Splurge or Save!

   There are two scenarios: either a.) you're completely drained from the holidays and need budget friendly beauty options; or b.) you recently received tons of gift cards and are ready to splurge! Either way, there is a "splurge" and "save" option of every girl's beauty must-haves; from tousled tresses to tempting toes. 

Shampoo/Conditioner for Dry Hair:

Splurge: Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner ($30+):

This shampoo/conditioner is amazing for anyone with normal to dry hair. The fragrance is lovely and not overpowering. After just a few uses, your dry ends will begin to feel soft and luxurious. The price is a little steep, though. Paul Mitchell products can be purchased at your local salon.

Save: Sally Beauty Supply's GVP Tea Tree Oil Shampoo & Conditioner ($13):

The ingredients in this shampoo and conditioner are almost identical to Paul Mitchell's. The moisturizing benefits are amazing. The scent is EXACTLY the same. At $13, this combo is a STEAL and can be purchased at your local Sally Beauty Supply Store.

Texturizer for "Beachy" Waves

Splurge: blowPro Wave Maker Light Twisting Lotion ($21):

This lotion creates soft waves and curls. The scent is light and fresh. Ingredients are safe for hair. When I am doing waves I generally prefer a spray, but this lotion works great on wet hair and dries to a beautiful head of tousles, even on straight hair! blowPro products can be purchased at Macy's or Nordstrom.

Save: Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray ($5):

This spray is aaaaaamazing! It creates the perfect beach look. It smells slightly of coconut and ocean. It creates messy beach waves with tons of texture. The spray is great on wet or dry hair. At only $5 this product is a MUST for every girls' bathroom!

High Def Foundation

Splurge: MakeUp Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40):

This foundation is absolutely beautiful. It creates a flawless, full coverage. On the skin it appears as if there is no foundation, instead, the skin looks beautiful. This foundation is also oil free, so it's great for breakout prone skin. However, the steep price makes it hard to use every day. MakeUp Forever can be purchased at Sephora.

Save: mark Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup ($10):

This oil-free formula creates a natural, flawless coverage. While evening out skin tone and covering imperfections, the skin still remains natural and beautiful. For $10, this foundation is wonderful. It feels silky smooth on the skin and can be worn as an every day foundation, or layered for a special night out. This foundation can be purchased at my Mark store at http://jessicaford.mymarkstore.com

Foundation Primer

Splurge: Smashbox PhotoFinish Foundation Primer ($36-$42):

A favorite of makeup artists, Smashbox Primer is beautifully silky and packed with vitamins for skin to drink up. This primer fills in fine lines and evens out skin tone while also prepping the skin for foundation. The foundation will last longer and have a more luminous effect when applied after PhotoFinish Foundation Primer. Smashbox products can be purchased at most department stores.

Save: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer ($10.99):

This budget friendly foundation primer is magic. It instantly smoothes skin and evens out tone. It's silky and easy to apply. The primer immediately brightens the skin and almost encourages me to not even apply foundation afterwards. My blotchy, tired-looking skin was instantly transformed into a smooth, flawless, bright canvas! I actually ended up preferring this primer over my MAC or Smashbox primer, especially at the great price!

Lip Colour

Splurge: NARS Lipstick ($24):

NARS offers 48 different shades and 3 different formulas, creating versatility and options like nobody else. The lipstick is by far the longest wearing I have encountered. Packed with Vitamin E, the color stays true and moisturizing throughout the day. My favorite shade? Belle De Jour in sheer. It's the perfect nude. Although the price is higher than drugstore brands, it's definitely a splurge that's worth it!

Save: Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick ($6):

This silky smooth lipstick wears and feels like a splurge, even at $6 a tube. You'll be the only person who knows it's Revlon. The formula is very moisturizing. While I find myself re-applying throughout the day, it still wears longer than most budget brands. My favorite color? Coral. It's a bold, beautiful color!

Will you be saving or splurging? ;)

DIY Brown Sugar Body Scrub

    During these harsh, dry winters it's important to stay moisturized and exfoliated. If you're like me and on a budget, it's not likely you're going to be splurging on a Kiehl's body scrub. Instead, try this wonderful at home scrub using ingredients you likely already have laying around. The bonus? This scrub smells wonderful, is great for your skin, and makes shaving a much more enjoyable experience. PLUS you can ease your mind that you're not scrubbing a ton of chemicals onto your skin since you know exactly what goes in it! 

What you need:

Brown Sugar

Coconut Oil

     -Substitutions: Almond oil or olive oil. Coconut has TONS of benefits though.

Lemon juice

     -Naturally squeezed is best, but the packaged stuff is good too!

