Okay, so technically tomorrow is June, but still. June & July are my two favorite months of the year. This is simply the best time of the whole year to me.

Last year, I did two posts on sunless tanning. Read those Here and Here. They were two of my most popular posts to date.  Sunless tanning is here to stay to say the least.

I was putting around on Instagram the other day. On the post of a sunless tanning brand, I saw a lady ask "Why is it that some folks can put their sunless tanner on and no one believes its not a real tan, when the rest of us end up a hot streaky mess?"
After she had commented, many other people had echoed her sentiments. So, I thought today it might be good to drill down even further than I had on my past tanning posts with more tips and info as to how to make you be the one with the tan that nobody believes could possibly be sunless.


First off, a little bit of back ground. I've been sunless tanning for over 20 years. I started in junior high. 


Here is me without any tanner on. You can see how fair my skin is. Yes, I do like my fair skin. However, there are times that a girl wants to have a glowing tan. I learned a a young age that all the sun was going to do to my skin was burn it. I just don't have enough melanin to tan. So, somewhere around 13 or 14, I started my "sunless tanning journey".

Let me say this, if it has been a few years since you have last tried a sunless tanner, give it another go.
The leaps and bounds that sunless tanners have come in even the last few years is really impressive.

• Baking soda is your friend

Baking soda mixed with water into paste form has become my primary way to exfoliate. We (should) all know at this point how important it is to really get that dead, flaky skin off prior to applying a tanner. However, many exfoliating scrubs on the market are oil based. That can spell danger for your tan. The oil from the scrub will create a barrier between the tanner and your skin. This will cause splotches of dark and light all over. 

• You must spot treat certain parts of your body

Immediately before tanning , apply a thick cream or thin layer of Vaseline on your knees, elbows and heels. If you personally have any patches of skin that tend to be drier or thicker than the rest of your skin, apply it there too.

• Buy an electric razor

I learned this trick last summer. My tan would fade off of my legs at a ,much quicker rate then anywhere else.
This is because each time you shave with a traditional razor, you are removing the top layer of skin as well. An electric razor just removes the hair and will help you to extend the tan on your legs.

• Don't apply tanner then go out and about

• Lastly, let me introduce you to a new "product Hero"

This is not Photoshop. This is a new, real product. 
New England based coffee company Dunkin Donuts, (I think they formally dropped the donuts part of their name.) has created a line on nail polishes.

Apparently, they have paired with the beauty brand, Lauren B to make these polishes. 

Their signature colors are the colors from their logo. The rest of the colors are based off of their partnership with Baskin Robbins.


While when it comes down to coffee drinking, I'll take Starbucks all day, every day over Dunkin. However, I think that the bright pink and coral shades from this line would make perfect pedi shades. The coffee shades will look great as a mani color in the fall.

Whether these polishes will be available at salons or Dunkin, I'm not sure? I'm assuming salons , but with the sheer amount of Dunkins out there? Who knows?

Would you wear Dunkin nail colors?



XO,
SheShe

Hello lovely people: 
I hope you are all having a wonderful, long weekend.

Will you all allow me a moment here to deviate from the normal theme of makeup and beauty of this blog?

I know that it is well intended and coming from a very good place. Still though, please do not wish anyone a "Happy Memorial day." 
While MDW ushers in summer and all of the fun it entails each year, Memorial Day its self is not something we "celebrate" Memorial Day is something we observe, as it is  the day to honor military members who were killed in service to our great nation.

No, I'm not saying that today should be a 24 hour marathon of sorrow.  Quite frankly, I think enjoying this day and exercising the freedom we do have might just be the best way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us.

 As the wife, sister, daughter and granddaughter of veterans, the solemnity of this holiday is not lost on me.

So please, have fun today. Please also though, think of the widow being handed the folded flag that had just been on her spouses coffin. Think of the young veterans who are home now, but tournament by the  memories of their brothers and sisters in combat who did not come home.

Just remember, the 4th of July is just over a month away. Oh baby, you'd best believe we'll be celebrating then!



XO,
SheShe

Random Thoughts Friday......
First and foremost, today marks the start of Memorial Day Weekend. Before we go one step further, let's think about the meaning of Memorial Day. Its the day where we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Remember and Honor. In the midst of all the fun that I hope you have this weekend, PLEASE stop and think about the countless military members who made the ultimate sacrifice.  




Now, on to the nonsense.

