La, la, la, everything's fine! I SAID EVERYTHING'S FINE (also, product recommendations)

The shit has hit the fan with all the family drama that I've mentioned before. Also, my father-in-law's wife's dad (I'll give you a minute to absorb that and figure out who the hell I'm talking about)......................

........passed away, which was really, really sad, And then a few days later my father-in-law was in the hospital. It's just pneumonia, but they checked him for TB because he had it as a child, so there were a few tense hours waiting for the results of that.

So, in my effort to pretend like nothing's going on and EVERYTHING'S FINE, I thought I'd do a product review post. I'm a product whore. Hair products, skin-care products, lotion, body wash, makeup, you name it. In the last year I've stumbled upon several products and a couple of websites that are fantastic, and I'd like to share the love.

**Note that most of the product names are clicky links to said products. I know, I know, I'm so helpful!


Websites

Makeup Ally

This site has product reviews from people across the globe (I think. I don't know. They might all live in, like, Omaha or something) on hair products, makeup, etc. It's great, because they also list the kind of skin or hair they have when reviewing each product, like "Oily" "acne-prone" or "dry" "curly," so you can tell if that review will help you specifically or not. Obviously, if you have super dry skin, reading people with super oily skin drone on and on about how great a product is is a big fat waste of time.

Sephora

Love Sephora. I'm sure almost all of you have already had experience with this site, but if you haven't, check it out. They have similar reviews to makeupally, which are really, really helpful. If you have an actual Sephora store in your area (the closest one to me is 3 hours away. Boo!), they'll give you samples of some of their products to try if you're interested but don't want to invest the money. I went in there once and they put some skin cream in a little disposable container for me to take home and try. I didn't like it, so that gesture saved me $30, and won them my loyalty as a customer.

Skin care products:

I have awful, super-oily, acne-prone skin (fucking PCOS). Also see "sensitive" and "pasty." I finally decided that using drugstore brands was a waste of time, and, quite frankly, money, because I ended up buying so many trying to find one that worked.

Thanks so makeupally and Sepora, I discoveredPeter Thomas Roth products. Um, AWESOME. I started with their Acne Treatment Kit.

I was so impressed with the results I got. My skin cleared up completely, and it looked so much healthier and younger. If you don't have super-oily skin like me, this might be a bit drying. Also, the acne spot treatment is a miracle in a tube, but it smells TERRIBLE. It's sulfur-based, so you can't expect it to smell good, and for what it does for my skin, I don't care what it smells like. The only other complaint I have with it is that if you apply it and don't let it dry for a while without applying lotion or anything over top of it, it tends to kind of roll off. Not a huge problem, though.

I did decide that I didn't need the WHOLE kit, though. I didn't like the mattifying gel (I have a recommendation for that, too, though. Don't worry), and the Acne Clearing Gel was a bit overkill and started drying out my skin. So when I reordered, I got the acne spot treatment, and some different items that were very similar, and that I LOVE:

Blemish Buffing Beads for Face & Body

This stuff is fantastic. It clears your skin, exfoliates, and smells lemony, but the smell doesn't linger after you shower. I use it on my back as well, because I tend to break out up near my shoulder blades (again, fucking PCOS).

When I ran out of the blemish buffing beads, I searched around for the best price to re-order that product. I found this product at The Skin Store (not a porn site. I realize it sounds like one). And instead of buying the above product, I bought something REALLY similar:

Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash

This is pretty much exactly the same as the blemish buffing beads, but you get 10 oz more for $14 less. Don't ask me why. I'm using this on my body and face right now, and hoping I continue to get the same results.

For a daytime moisturizer, I really loved the one that came in the Acne Treatment Kit. But when I reordered, I found this:

Illuminating High Definition Moisturizer

It's also fantastic. It evens out my skin tone and makes my skin look so flawless. I can't believe the difference. I don't have to wear foundation, which is great, because I have yet to find a foundation that works well for me. I just use this, let it dry for a few minutes, then do concealer, mattifying powder, and the rest of my makeup routine.

I use Oil of Olay nighttime cream on my face at night. I don't remember exactly which one it is, but it's cheap and it makes my skin really soft. I've also used Oil of Olay's microdermabrasion kit, and it's fantastic.

When the weather starts getting more humid and hot, I will probably have to add more products, such as the acne treatment gel in the kit. I get uber oily in summer. I'll keep you updated (if you want) on that.

Hair Products

I have an oily scalp, so I have to wash my hair at least every-other day, preferably every day. I also color my hair a lot, and, since having Ellie, my ends are really damaged, which is something I've never had to deal with before.

Brocato Cloud 9 Line
This line smells fantastic. So different than what you may be used to hair products smelling like. I've read reviews describing it as a dryer sheet smell, but I don't think it smells anything like laundry. It's just a really nice, subtle fresh scent. I use the shampoo; miracle repair treatment, which is a conditioner, but can also be used as a mask if you apply it and leave it on for 10 minutes or so in the shower; the blowout miracle repair blowdry serum; and the miracle repair flat iron spray.

The shampoo and conditioner make my hair so soft, and the miracle repair treatment (conditioner) repairs my damaged ends and preserves my color.