Honey

*Optional* Oatmeal

In a jar put as much brown sugar as you'd like to use for your scrub. I used about a cup. If you want it more coarse, use more, less coarse, use less. Warm up oil for 15 seconds in the microwave. Add to brown sugar. Stir. Add spoonful of honey and spoonful of lemon juice, or the juice from half a lemon if using fresh. 

You can tell after stirring how the consistency is. If you'd like it more coarse, add the oats or more brown sugar.

Voila! Scrub over body and enjoy a relaxing experience! The scent is wonderful and the oil leaves the skin feeling great.

Have you met Mark?

As many of you girls know, I am a Mark Rep. I have a website which you can purchase Mark products. I have attempted, up until this point to keep my blog bias-free. But, I've been told I MUST SHARE MARK WITH YOU!! I have recently encouraged a few friends to try products, and they love them just like I do. So, I'm going to spend a post talking about some of the amazing products from Mark.


First, let's start with skincare. Mark has an amazing line of fragrance-free skincare. Their cleansers are soap-free and all products are full of natural anti-oxidents inspired from food and fruit in our everyday life! 

Step 1: Cleanse

"That's Deep Purifying Cleanser" $8

Sugar maple and black willow bark star in this soap-free formula.

I've been using this cleanser for about 9 months now. I switched from ProActiv, and I love the soap-free formula. It has no chemicals that claim to help your skin, but only hurt it. My face, which had been suffering massive breakouts, is suddenly clear and beautifully smooth. Every other morning, I add Mark's exfoliating beads to the formula for a perfect combination of exfoliation and cleanser.

Step 2: Exfoliate

"Berry Grand" Exfoliating Beads $9

Infused with pomegranate seeds for antioxidants, combined with apricot seed powder and oil-absorbing rice powder provides deep exfoliation.

It's a super cool idea to have the exfoliating beads separate from your cleanser. You should never exfoliate everyday (unless you're extremely oily), so it's nice to have the option of adding the beads to your facewash. I also like to add this to my body wash once a week. Fabulous!

Step 2: Moisturize

"For Goodness Face" Antioxidant Moisturizing Lotion $18

Dark chocolate, blueberries, lemon fruit, and canadian willow herb combine to make the perfect oil-free moisturizer.

I have an oily t-zone and the rest of my face is pretty dry. I dab on a small amount of this moisturizer and I'm good to go. I love the lightweight non greasy feeling. I also love the protection you get with the SPF 30. Definite must have!

Mark also has a "refresher" which I love. I keep it in my purse. It's full of antioxidants and caffeine to give your face a little boost throughout the day. I spritz it on halfway through the day to keep my makeup looking fresh, or if I just need a little umph.

"Mist Opportunity" Multi-tasking refresher $8

Grapefruit, kiwi, and lemongrass make this refresher perfect for sad skin.

As you've been able to see thus far, the prices are fair. Let's talk a little about some must-have makeup essentials. Don't forget, Mark also has a fashion line with jewelry, shoes, and clothes. 

I absolutely love the Mark eyeshadows. Each color square if bought individually are $5. The colors are so bright and fun. I use the eye shadow primer, and then the eyeshadow lasts all day.

In the summertime, I am a HUGE fan of tinted moisturizer. I think it looks so much more light and fresh in the summer months than a heavy foundation. I have tried MAC, Sephora, Make-Up Forever, and tons of brands, but I always go back to my Mark tinted moisturizer. It is lightweight and oil-free and provides just a tint of color to smooth out fine lines or redness. It has a unique skin balancing formula which helps hydrate dry areas, while leaving oily ares shine-free. 

$8

For the times when a foundation is a must, I turn to Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup. It is pretty comparable to Make-Up Forever Hi-Def Foundation, but for 1/3 the price. This makeup features a sponge applicator so you don't have to get your hands dirty. It's lightweight and oil-free. The finish is natural, not shiny or matte. I dab on my face then smooth out with a foundation brush.

$10

Another daily must have for me is rosy cheeks. I absolutely love the "Just Pinched" instant blush tint in "cheeky" shade. It's so girly and pretty! It goes on smooth and I blend with my fingers. The end result is feminine rosy cheeks. I haven't tried the other shades, but I'd be willing to bet they're adorable as well!

$8

Although there are about 20 other products that I absolutely love, I'm going to need you to go check them out! Have some fun on the website. Send me messages or comments if you want personal recommendations for your skin. That's what I'm here for! Mark doesn't get near the recognition it deserves. Hopefully, you can find the appreciation for it like I have!

My Mark Store- Click to MeetMark

Email me for recommendations or questions!

Get bikini season ready!

Hello my lovely ladies! 
The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, the bikinis and flip flops are front and center in every store you walk in! It's nearly time. Sand, sunshine, chlorine, cookouts, beach trips! Oh it's just so exciting. Until... You take off those frumpy winter garments and realize 

o.m.g.