• Random thought number one....I'm SO excited to get home today. It's a VERY happy mail day.                    Don't hate me, but I scored every. single. piece from the Vineyard Vines / Target collaboration that I had my eye on.   I got these pieces for me:

• Random thought number two...on Monday of this week, we had our first 80 degree day of the year here in Plymouth, MA. It was simply GLORIOUS. 

Hi Friends! I can't believe it's Monday again, can you?

I've always been one to wash my makeup off before bed. I literally cannot fall asleep if I have makeup on.
That being said, my skin care game has not always been the greatest. I used to put my cleanser onto a face cloth and scrub away.
No eye makeup remover. I ruined so many of my poor mom's wash cloths with mascara stains all over them.

At some point in my mid 20's, I at least learned to remove my mascara and eye liner before taking the rest of my makeup off.

It wasn't until a year or two ago that i got on board with "Double Cleansing". Before you think that this is something that only overachievers do, relax. Its not.
Essentially, all Double Cleansing means is this; You first remove your makeup with a miceller water or oil based cleanser. then, you actually wash your face with a water based cleanser.

Now, why would you want to do this?  First of all, this will get the foundation and pollution off of your skin. A quick swipe of a face wipe will not do all of that.
When that excess junk is left on your skin over night, your skin cells do not have a chance to regenerate. Why does that matter? This is how you keep a plum, youthful looking complexion for one thing.
Also, If you are not getting EVERYTHING off of your skin, you are just "fixing" to get clogged pores, acne and black heads.

When you get your skin truly clean from double cleansing, you are making it so your serums and  moisturizers can really set into your skin and do their job.


                                     Boscia Cleansing oil $32





So, why do you use an oil then water?  An oil based cleanser is ideal for cutting through makeup. Also, an oil based cleanser will cut through the oily secretions in your skin.  Water cannot do this. 
Once you have wiped your skin with the oil based cleanser, rinse it off and then wash your face as you normally do with a water based cleanser.
After the rinsing off the oil based cleanser, your skin is primed for the hydrating benefits of the water based cleanser.


                                          Sunday Riley Cleanser $35

                                                      Neutrogena Cleanser $10.00

Happy Friday!
One more week until it's Memorial Day. Bring on Summer of 2019!
Okay, I know, I know  #puttingthecartbeforethehorse

You guys do know that the Target/ Vineyard Vines collaboration launches tomorrow,right? Are you going to check it out?

Anyway, Let's do 'The Friday Five"!



1) What made you feel good this week, and how?
Seeing that all of the trees have gotten their leaves back. I'm so happy to see color back. Knowing that the my favorite months of the year are all still ahead of me, makes me feel great!






2) What did you do this week that moved you closer to reaching your goals?

5 days this week, I've gone to the gym and worked out immediately upon waking up. 

 

3) What did you most enjoy doing this week?

So, on Tuesday my bestie, Lisa had the day off. She decided to come walking with us! Whats better than sunrise with your bestie and dogs?


4) What did you learn this week?

This is a sad one, Heart disease & Failure are on the rise. Half of all American's who are diagnosed with heart disease, will be dead with in 5 years. This is terrifying and staggering.
Read The full article Here

5) What’s the funniest thing that happened to you this week?
Okay, so Bandit HATES to get wet. The only dog I've ever known to despise water. Bandit also likes to fake "poop emergencies" to get a 2nd or 3rd walk of the day.
So, it had been off and on sprinkling all day on Sunday.  Bandit got up, went to the window to check the weather. As soon as he saw it had cleared up, he started his grunting and his "I need a walk" dance.
Merriam Webster's definition of a Scamp is "mischievous in an adorable manner."
They should just have a picture of Bandit instead of typing that out. :)

 I love this doggy so much.



Okay, we'll here's to a great weekend and hoping that the VV for Target collab works out better than the one with Lilly Pullitzer did ;)


XO,
SheShe

Howdy!
Two weeks ago, Sephora had their bi-annual sale for the members of its loyalty program.  Insiders get 10% off, VIB gets 15% off and Rouge gets 20% off.
I'm a Rouge member, so I get 20% off. That's nothing to sneeze at. While younger me would of used this as a chance to go hog-wild, grown-up me (or so I say) uses this sale as a chance to stock up on my day in, day out "product heroes" . I'm not going to to bother putting the links to any of these items, because clearly, I got them all at Sephora. (Also, because I'm not trying to make money off of you! ;) #noafiliatelinks ) 

So, let's do this!