The blowout blowdry serum is another miracle in a bottle. It claims to improve brush glide and tensile strength, and it sure delivers on that claim. It makes round-brushing my hair every morning so much easier. The brush just slides right through and my hair comes out shiny and smooth. Apply only to the shaft of your hair and ends, not the scalp. A little goes a long way.

The flat iron spray is something I added since my ends became so damaged. I flat iron my ends, and this stuff really helps the flat iron be more effective and makes my hair really shiny.

Brocato Saturate Leave-In Conditioner

I use this as well in the winter months, because my ends get even more dry. Again, apply only to the ends of hair, not the scalp.

I purchase my Brocato products at several different places, depending on where I can get the best price. I just ordered a bunch from Extended Lengths. Their prices were really great, even adding in shipping, compared to what I pay at Trade Secret, for example.

BC Bonacure Sealed Ends

Again, this is something I've added since my ends have become so damaged. I buy it from my hairdresser, but I'm sure if you search the Internet, you'll find it out there. It smells fantastic, and really seems to work.

I've also used the BC Bonacure shampoos and conditioners years ago, and they're great, too.

Makeup

I generally don't pay much for makeup. I think drugstore brands are just fine for most things, but for eyeshadow I've become addicted to this:

Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow

I love cream shadow. To put it in other words: I hate powder shadows with an intensity I normally save for superfluous apostrophes and incorrect usage of "there," "their" and "they're." Powders are messy, and I find they don't stay on very long. However, cream shadows can be tricky, as well. some rub right off because they're too greasy, and I really dislike the kind that come in tubes that you have to apply with your finger, because that's just more crap on my hands.

I've found several different drugstore brands of cream shadow that I loved, only to have them be discontinued, which is frustrating. I found this at a local department store, and it's great. I apply one thin layer at a time, letting it dry in between, until I get the look I want. I then let it dry for a minute or two before applying eye liner and mascara, just so I don't smudge it. It stays on all day and the colors are beautiful.

Boots No.7 Mattifying Makeup Base

I've tried every single makeup primer out there to mattify my face in the summer. Some of the items I've tried have been horribly, outrageously expensive, and they haven't worked. When I found reviews on makeupally.com for this primer, I thought it'd be worth a try, because I could get it at Target and it's only $10 (I think I've gotten it for $7 sometimes). It's fantastic. It is for VERY oily skin, but man, does it work like a champ. It keeps my skin mostly oil-free during the day, and it helps my makeup stay on all day, even in the summer.

Jemma Kidd Lip ID Color-Adapt Lip Gloss

This stuff is expensive, but it's so cool. It goes on clear, then changes to your perfect lip color, and it's more like a stain, so it stays on for hours and hours.

Physician's Formula Plump Potion

This is my favorite lip product right now. I get it at Target, but I can't find it on their site right now. It comes in several different shades, and I think I've tried all of them. They look bright i the tubes, but they're actually really natural on. It plumps your lips a bit, but what I really like about it is whatever ingredients do the plumping also seem to bring out your natural lip color, and that tends to shine through the color of the gloss, making it look even more natural and prettier. It feels a little weird when you put it on, but you get used to it.

I really love all the Physician's Formula products. They're gentle and the colors are great.

Pixi RoseLip Treat

This is also a great lip product. It's a very sheer gloss that also moisturizes your lips.

Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer

Some bronzers can be too orange or too strong. This one is great. It goes on sheer, but you can tell it's there, that way you can layer it until you get the look you want. I apply this with a big fluffy brush to my chin, cheekbones, tip of my nose, and center of my forehead for a really nice, sun-kissed glow. It wakes my face up and, I think, makes a huge difference in the tone of my skin.

Physician's Formula Powder Palatte Multi-Colored Blush

Great stuff. I apply this to the apples of my cheeks after applying my bronzer.

Baby ProductsAveeno

I love Aveeno's baby products, specifically, the Soothing Relief Creamy Wash. I use it on Ellie, and on myself. I've also used the Baby Calming Comfort Bath on Ellie, and it works great, but it's a bit on the perfumy side for my taste. Elli, Brian and I all have very sensitive skin, which is why I really like the Creamy Wash. It's gentle and moisturizing.

I also really like the Essential Moisture baby shampoo. Ellie's got some major cradle cap going on, so I only wash her hair twice a week, but this stuff doesn't seem to make it worse. It also smells really nice.

Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream is also a really nice product. It's thick and very moisturizing. I find that, on me, it tends to kind of roll off if I don't let it dry all the way before rubbing my skin, but for Ellie it works great.

Desitin Overnight Relief

You might remember Ellie had a terrible diaper rash a few weeks back. This is absolutely the only thing that helped it, and I continue to apply it to her little baby bum daily. It's got 40% Zinc, which is the highest zinc content I've found, and it just works great. Smells weird, is messy, but when your child is suffering with terrible diaper rash, you won't care.

I've also tried Boudreaux's Butt Paste, but it didn't help her rash. I was putting it on her at night before bed, and for a while it seemed to at least prevent diaper rash, but, at only 16% Zinc, it's just not as effective.

So that's all the stuff I'm really loyal to brand-wise. I try different mascaras all the time, and have yet to find one that I'm just crazy about. Same goes with eyelash curlers. I think everyone should own an eyelash curler, though. It really opens up your eyes, making them look bigger and making you look more awake.

If you've got products you love, leave them in the comments! I love hearing what others are using and why they love them.