it at the time but too be honest it definitely wasn’t worth the hype!

What are your favorite five things about blogging and being a beauty blogger? 

1.    Making blogging buddies!

2.    Finding new products I just have to try out due to someone’s lovely blog review

3.    Blogging has increased my confidence loads!

4.    It’s a great creative outlet

5.    I get to waffle on to my heart’s desire about things I love!

What have you learnt from being a beauty blogger?  

That I am more skilled that I thought I was! As a blogger you’re a writer, a photographer, a PR pro, good at marketing… the list is endless!

Have you changed anything since being a beauty blogger? 

Personally, my confidence has grown, that’s the magic of finding something you love and enjoy doing. I definitely feel more confident within myself. In terms of how I blog, I hope I’ve improved as I’ve gone along, I think blogging is something you continually strive to be better at. At least I hope I’ve got better as my first couple of post all those years ago are pretty cringe worthy!

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?

BLOG FOR YOU! If you start blogging to gain followers and popularity you’re wasting your time! Blogging is hard work and needs to be something you do because you love doing it.

Name your top five brands: 

MAC, Benefit, Bobby Brown, Urban Decay, Lush

Recommend your top five favorite beauty products: 

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

MAC All That Glitters Eye Shadow

Benefit they’re Real Mascara

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Girl about Town

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose

 

Hope you enjoyed this tag? I would like to now tag you all to have a go at it! Make sure you let me know if you do complete it as I would love to stop by for a read!

How to have perfect bridesmaid makeup

I haven’t had a guest post for a while on ‘Lipsticks and Lashes’, my blogs pretty personal to me so I only tend to accept guest posts if I know the writer well or if the post strikes a real chord with me, and it’s the latter that happened with this post! Amy recently got in touch asking to guest post, she then mentioned she would like to do a post on bridesmaid makeup and I got a little excited as I got asked for the third time this year to be a bridesmaid! Yep I know I’m going to be challenging the Katherine Heigls character in 27 dresses soon! Anyways here is Amy’s post, I hope you like it as much as I do! 

 

As my best friend is getting married very soon, I started with the preparations for the big day. After all, I have the honour to be one of the bridesmaids. I don't have to worry about the dress as my friend Jennifer has chosen us a gorgeous crimson red piece. She trusted us with the makeup and as I'm a makeup junkie, I was wondering how a perfect bridesmaid makeup should look like.

So I did a research and this is what I found:

Makeup should match your personality

The perfect makeup has to suit your personality, match your dress and complement your skin tone. All these factors should be taken into consideration.  Makeup which enhances your natural beauty is something you should strive for. Even though we all love playing around with different looks, dark lipsticks and bold eye shadows will not do the trick at a wedding. Remember that all eyes should be on the bride, so don't try to steal her thunder!

Perfect makeup depending on the skin tone and the dress

First things first, the skin tone. I have mentioned that dark lipsticks are not good idea. However, if you have a deeper skin tone, burgundy undertones of lipsticks look extremely flattering. On the other hand, the best makeup for fair to medium skin tones include softer eye shadows and warm lipstick colours.

Now, the dress. In my case, the colour of the dress is crimson red and I opted for neutral shades of eye shadows including brown and gold and a coral pink lipstick. What I will do is put a highlighter on the lids and on the inner corners of the eyes to brighten them up. I will use a brown eye shadow on the brow bone, brown eyeliner and two coats of mascara on top and bottom and finish off the look with the nude gloss.  However, if you wear lighter colours, warm berry smokey eyes will suit you perfectly.

How to make your makeup last?

As you want the makeup you apply to last all day and night, high-quality products are essential. In my opinion, a great choice for bridesmaid makeup is Jane Iredale makeup. I have been using their products for years and I'm quite satisfied. After cleansing your face, apply a primer to get a smooth look. The makeup will last longer if you use a primer. After the application of a carefully-chosen foundation, it is important to apply concealer on problematic spots. Use different concealers for your eyes and face. For your eyes, use a peach shade of a creamy concealer, while an oil-free pigmented concealer is the best choice for blemishes and red spots. Putting the primer before the eye shadow is a must to accomplish the smudge-free look. Apply cream blush on your face, then put a powder on to give your blush more lasting power.

I hope I have helped you choose the perfect bridesmaid makeup. Remember: the skin tone and the dress are the major factors that influence your look.  Finally, don't forget to smile, and have fun!

About the Author:

Amy Mia Goldsmith is an Aussie who loves to read and has been writing novels and short stories as long as she can remember.  She is currently studying, working in a bookstore and writing her first book.  Her passion is beauty and makeup and she loves to spend her free time reading reviews and of course - makeup shopping!  Contact Amy on her Facebook page.

Prairie Pizzazz Subscription Box and an Exclusive Offer!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…. There is a new subscription box on the block, I repeat there is a new subscription box on the block! As you know, I love a good subscription box and was beyond excited when I was offered the opportunity to get my hands on the launch box. What box I hear you say, well its from Prairie Charms, if you’ve not heard of them before they are an online jewelry  and gift shop. 

Its called ‘The Prairie Pizzazz’, its name this as it arrives in a pizza box which is pretty fun! There are different flavour 'toppings' each month to represent the 'theme' of surprises within the box. This months theme being ‘Festival’, which I was pretty pleased with!

