Beauty Q & A

Good morning friends!  You have no idea how much your kind messages and commiserations over Jordan starting preschool yesterday meant to me.  Jordan started out having a great day, but when we walked into the school, she got scared and started crying.  Which, of course, made me cry!

Luckily, she was allowed to bring a comfort item from home and her Lovey did make her feel better.  We waited in line with her through assembly, then walked her to her classroom where she got to hang up her new backpack, put her new lunchbox in her special cubby, and go sit at the little table.

There were legos in the middle of the table that she immediately started playing with and then she was all good.  I said a cheerful goodbye and left, only to cry some more when I got home.  It’s just a hard transition for me and I’m gonna miss her terribly while she’s at school and I’m used to having her home.

I am definitely so proud of both her and James and when I picked them up from school, they couldn’t wait to tell me all about what a great day they had!

BEAUTY Q & A

Today, we’re talking beauty! I asked y’all on Instagram to send me any beauty-related questions and y’all had tons!  I loved reading your questions and they are similar to the things I would want to know!  Y’all submitted so many thoughtful questions that I decided to split it into multiple posts so it wouldn’t be too long.

I’ll start today with the most frequently asked questions and follow up with Part 2 next month.

Beauty Q&A

TAKE CARE OF YOU

Before we dive into the questions, let’s start with the philosophy that helps guide my life: take care of you!  It was my beloved Grandma Nola that instilled that sentiment into my life from a very young age.  It’s helped me in my adult and child-raising years to realize that self care isn’t necessarily selfish, or if it is, that’s okay!

We do have to take care of ourselves to stay healthy and feel good about ourselves.  Isn’t that what we would want for our own children?

Now onto the Q&A!

SKINCARE

Have you ever had any botox?  Your face is beautiful and wrinkle free!

Oh girl, thank you so much for the generous compliment!  I do have wrinkles!  I have gotten botox a few times in my life.  The “11” lines in between my brows are what brought me to my dermatologist’s office the first time for botox.  The wrinkles there were so deep and every time I went outside or got in the car, I’d have big, deep 11 lines that would stay with me for hours.
I felt conscious about that and also thought that it made me look angry or mean, even when I was in a good mood.  I went to a licensed dermatologist for botox and was so nervous!  But, I did appreciate my dermatologist’s answer to question when I told him my appearance concerns and asked him if I needed botox.  He replied, “no one needs botox.  Are there benefits it can have on your appearance? Yes.  Do you need it? No.”
I think that’s true for all of us.  The botox I got in that spot eliminated those lines and have helped prevent them from coming back as strong.  I’ve also gotten botox in my forehead several times, but haven’t started setting regular appointments or anything.  If you’re considering getting botox, do your research, go to a reputable facility, and get a consultation.
I just think you have to be super careful about any kind of injections in your face and do so sparingly.  I can contribute most of my good skin to starting and sticking to a skin care routine – and I talk more about that in the rest of this post! Below is a photo with no filter so you can see where my 11 and forehead wrinkles are at now.
What’s your morning and evening skincare routine? 
I’ve experimented with different skincare routines over the last couple of years and I change it up depending on how my skin is doing, what it needs, and how it’s being affected by the seasons, stress, or travel.
While there is no one-size-fits-all strict regime, I can tell you what I typically use everyday. The key for me is cleansing and moisturizing!  I use Colleen Rothschild almost exclusively since I turned 40, over 4 years ago.  Yes, I’m 44 and happy about it!  My 40s are where I’m learning to really trust myself and be brave and that’s a beautiful thing!  Confidence is always attractive.
But, that doesn’t mean I want to give up on my youth.  Heck no! My skincare is more important to me now than it ever was and I’ll definitely invest in products that help me look and feel my best.
**All of Colleen’s bestselling products are 25% off now with code BEST and I always purchase my products during a sale to get the most for my money.
TO CLEANSE MY FACE 
Even if I’m going to workout right away, I wash my face first thing in the morning with the Radiant Cleansing Balm.  I used to just splash my face with water and wait until after I got home to cleanse.  I’ve since realized that because I apply night oils and other products to my face before bed, I don’t want those things creating a barrier on my skin or mixing with my sweat, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. I will then use the cleansing balm again when I wash up after my morning workouts.
The Radiant Cleansing Balm is a cleanser you apply with your clean fingers to your dry face.  Then, you wet the muslin cloth that it comes with and gently wipe off the balm.  The combination of the textured cloth and the Radiant Cleansing Balm act as an exfoliant to gently remove impurities.  My skin is left feeling soft and clean, but not dry.
MOISTURIZER
For everyday, the Sheer Renewal Cream is a hydrating moisturizer that promotes new cell turnover to help minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles.  It also has a light finish that leaves my skin looking better and ready for makeup.
I use more products, but those fit into more specific questions below!
Over 40 skincare routine
EVENING CLEANSING
At night, I usually put my hair up in a clip and shower cap and hop into the shower to wash off the day.  Before I get into the shower, I apply the Radiant Cleansing Balm to my face, and then get into the shower with my muslin cloth.  Getting the cloth wet and putting it over my face while I’m in a hot shower  is like getting a spa treatment. I love letting it steam my face with the soft aroma of that balm!
EVENING SKINCARE
When I get out of the shower, I moisturize with the Extreme Recovery Cream and then apply either the Retinol Supreme Night Oil or the Face Oil No. 9.   Both oils deeply nourish your skin (without breaking it out!).  I know it seems counterintuitive to put oil on your skin, especially if you have acne prone skin like I do.  But, I found that my skin LOVES these oils.
The Retinol Supreme Night Oil has the added benefit of regenerating your skin with a highly potent vitamin C.  Vitamin C is important for boosting collagen production and repairing skin damage due to the environment and the sun.
I just turned 40, can you recommend a good eye cream that’s not super expensive? What under eye cream do you recommend for wrinkles?
I find that most of my wrinkles are now around my eyes.  I tend to use this Complete Eye Cream in the morning after cleansing and before my moisturize. I find the Complete Eye Cream to be very gentle and a little goes a long way to help with the fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes.
I also have the Retinol Supreme Eye Serum that I always use at night because I feel like I’m getting the benefit of potent retinol and vitamin C while I sleep.
The best bang for your buck right now is the Complete Eye Cream. It’s featured in the 25% off Sale and you can use morning and night with no problem!

