Hydrating Concealer

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

I was perusing the aisles of Target and came upon this pretty little concealer…I’m a sucker for pretty packaging. It was so cheap that I thought I’d give it a try without looking at any reviews first. When I got home, I put a tad under my eyes…You guys! This felt like Heaven, no joke! So smooth, so hydrating, definitely worth a try.

From Amazon:

  • PREP SKIN, Blur and prep the skin for makeup application with the Conceal & Fix Mattifying Primer.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT FORMULA, This lightweight, translucent formula is enriched with salicylic acid to soothe the skin and help to minimise the appearance of redness and blemishes.
  • HOW TO APPLY, After skincare, pump a pea-sized amount of product either directly onto the skin, or onto the back of your hand before using your fingers to smooth all over the complexion.
  • CRUELTY FREE, Created with natural ingredients and a formula that features 100% cruelty free additives. Being vegan friendly and gluten free, this cream makeup contour kit is universally flattering.

From the Revolution website:

This concealer is suitable for everyone looking for a lightweight finish with a boost of moisture. Offering all-day hydration thanks to an infusion of hyaluronic acid, it covers blemishes, evens skin tone and counteracts dark circles, while drenching skin with moisture. Designed for drier skin, the sheer, satin finish won’t settle into fine lines, and the doe foot applicator allows for a smooth, delicate application.

The Revolution Conceal and Hydrate is a great concealer to try if you want something smooth and hydrating. It’s inexpensive, lots of colors to choose from, and goes on so nicely. Definitely worth a try.

Baby, You’re Worth it

Skinbetter Science, oh how I love you! Alright my friends, I hope you know by now that I do not write about things that I don’t absolutely love. Welp, I have been holding off on writing this post for a while now…I’ve been wanting to see if this product line is worth the price and Baby, it’s worth it!

Basically, this is almost the entire line…yes, I’m obsessed and once I find something I like, I am veerry loyal.

https://skinbetter.com

The Trio, Rebalancing Moisture Treatment, has done wonders for my combination skin. With this product alone, I don’t need 1 moisturizer for winter and 1 for summer…it does the job all year long. People have been commenting on my skin since I’ve started using these products, they are both a luxury and a need.

The website says: Heavy hydration without the weight. Price is quite expensive, but again if you want to invest in your skin, this is your product line. $140.

Another Hero product: the Even Tone Correcting Serum. It has been great for my melasma issues. Skinmedica Lytera 2.0 also works, but I’m really loving Skinbetter, right now. From the website: A lightweight, multi-action skin tone serum. $145

The newest product I’m liking is the Advanced Mineral Protection. It’s one of their sunscreens, SPF 75. It also has Tone Smart, so it will add a light tint to your skin. Here’s the issue I have with the Tone Smart sunscreens…they are drying. Sooo, I add a little bit of the Trio Moisturizer to it and voila…a lovely sunscreen that lasts and lasts. From the website: Our highest level of sun protection in a tone-adapting, creamy lotion that provides a hint of color. $75

These are my Hero products, the rest are icing on the cake!

This line is super expensive, and they never have sales. I do believe it’s worth the price, though. I’ve used every product out there and have never liked it so much that I buy the whole line and continue to re-purchase, I do with Skinbetter….I believe in the science behind it. All the best plastic surgeons carry these products, that speaks volumes to me. On a superficial note, the thing I really like is that they don’t use celebrities or influencers to promote the products, it’s all based on facts and no hoopla-no smoke and mirrors!

Happy Shopping and Cheers to beautiful skin!! http://www.skinbetter.com

lipstick discovery

Hey you guuuuuyyys! I have been on the hunt for a lipstick line that lasts, isn’t too glossy, has a range of good colors, and a low price. I’ve done it! I have found a treasure trove of good lipstick and it can be found at your local grocery store or of course, amazon. http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktoirn

I usually like a matte lipstick, but my lips get so dry and you can visibly see the dryness…no bueno. The ColorStay Satin Ink doesn’t show any dryness. The one negative I’ve found is that it doesn’t last through a meal, it needs to be re-applied.

From Amazon:

  • SATIN INK LIQUID LIPSTICK: Surprisingly comfortable, brilliant, long lasting liquid lipstick that doesn’t dry out your lips
  • MOISTURIZING, HIGH PIGMENTED FORMULA: Swipe this Revlon lipstick on for one-step comfort, color, and a long lasting satin sheen. This flexible formula with highly pigmented colors moves with your lips and contains black currant seed oil and vitamin E to prevent cracked lip color
  • COMFORTABLE LONG LASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK: Enjoy up to 16 hours of wear while your lips feel comfortable all day
  • AVAILBLE IN 21 VIVID COLORS PERFECT FOR YOU: Go for brilliant color and a satin-finish in 21 unique shades from nudes, to pinks, to reds, purple, mauve, brown, and more

All for less than $10, time to stock up for summer!

Here are the 3 lipstick colors I’ve chosen for summer…in action! Fire & Ice, On a Mission, and Your Majesty.