Okay, let's be honest, none of us treated our bodies favorably this year. There was a lot of great food and not enough time for pilates, right? Well now we have to work double time to squeeze our bums into those two pieces before shedding our cover-ups poolside. Don't worry, I'm here to help. If nothing else, I hope to inspire you to take action! Is it just me or are the bikinis getting smaller?

First, quit poppin' those scary diet pills and get your butt to the gym! I know it's tough to get motivated to go, but try joining a bi-weekly class like zumba or kick boxing. It'll make the work outs fun and you'll be burnin' calories before you know it! I know some of my readers are moms or just too busy for a gym, but there are options for you too! Grab a chair during the news and do some step ups during the commercials. It's not much, but it'll get your metabolism in gear and maybe even motivate your body to want more exercise! Nike just released an AWESOME iPhone app and it's FREE! It has custom workouts for certain types of goals like toning just your butt or legs, or all over weight loss. It even includes videos for EVERY workout, and most can be done at home!

Just the tiniest amount of cardio can force your metabolism into overdrive. When you wake up in the morning, try doing a few sit ups and push ups before you do anything else. Starting your metabolism early will help you burn calories all day. When you take your shower, do some calf lifts (Just go up and down on your tippy toes). Park further away, take the stairs, bla bla bla you've heard it all before, right? Well do it! You won't regret it!

As far as food goes, DON'T STARVE YOURSELF! If your body thinks you're hungry it's going to store food in preparation. That food gets stored in some nasty places, ladies, so eat up! Make good decisions. A fast way to get quick results is to replace all of your daily beverages with water! That's right..No soda, no sweet tea, no kool-aid. The morning cup of coffee is an exception, as is the nightly glass of wine. When your body doesn't get enough water, like food, it stores water in unattractive places like our butts and tummy. You can get rid of that by making sure you are always drinking plenty of water! Get a water bottle so you can always have fresh cold water with you! I really like these CamelBak bottles because the straw seems to encourage me to drink more throughout the day. These are around $12 and they're BPA Free!!

Another easy way to jump start your weight loss is to incorporate smart breakfast items into your morning. You've been sleeping anywhere from 5-9 hours without any food, and even though many of us skip it, breakfast is very important! Try fruit smoothies with greek yogurt. You can buy a big bag of mixed frozen fruit since it's cheaper than fresh and all the vitamins are locked in when frozen.

Fruit Medley Breakfast Smoothie

In blender mix 

vanilla greek yogurt

frozen vegetables

Trop50 Orange juice (or another low cal fruit juice)

Yum!

If smoothies aren't you're cup of...smoothie... try a simple oatmeal! Oatmeal is great because depending on your mood you can festive the bowl up or just keep it simple. Not only that but oatmeal is full of nutrients and fiber that help keep you full longer. It'll help you make it through that awkward 11 AM hunger.

In bowl add:

1 1/2 cup (or less depending on your hunger) plain oatmeal

drizzle pure honey over oats. don't be shy. honey is great

1-2 splenda packets or 1 teaspoon brown sugar

Boil water and add liberally. It'll thicken as it sits.

Feel free to add fresh fruit, nuts, or soy milk!

Last but certainly not least, there are some vitamins that are absolutely essential for women actively trying to shape up. A daily vitamin for women is always a good idea. Add an extra B vitamin complex to your regular daily vitamin. B vitamins help convert your carbs into energy so you can utilize them better throughout the day! Also, fish oil is a great supplement for women. Fish oil helps break down that stubborn estrogen fat that we all hate! Unless you consume 2-3 glasses of green tea a day, you should grab a green tea supplement as well. Green tea is full of metabolism boosting superpowers. Think about that next time you're about to order a White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks (a whopping 470 calories and 18 g of fat!)

More than anything, ladies, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself "I am beautiful!" because you are! Confidence is of the utmost importance during bikini season. ;]

Let me know what you guys think of this change of pace or if you would like any workout ideas or recipes!

xoxo

Not your mother's hair products!

   Ladies! I am so ashamed! I have not posted in so long. It has been so amazingly busy in my life lately. I had an amazing spring break in the Keys with my manfriend, became an aunt, and plunged into textbooks in preparation of finals. Whew. I finally got a break, and I have something very exciting to share with you babies.

   I absolutely loved the rough, textured look of beach hair. Not the beach hair I actually get at the beach, which is generally tangled and sticky and no fun at all. But, the sexy beach waves that you see in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. It's also seen commonly on fashionistas such as Blake Lively, Vanessa Hudgens, and the Olsen twins. Now, you can sport the look all over campus! The best part... The product runs about $5.