Is there anything that actually fades dark spots on the face? 

Dark spots and hyper-pigmentation is something I’ve struggled with throughout my life.  I grew up as a teen in the 90s and used to tan in tanning beds and lay out in the sun with baby oil slathered all over my skin!  Not the best thing for skin that is prone to hyper-pigmentation and now that we all are aware of the risks of skin cancer.

I’ve had laser treatment on my face (IPL- Intense Pulse Light) to help remove the dark spots that were all over my face.  The laser emits a light that is absorbed by the dark skin cells, the dead skin cells move to the top of your skin, then flake off within a few days.

The treatment is admittedly pretty uncomfortable, each time the laser pulses it feels like a tiny sting to your face.  Luckily, it only takes a few minutes and they used a cooling gel on my face before the treatment started.

The results were great and now I’m extremely careful to avoid getting sun on my face.  I use sunscreen and wear a hat when I run or am going to be in the pool.

As far as products I use to keep my sun damage at bay, I use the Vitamin C Treatment Complex  in the morning and the Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum in the evening. I apply the Radiance Serum with my fingertips and it sometimes feels tingly on my skin.  It’s amazing though with a gentle yet highly effective alpha hydroxy acid.

I found that the combination of these two products have made a huge difference in the quality of my skin.  They promote cellular turnover, which addresses photo-aging, fine lines, acne, dark spots and overall skin texture.

Colleen Rothschild Clarifying Detox Mask

What are your favorite masks?
My favorite mask is the Clarifying Detox Mask.  I don’t do it as often as I’d like – ideally every week, but I especially like to do the Detox Mask after I’ve come home from traveling.  It makes my skin feel so refreshed and pure after being in that airport/airplane air and probably eating less than my best for days.

This mask removes all the trapped dirt and debris that can build up over time.  You might look funny while it’s on (like you’re wearing mud on your face!), but it’s a good way to get a laugh out of the kids.  Its activated charcoal and French Kaolin clay detox your pores and leave behind a balanced complexion. It has a blend of Vitamin C and Willowherb extract to brighten and soothe inflamed skin.  It’s good stuff!

How to Use: Apply a layer to face and neck, avoiding eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes, allowing mask to dry. Rinse with tepid water then gently pat dry. Use 2-3 times a week or as a spot treatment as needed.

nighttime skincare routine colleen rothschild

LASHES & BROWS

Fake eyelashes . . .  yay or nay?

Oh man, I WISH I could give the lash extensions a yay, but for me they were unfortunately a nay.  I absolutely love waking up and looking somewhat alive when you’re lashes are long and lush and dark black!  And all of that without having to apply mascara!  The downside for me is not only the expense, but the time commitment with getting refills.  I bit the bullet and decided that I could commit to the money and the time, but recently my eye got red and irritated and I had to go to my eye doctor and needed drops to clear up the irritation.