Smart Mouth

The mouth care you never knew you needed, until Masks. Lol! If you’re still wearing masks, you need this toothpaste/mouthwash combo…if you’re not wearing a mask–the people around you, need you to use this combo! Ha! It’s a win win for anyone and everyone. Sorry for the unsexy post–but, you will thank me later.

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

You’re probably thinking, well this is a boring topic and why is Alison sharing this info…we all have toothpaste and we all use mouthwash. Well, folks, this combo is a freakin’ game changer. I use to habitually chew gum for hours and hours, thinking, hoping, and wishing my breath was minty fresh. It never did the job and I found this out when I had a lil boy–with no filter. He would say, mostly at church, in a loud whisper: Ew, momma, you mouth doesn’t smell good. Ugh, so embarrassing! I’m almost positive there is a lot of relating going on right now. Ha!

I did some research, found Smart Mouth, and I haven’t chewed gum since. If you have coffee breath…use Smart Mouth. If you have morning breath, use Smart Mouth. If you have a significant other, use Smart Mouth. If you’re going to the salon-dentist-medspa and someone will be right near your mouth, use Smart Mouth. I’m telling you the truth, everyone near and dear to you will thank you.

This is a short post, but I think it’s an important one to do. It’s pretty self explanatory…brush your teeth with the toothpaste, then cleanse with the mouthwash. I can always tell a difference when I haven’t used it. You can purchase these items at my store, under Health products: http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

Let me know if you need this and how you feel after using it. You’re welcome!

Self Tanning

As I’ve mentioned, in the past, I have the dreaded melasma. Waaaah! This means that the sun on my face is a no-go. The challenge is that my arms and legs get tan and then my neck and face are as white as a ghost…what is a girl to do?

Glad you asked…in walks self tanning drops. The newest invention in skin care. If you put it on at night, you will wake up with a lovely tan by morning. I did have an issue, before I learned not to listen to the directions. Uh-oh! I used 4 drops, like the instructions stated, and woke up looking like Tan Mom…it was hideous!

Not a happy camper!

After this fiasco, I realized I should only use 2 drops to get that sun kissed glow. If this happens to you, don’t worry…get your microdermabrasion machine or an abrasive facial cleanser and use it on your face…the tan will be less noticeable.

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

And please, please do not use Body tanning on your face…I did, and I broke out like crazy. I got cocky and thought, yeah, no biggie, I’ll just put you on my face and then I woke up with Mt. Vesuvius and it’s 3 sisters hanging out. Not a good look. LOL!

These drops come out clear and you mix them with your fave moisturizer or serum. The clearness of the drops are cool and annoying at the same time. It’s cool, that it looks so fresh and clean, and like you’re just putting water on your face. It’s annoying because you can’t tell where you’ve added color or if you need more color…just keep that in mind.

I have not broken out once with the Pure, Bondi Sands, self tanning drops–win, win! And they have not given me any kind of orange tinge, it’s a nice brown shade and looks like the rest of my tan. If you use too many drops, it will smell, but if you stay conservative…you won’t smell a thing.

Do I approve of this brand? Absolutely. If you’re in the market for getting a nice color without the sun, you can feel confident that this brand will work beautifully for you. They can be found in my store at http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin, or at your local Ulta, or Sephora.

Happy tanning! Let me know what your favorite self tanner is.

Hair Growth

So, it’s official friends…my hair guru informed me that my hair is coming back! Yay! I’d like to share with you what I’ve been using the last 12 weeks. I’m most likely doing too much, but you can pick and choose what might work best for you.

Tons of baby hairs!!! Yay!

My #1 favorite item is my Nuderma Wand, I discussed it here: https://alisonviktorin.net/2021/03/02/nuderma-clinical-skin-therapy-wand/

It has been a game changer and I use it every other day. I use the magical comb with its fabulous electricity…and the baby hairs are growing back, steadily.

New Growth is happening!

Next up: Biotin Hair Serum. I use this serum every single day. It even helps my hair look cleaner longer. Pro tip: I use the Serum and then comb it through my hair, with the Nuderma Wand.

Great product, highly recommend! http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

Finally, I use a tincture called Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength. It tastes delicious and is easy to use.

Tastes delicious, I keep it in my fridge. http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

All of these items have been a great help…but, again–I’m always doing too much, so I’m sure your hair will grow and become strong with just one of these fantastic items. Does your hair need to be stronger and healthier, too?

You can find all these products at my lil shop on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin. Cheers to healthy hair!

Color Story

This post is not about any beauty products, but it is still about Beauty. I wanted to show you how color can change your story and create an environment of joy instead of cringe. When we moved into our home there was a yellow/green color on all the walls and ceilings. Every time I walked around, I felt icky…think–baby diarrhea color. Last year, I was able to paint the downstairs and now this year we repainted the upstairs…the whole vibe of my home is different. It feels fresh, clean, and more Me. Below are pix of the old paint.

