the skin youre in...

hey friends! lets talk, yes? few things can harm a persons self esteem more than having skin they want to cover with a paper bag. working in makeup, i have fielded a myriad of questions about personal skincare. acne, sun-damage, wrinkles, large pores, skin too oily, skin too dry, flaking, moles, redness, broken capillaries... oy- you name it. so you run to nordstroms and hit up a beauty at a beauty counter and spill your woes. she tells you that she uses the products from her line, they are AMAZING! and that she once looked like a cross between quasimodo and shrek, and look at her now! so you buy!! (of course) but 500 dollars and a month later you aren't seeing the cover model in the mirror like you were expecting. all you see is a sucker with an arsenal of lotions and potions and a foreboding credit card bill. before you do this again, perhaps you will allow the shoestring mom offer some (wallet-friendly) advice.

first- learn to be unashamed to ask for samples. every single line has them either pre-made, or will graciously prepare some for you to try. samples are mutually beneficial in the retail makeup/skincare world. it will prevent you from sheepishly having to return or exchange products. it will enable you to try before you buy in the privacy of your own home. if the product doesn't work- a fraction of an ounce is wasted as opposed to an entire jar.
shopping for skincare anymore can be very confusing. there are so many ads and so many new and fabulous ingredients promising to work a miracle, that its difficult to discern a wolf in sheep's clothing from a product that will really benefit you. samples to the rescue! if the way a product works confuses you, ask a professional or email/call the manufacturer and find out that way.
many stores are great about samples. sephora and ulta will give or make you samples of anything. when i was pregnant i wanted to try a new exfoliating mask. the girl from the sephora i visited gave me generous samples of 5 different types and brands of exfoliating masks. (for the record, i loved the REN glycolic peel mask and the bliss oxygenating mask- and later purchased them both!)
if there is a skincare line you want to try, many times you can contact the company directly and speak with someone. they are usually very happy to send out samples of anything you ask for (within reason) because they want your business!
make friends in high places. i have buddies at saks and neiman's and bloomingdale's who always want me to try things or take some samples to share with friends because they know i will loyally send my friends and clients their in direction.

second- more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. lose label association and work on finding a product that works for you. creme de la mer is great- if youre older and really dry. but if youre oily with larger pores, then that cream (creme... whichever,) will do harm to your face and wallet!! 
some of the best products are found on the shelves of your local drugstore or chain bargain store (target, walmart, kmart, pick your poison) and those places take coupons- while department stores never- get it NEVER!!- discount skin/makeup items.
this is especially true for most acne control skin products. all the active (read: effective, important) ingredients are FDA regulated.  its the law, pardner... for that matter, any product that has ingredients that are for the treatment of a medical condition (like acne) is.... so brand name is really obsolete..buy these products at stores with generous return policies. visit the store and investigate then ask a pro for an opinion (heck, ask me, i have no agenda) and consider generics. they really are comparable to their counterparts.

third- look in your pantry for budget-friendly, effective ways to ail your skin concerns. to this day my favorite way to manually exfoliate is with a tsp. of baking soda mixed into my face wash. olive oil is amazing as an eye makeup remover (used before face wash, obviously.) well ground oatmeal is very soothing to itchy irritated skin. cut lemons and baking soda will fix a self tanner boo-boo in 20 min. best eczema treatment there is- crisco. slather it on and wear cotton gloves to bed and wake up with amazing hands! yogurt, honey, milk, berries, mint, fresh lemons, salt, sugar, bananas, avocado, and cornstarch. all these things when mixed together appropriately can make products that rival anything you buy at ANY store.

fourth- look in your medicine cabinet. a great way to dry out a pimple is calamine lotion. also diaper rash cream (high in zinc) works great too. aspirin masks are amazing for blackheads/congestion and all over brightening. vaseline is great around eyes (and lips) and as a protectant. vitamin E capsules are great for cuticles and dry/flaking skin.

next- if something really works well for you, stick with it. why fix what isn't broken? the makeup counter folks are always going to be hungry for a sale- luring you in with promises of a "gift with purchase" (its always junk, and therefore a waste of your hard earned dough..)

lastly- look in the mirror less often. the more you look, the more flaws and imperfection you will find. and that will make you miserable. know and realize that youre beautiful. God made you unique. cherish that. see yourself as He sees you!

thanks for reading and send any questions my way...

til next time

the shoestring mom

the very first day...

i am new to blogging. very new. that is to say, this is the first time i have ever attempted to do anything like this. BUT! as i sit here thinking of the many titles i hold and the wealth of random knowledge i have managed to accumulate over the years, i think it would behoove me to get it out of my head and onto paper (sort of,) lest my tiny brain explode.
a little about me: i am a single stay at home mom to a beautiful little girl who you all will know as Jellybean. she is amazing. many times daily i pause and thank God for giving her me. that is not an exaggeration- it's a literal truth. even when she frustrates me to the point that i want to scream- i smile (after i scream.) because of her i am less selfish. less concerned with things that truly do not matter -like what my hair looks like when i go grocery shopping. and yes things like that did bother me before.
i am an experienced makeup artist and have worked in many facets of this field. i have taught lessons and done weddings, worked in spas, done films and print work. i have been called and given consultations on how to fix self-tanner snafus.
i am a cheapskate. i would rather work hard to do something myself and save the buck than give the buck to someone else. i clip coupons and watch how-to videos and love to learn and i think this has been a blessing. a desire to learn+ creativity+ being a cheapskate can be a wonderful combination.
i am excited about this new venture, and where it's going to take me. if you have questions, constructive criticism, tips to share- please do! thanks for reading, friends!!

til next time

the shoestring mom