I ended up pulling all of my lashes off at home.  To do this, I steamed my face for a good 10 minutes.  I heated up the water in a pot on the stove until it boiled, then let it simmer down.  I put a towel over my head and let the steam loosen the eyelash glue.  Then, I gently rubbed a tiny amount of coconut oil onto my lashes, really massaging it in until the lashes started to slide off.  Most of them slid off very easily, but about 15% I had to really tug (which isn’t ideal, but I wanted them off since my eyes were so red and irritated). Not to mention – my pores really opened up and I felt very refreshed after the steam!

You can kind of tell how red they are in the photo below.

 

Lash serum?  What’s a brand you’ve had success with?

This was a question I got multiple times!  I’ve used NueLash in the past and saw a huge difference in the length of my lashes over time.  Now, I’m trying Lash Boost by Rodan + Fields and bought it from my friend Jamie.  Lash Boost has already grown my lashes too!

With both of these serums, you apply them at night onto your upper eyelid, along the lash line.  The liquid is clear and odorless and doesn’t feel like anything other than wet when you apply it.

I’m also taking a biotin supplement daily as it’s known to support hair and nail growth.

HAIR

Are you still happy with your hair shorter?

That’s a great question!  At the end of April, I chopped my hair to above my shoulders.  I instantly loved it (along with the brighter blonde).  Everything about having shorter hair feels easier, with the exception of not being able to wear it in a top knot on my head.

I feel like shorter hair fits my face, petite frame, and lifestyle.  I have since grown it out a little – my hair grows really fast especially with the biotin, but I don’t think I’ll let it get much longer than collarbone length for awhile.  I am trying to let my bangs grow out though.

Short hair lob

How often do you get your hair done?

Now that I go to Chris at M Salon in Houston, I get my hair colored about every 4-5 months.  I try to extend it to 5 months because it’s so expensive. He’s been doing a ‘melting’ or biolage technique that leaves less of a solid line of demarcation between new hair growth and highlighted hair.

What products do you use in your hair?

Right now, I have several shampoos in my shower.  I like Kenra for everyday, Tea Tree Peppermint when I want to feel extra alive and awake, Aveda, and a purple shampoo to help with brassy tones.

I wash my hair about every 3-4 days.  This is so I don’t strip out the natural hair oils, but also because I’m trying to save time by not washing, drying and styling again.  I’ve been using the Quench & Shine Restorative Mask every time I shampoo because I love how it makes my hair look and feel.

I use a regular conditioner all over my hair and use a small (half a tablespoon) amount of the Mask just on the bottom half of my hair.  Then, I put my hair in a clip on top of my head and let the conditioner and Mask work their magic while I wash my body and shave.

Colleen Rothschild Products

Quench & Shine Restorative MaskSmooth & Shine Hair Serum

I got the above products in a set and love to apply the Smooth & Shine Hair Serum to my hair when I’m wearing it straight.  You can apply it to damp hair, and I sometimes do that, but lately I’ve been doing it this way:

I wash and condition my hair, let it air dry about 75%, then blow it dry straight using a round brush.  When it’s all dry, I pump a couple of drops of the hair serum into my hand, then rub it through the ends of my hair.  It smoothes all the frizz and leaves your hair looking silky and shiny!

I’ll share my styling tools and products in my next Q&A!

TopShortsBraceletsRing

Day 3 hair?? How do you keep it fresh?

On day 2-3 or even 4, I usually apply dry shampoo to the roots if it looks greasy.  I like Batiste for a relatively inexpensive dry shampoo.  I apply it to my roots, let it sit for a few minutes, then rub it in really well with my fingers.  Batiste smells good, is lightweight and always leaves my hair looking fresher without any residue.

You can get it in the original formula or specifically for your hair color.

Another trick I’ve learned is that healthy hair really starts at the scalp.  When I shampoo my hair, I use that little scrub brush to really massage my scalp to help loosen any dead skin cells, promote good blood flow to the scalp, and increase circulation.  I not only feel like my hair feels cleaner, the scalp massage feels so good!

Do you put your hair up when you sleep or leave it down?

I often put my hair up in a clip or loose scrunchie at the end of the day to keep it out of my face, but I usually prefer to leave it down when I sleep.

MAKEUP

What lipstick color are you wearing in your Story?  