Sunday Riley Power Couple $85.00

Why I love it:

This is a bargain set (meaning it's less expensive than buying each individually) that I first bought last year. Its a lactic acid and retinal treatment.
I was genuinely surprised by the brightness that this has brought to my complexion. I find myself using less and less foundation.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance  $20.00

Why I love it:

Hands down, this is the best eye shadow primer that I've ever used.
No matter how oily my lids may get, this keeps my shadow in place ALL day. It doesn't budge.

IT Cosmetics Super Hero Mascara  $24.00

Why I love it:

Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup remover $30.00

Why I Love it:

DryBar Velvet Hammer  $30.00

Why I Love it:

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Brightening Pen $35.00

Why I Love It:

Nars Blush in Angelika  $30.00

Why I Love It:

Maison Margiela Replica "Flower Market"  $126

Why I love it:

Hi Friends, Happy Monday. I'm hoping that all of the moms out there had a lovely day yesterday. 
Today, I want to chat with you about something I just learned. (Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?)
The time before last when I was getting my hair done, my dear friend Kathleen (Who is also my colorist) said "You need to do a wash with a clarifying shampoo soon!'
"Huh? I use a moisturizing shampoo...Per your instructions!"  and with that line, I learned about clarifying shampoos.

Back when I was in high school we all washed our hair everyday. Dry shampoo was something you'd see only at hospitals and nursing homes.  It's use was limited strictly for those who were bed bound.

Somewhere, in the last 10 or so years, we've finally realized that this is not necessary and not helpful. 
I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I wash my hair every 4th day. (Yes, I shower every day.)
My hair is very thick, even though I only wash it every 4th day, I still don't tend to use dry shampoo very often. 
However, I do use leave in conditioner, hair oils, smoothing creams, mouse, shine spray and hair spray at varying times through out the month. I'd always thought that as soon as I did was my hair, whatever was in it, would wash out. While this is mostly true, little bits of each of these products stays behind and forms a build up in your hair. Even residue from your normal shampoo and conditioner will stay behind. All of these things will leave your hair heavy, dull and lifeless.

When I left Kathleen that day, I stopped and bought a bottle of Neutrogena's Anti-Residue shampoo.  After I stretched my salon blow out for as long as I could and it was time to wash my hair again, I used the clarifying shampoo, them deep conditioned with my favorite hair mask.
WOW! the results. My hair was SO shiny and more manageable then I ever remembering it being.
                                    Neutrogena Anti-Build up Shampoo



This isn't a case of "if a little is good, a lot must be great" though. This is something that even our friends with the most oily hair, should use no more than once per month.



                                   Mizani Gentle Clarifying Shampoo  


If you color your hair, its best to shampoo with a clarifying shampoo right before you get your hair colored. Also, its best to get a clarifying shampoo made specifically for colored hair, as you don't want to strip the color out.
Paul Mitchell's shampoo 2 is ideal for this.


                                    Paul Mitchell Shampoo 2




Set aside enough time to do your clarifying. Consider this a beauty treatment. 
The same way , you wouldn't try doing a pedicure as you were dashing off to work in the morning, you shouldn't  with this either.


I like to do a lather, rinse, repeat with this. Really getting it all lathered up from root to tip.
Then, I'll put my favorite hair mask on and wrap it in a damp, hot towel. I'll make some coffee or read a few chapters in whatever book I'm into at the time. The goal is to leave the conditioner in for 30 minutes or so.
The way my hair looks and feels after...Ahhhhh! 


If your hair is not cooperating when you try to style it, if its looking dull or feeling limp, these are all signs that its time to use a clarifying shampoo.

Remember though, don't over do it!  If you have oily hair, use a clarifying shampoo once a month. Normal hair should use it every 6 weeks and our babes with dry hair should use it once every other month.


I encourage you to give it a try and let me know what you think!

XO,
SheShe

  

Woop-Woop, Its Friday!
I thought that it would be fun to do a link up to Live Journal with another "Friday Five".
Again, I write these posts too early in the day to get today's Friday Five. So, I've gone into their archives.

1. Describe your favorite outfit.

2. Describe your personal style.

3. Approximately how much do you spend on fashion/personal care annually?

4. Do you dress for yourself or for everyone else?

5. Give us your best fashion/personal care advice.