So what was in my box? Well I was surprised by the amount, the box was filled to the brim with exciting bits and pieces! Here is a quick guide to what I received…

Dottie Rocks Custom Gold Foil Postacard Print

Pretty zigzag treat bags and some popping corn

Deep purple leather bow

Beaded bracelet

Nail vinyls

Gorgeous flower bobby pins

Pretty paper straws

Hair ties

Lilac flowered hair band

Flower print wire hair tie

Turquoise tassle necklace

Huge apologies for the lack of photos, I finally sort out the laptop issue when my camera then dies, no luck here at all! Anyways please take it from me all these items are gorgeous, and im seriously impressed by the quality.

The wonderful folk over at Prairie Charms are offering an introductory offer to Lipsticks and Lashes readers of £25 for the deluxe sized (full pizza) or £15 for their mini sized versions (a slice of pizza). The deluxe sized box will include all the items that they have included in my box and the mini sized version will include a sample of products, but these will of course will still be of full size. Both of these prices are including postage, which I thinks a good price for the amount of products you receive! 

So if you would like your very own box all you need to do is tweet the guys at Prairie Charms over on Twitter @Prairie_Charms and include in your tweet this hashtag: #LIPSTICKSANDLASHESPIZZAZZ they will then sort out your order! So what are you waiting for?!

How much is your face worth?

I have seen this tag doing the rounds for quite a while and thought it would be a fun one to do.  Do you know how much your face is worth? I always thought mine wasn’t that expensive but over the years I have definitely started spending more on make up, so thought it would be interesting to work out how much my face adds up to! This is based on my every day make up, I think I may do a night out version of this tag one day as I’m sure it’ll all add up to a bit more! So here we go....

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – £18.50

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation – £26.50

MAC All That Glitters Eye Shadow – £13.00

MAC Studio Finish Concealer – £15.50

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – £19.50

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Girl About Town – £15.50

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner – £13.00

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose – £32.50

Drum roll please.... My face is worth.... £154

That does kind of freak me out a little! That’s 6 weeks worth of petrol for my car!! I’m glad I didn’t do the evening makeup now otherwise I think I’d be in shock!!

I now tag you all to have a go at this! If you do make sure you drop me the link to your post!

Weapons of beauty in 21 century

So back at the beginning of last month the lovely Nika, whose sarcasm and dry wit always makes me giggle, she is one funny lady, she wrote THIS guest post here on Lipsticks and Lashes and I am ridiculously honored to have here back again with today’s guest post! She is a fab writer and I think this is such an interesting topic, I would love to hear all your thoughts…..

Nobody is perfect, but on the other side, we have beauty standards that are demanding perfection. How does one cope with that? Should we reconcile with living with imperfections? Do we accept them and look at them from a positive side? Or do we change them if we have the chance? The answer is quite simple actually: it all depends on us. Different people have different view of life and different images of themselves and based on that they’ll decide what it takes to feel self-confident.

Different beauty standards depending on the country (source)

In search for perfection

Women’s hyper-criticism is leading them to have unattainable standards of attraction. They are constantly bombarded by images of perfect women’s body in the media, but even putting that aside, throughout history women always strived to changing their appearance in order to achieve some bigger level of beauty. 

Real-life Ken and Barbie hated the sight of each other (source)

The difference is in tools that are used for such a purpose. In ancient Egypt women used products based on copper, led and malachite to give their faces definition and color. In Middle Ages women risk their health for beauty, by using cosmetics that were blocking proper circulation. In Renaissance arsenic was basic ingredient for face powder. Up to now, make up and cosmetic treatments dominated as a way to beautify. Today, however, as a tool in search for perfection, plastic surgery is becoming more and more popular.

Plastic surgery as a tool of beauty

Plastic surgery today is more popular than ever. One of the reasons is that most of the interventions are pretty affordable, so they are not anymore available to members of the upper class only. Its popularity is also based on growing acceptance of “going under the knife” as a method of beautifying. 

JI YEO

Evidence, news and confessions that many celebs had plastic procedures are making plastic surgery more in demand. It actually makes one feel better about his imperfections, by seeing the flawless look of many stars didn’t happen naturally, and that he too has the chance to look like that. With always popular curves and sexy cleavage, breast augmentation continues to be the biggest trend in cosmetic surgery.

Most popular procedures

Reshaping the nose, or rhinoplasty is on the very top of most wanted procedures. People often have nose job for health reasons, to correct birth defect or breathing problem, or they are simply unhappy with the appearance of their nose. 

Even the most gorgeous of them feel they need to change something

Breast augmentation and enlargement, as mentioned, are extremely popular, due to previously discussed search for perfection, because not all of us are fortunate enough to have firm and well shaped breast, and we all want them. Liposuction is very much in demand because of the obvious reasons. There is no surprise that Botox is still most popular non-surgical procedure. But due to curvy girls popularity, a surprise trend of butt implants emerges, and it’s becoming more and more wanted.

A little touch up here and there

Is there something wrong with a little “polishing” of our nature given bodies? Self-improvement has always been an admirable cause, but when it comes to plastic surgery it is often viewed as unwanted and unacceptable trend. On the other hand, the answer of cosmetic surgery supporters is that the matter is quite simple: “If you don’t like something and you have the opportunity to change it, what’s stopping you?”

- You can find Nika on twitter here. I would love to hear your views on this subject!