When in doubt, this lips color combo below by Charlotte Tilbury is my current favorite.  The color is a pretty fresh pink that’s perfect for everyday!

Lip SetGloss

NAILS

Dip nails or gel/shellac? What’s your favorite brand of polish?

I absolutely have a ‘thing’ about getting my nails done.  It’s a weird quirk where I just don’t like having bare nails or toenails.  Even if I’m not wearing polish on my nails, I like to have a clear coat on them.

That having been said, I’m pretty religious about getting shellac on my nails.  I love that the polish lasts me easily two weeks and still looks (almost) as good as when I first got them done!  I tend to keep my nails on the short side, square shape with rounded corners.  These nails don’t interfere with my typing away on my computer or during a workout.

I tried ‘dip’ nails once at my salon and wasn’t a fan.  They were too thick and unnatural looking, but I’ve seen other girls with dip nails that looked great.  I think it depends on where you go and how experienced your nail technician is with the dip application.

I typically wear OPI polish.

Colorful Block Bracelets

Bracelets

Do you have any tips for going back to normal nails after doing gel for a long stretch?

I’m the worst person to ask about this because I always end up peeling my shellac off after a couple of weeks, which isn’t good for your nails.  But, after I peel off the shellac, I file my nails and let them breath naturally without any polish on them for as long as I can stand it before going for another manicure (usually a day or 2).

If you want to go back to normal nails, I’d recommend using a nail/cuticle oil on them twice a day and also taking biotin to help grow and strengthen your natural nails.

 

I hope this post was helpful for you!  I’ll start working on Part 2 soon, so if you have any questions you want me to answer, leave me a comment below!

 

*affiliate links used in collaboration with Colleen Rothschild

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

14 Comments

  1. I recently did Microblading after seeing your results. I’m still waiting on the follow-up appointment but was told that because I have oily skin and sweat (work out daily) my brows may fade quicker. So just curious, have you experienced this? I’m totally happy with my results but curious about how my daily lifestyle will affect it.

  2. Where did you get the scalp brush from? Do you ever get acne and if you do what do you use on it. Love your posts

    1. Hi Jane, thank you so much for being here! That scalp brush is from Colleen Rothschild, but I think it’s currently sold out. I do still get a pimple here and there and I like to spot treat it with Differn.

  3. Aside from Botox & IPL, have you ever experimented with facial fillers, such as juvederm or restylane? If so, what are your thoughts on it, which do you prefer?

    Thanks for your insight in advance!

    1. Hi Marissa, that’s a great question! I have gotten juvederm in my lips about a year ago. I love the result now, but I did have problems initially- I got a hematoma on my bottom lip and that was scary and looked terrible! I shared about it on Stories at the time and thankfully, it healed pretty quickly. I haven’t gotten any other fillers in my face.

      1. Hi Megan,
        I recently got a lip filler (Juvederm) and had a hematoma too! I tried not to freak out but let’s be honest, I totally freaked!! Swelling is gone and I look normal again?? With that being said I need to go back for a touch up. Did you use 1 or 2 syringes. I do not want enormous lips but I do want a pretty pout!!

        1. I researched and it’s rare to get a hematoma, but we both did! I used 1 syringe. They were a little big at first, but when the swelling went down I was really happy with it.

  4. How do you keep your hair from frizzing? I also live in Houston and I swear as soon as I walk outside in the mornings, my extremely thick naturally voluminous hair goes so flat I look like I gelled the top down!

    In regards to the lashes- completely agree! I DMed you on Instagram a while back asking what length you get and tried switching to your length (mine were too long) but after just a month of lashes that took multiple refills and corrections I got them removed. Had constant dry and irritated eyes afterwards. Have been thinking about the lash boost so please keep us updated!

    For dry shampoo I have always hated dry shampoo and because my hair is so thick I can go a week or sometimes two weeks without washing it. The issue becomes when I’m having heavy workouts daily so I started using drybar and absolutely LOVE it. Revives my sweaty hair quickly, highly recommend to try it. It’s expensive and quite honestly I’m a bit cheap but it’s worth it in my opinion. Also a little bit of baby powder has always worked wonders for me and I have dark brown hair.

    1. Houston is the worst for hair! I have the same issues if I’m outside a lot! I remember our DM conversation! I can already tell a difference with the lash boost- my lashes are growing! Thank God!! I think good products are worth paying for if they really work for you. I used to use baby powder back in the day before dry shampoo!

  5. Hi Megan,
    I love your silver watch and am looking for something similar as i am also petite. i can’t seem to find it on your blog. Can you please share?

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