  I have never heard of this line of products. It's called "Not Your Mother's Haircare". While browsing through Wal-Mart mid thunderstorm, I noticed the cute bottles and catchy titles. "Beach Babe" and "Beat the Heat". Both under $5. I snagged both the products, and they didn't disappoint. 

   First to try was the Beach Babe texturizing spray. It has dead sea salts in it so it actually feels and smells like the ocean! I spritzed it through my damp hair and let it air dry. My hair is thick and crazy, so I expected it to go nuts. When it was dry, it looked great! Had wonderful texture and wasn't too tangled or messy. Kind of gave the bedhead look. I loved it. I spritzed a little more through my dry hair and pinned it in a couple places and voila! Good to go for the day and it was so easy!

  The next time I washed my hair, I tried the Beat the Heat heat protectant. Heat protectant is very important if you use any sort of heat on your hair. It helps prevent damage caused by heat. Again, I loved it. Generally, I get the feeling that heat protectant either makes my hair feel course or oily. This product did neither. I spritzed it throughout my hair before blow drying, then again before using a curling iron. My hair was soft, silky, and shiny. Job well done! I am always so excited to find cost conscience products that actually work! I can't wait to try the rest of the line!

Please comment, my loves. xoxo

To exfoliate or not to exfoliate: That is the question

I think by now we can agree that no two faces are alike. While one face may be oily, one combination, one may thirst for moisture, while the other needs some oil blotting sheets. Get the point? No product is going to work the same for every skintype. However, most experts agree that exfoliating is a big part of mainting healthy, beautiful skin.

Personally, I used to hate exfoliating, but the problem was that I wasn't using the right exfoliator for my skin. It's important, in my opinion(which some strongly will disagree, I'm sure) to minimize the amount of chemicals you use on your beauty regimine. This is something I will continuously preach. If you can find something that works without the chemicals, go for it! I stopped using products with acne medication because, although I'm breakout prone, they made it worse. Same goes for my exfoliator, I switched to something a little less harsh.

Now, my routine is pretty simple. If I have makeup on, I use my Clinique take the day off balm at night before bed, and when I wake up, I exfoliate to get my day started off great. I found this method of exfoliation, and I am IN LOVE! My skin is super soft and actually really clear. Mark Go With The Grain Exfoliating Beads.

This stuff is super awesome! It's basically ground up oatmeal. It's like superfoods for you face! The best part is, you just add it to your facial cleanser. It lasts forever, too. I usually add it to my Mark That's Deep Purifying Soap Free Cleanser. It's really neat, because the bottle sits right on top of the cleanser! Like this:

So cool!!!! :) I know, I'm like a little kid when I find stuff like this. When I add the beads to this cleanser, it rubs on the skin perfectly. The only downside is, it takes a while to get it all off. But, not a biggie, once I get it off my skin is glowing. I've started going out of the house without makeup on a lot more frequently after discovering this stuff!

If you're interested in buying any of these products, let me know. I have my own store and I almost always have a promo code going on! In fact, I have a really awesome one right now, but you have to comment to get the promo code.

http://jessicaford.mymarkstore.com/

xoxo

Worst Facial Cleanser I've Ever Tried!

So thus far I have had the opportunity to share some awesome products that I love with you. Well, that's not entirely the whole point of this blog. I want to make you aware of terrible products as well, to save you money! As a girl with constant breakouts, I am always on the lookout for some great acne products.

So, I came across this cleanser when I was looking for something cheap while traveling.

The label looks great, the ads look awesome, and it was like about $4. In the commercial, a beautifully clear skinned model is using this cleanser and talks about how it has an amazing tingle and continues to work all day long to fight breakouts. Great, right?!

So the first thing I notice when I get home and try it out is that it really does tingle. It actually feels great on my face. It's really creamy and makes my skin feel really clean. I throw a little moisturizer on, and off to bed. When I woke up I had a whole new batch of pimples! I was so confused! Well, I don't like to judge by one use, since it could have been a number of things causing my breakout. I continued to use this cleanser for 7 days, and it was the WORST THING EVER! My skin was red all the time and had several different breakouts. I couldn't WAIT to throw this stuff in the trash! 

This fiasco got me thinking about the marketing of some of these products. First, why does a girl with ZERO pimples advertise a product like this? I want to see a girl with zits just like me using this product, and I wanna see results! Also, the girls are covered in makeup while washing their face. Really? That's not realistic. I decided for my next cleanser post, I'm going to post pictures of me actually using the product. Flaws and all. Be proud of your flaws, because it makes you real. Being real is what makes you beautiful. 

I'm so thankful everyday that I log on to see how many views I am getting. I am glad that I can help people through the blog. I'm having so much fun posting, so keep the comments coming!

xoxo