Below, are the After images. The gameroom, for me, was so dingy and now it’s fresh and bright and up to date. I had my painter repaint the wooden doors, a cream color, to freshen things up–made a big difference!

I was also able to freshen up the carpet in my son’s room and our guest room. Having fresh carpet feels so good, especially if you get a great rug pad. When you have someone else’s carpets, filled with their emotions and collections of germs, it really does something to the psyche. So, if you can replace it, do it. My son, was sleeping in a room above my office last year, I had put wood floors in his room, but we came to the conclusion that it wasn’t as cozy as having carpet under his feet. I also realized that I had tons of energy flowing in my office and it travelled up to my son’s room and didn’t help with relaxation, so I moved him to the sleepier side of the house and he sleeps better and is more cozy–which was the goal. If your child is restless and can’t sleep, take a gander at which rooms abut the child’s room or are underneath/above. It might be time to pay attention to the energy of your home and what each room feels like. Once you figure it out, you can make adjustments. If you need more energy, less sleepy/slow feelings…add lights, mirrors, wind chimes, open the blinds, turn on the fan. If you need more relaxing energy..add curtains, dim the lights, add a cozy rug or carpet. Just some suggestions.

Alright, now let’s talk about the biggest change. The stairs. This was my most challenging project to date. Getting stair people out here to help with my vision was rather difficult. My visions are unique, so I must have artists at heart helping me bring them to life. My painter is an artist and suggested I keep my wooden banisters and get gold leaf to paint them…then, I could get rid of the wooden, too thick rails and bring in iron. After the iron was placed, my painter painted more gold leaf on the spindles to unify all of it. AMAZING! Originally, I wanted a brass handrail and white iron spindles, but this is a much cheaper–just as beautiful option.

The 2 pictures, below, are the finished work. I am in love. Now, I have one-of-a-kind, truly unique stairs. My vision became a reality.

I also, wanted to leave a tip about rugs. If you have a rug with fringe, and you don’t like it…get rid of the fringe. It costs so little to have a rug bound and surged. My total cost was $67 for a large rug and boy, was it worth it. If you have a vintage or antique rug, sometimes that fringe has seen better days…I, for one, hate getting it caught in my vacuum. Now, it’s fresh and looks gorgeous.

This was such an easy, inexpensive upgrade.

If you’re in the DFW Metro area…My go-to floor store is Ged’s in Grand Prairie. They have sooo many choices and it’s all laid out where you can touch it and see it. No catalogues. I used DFW Stair Pros for my stairs. They got back to me and were interested in my vision and wanted to help. I was able to do all of this within a 2 week period (all of the labour), it probably took me 4 weeks from the initial price quotes to wrap it all up. It’s been a really fun month filled with fresh energy, motivation, and joy. And I’ve loved meeting all of these local artisans.

Let me know what projects you have going on! It’s all so exciting.

This little video shows some of the process of upgrading things.

sage

http://www.amazoncom/shop/alisonviktorin

This Post hits a tad differently, I won’t be writing about any facial beauty products…but, I will be writing about an Energy beauty product. Sage has worked wonderfully in my family. I use it to clear stagnant energy, uplift our environment, and to clear (clean up) any energy that came home with my son from school. I use it when I’ve had workers in my home…when they leave, I spray. When a stranger enters your home they bring with them their own feelings, thoughts, emotions. So, when they leave I want my home to go back to a neutral zone…that’s where Sage comes in and works beautifully. For example, let’s say you purchase an antique/vintage rug. You lay it down in your home, but who has walked on it, who has sat on it and cried or raged or partied…you don’t know. Get you some sage and NEUTRALIZE the rug…for me, it takes all the emotions attached to an item or in the air space and brings it down to neutral, so you can start fresh…with your own memories and emotions. Another example, when my son comes home from school and is feeling intense emotions from interacting with so many people, boop-I spray near his head and his backpack. This just relieves all his tension and helps to calm him.

About this item…from Amazon

  • Smudge without the smoke – Purify and Cleanse oneself, home, an object, or any space of negative or harmful energy
  • Powerful blend of two sacred plants (White Sage & Palo Santo) used by native peoples for purification, cleansing, attracting positive energy, meditation, energy purification, and as medicine. We only use WHITE SAGE essential oil which was used by the Native American peoples
  • Made with the highest quality 100% pure, organic, and sustainably sourced essential oils. These pure natural ingredients are hand blended with love in California and this spray is the perfect alternative to burning sage sticks, bundles or incense
  • Use as a room spray, pillow mist, and to bring more positive energy to any space or object. Bring this convenient 4 oz bottle to work, yoga studio, meditation retreat, school, or in your car
  • Quartz crystal powder infused to enhance the energy cleansing properties and effectiveness of this spray

I like the spray better than the actual sage because it is easier and quicker to use. I don’t like candles or any kind of smoke because the soot can get in curtains and on walls and stain them. The spray is cleaner.

If you’re interested in trying this product, I have it in my store. http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

If you’re looking for something to clear the air, try this, you won’t be disappointed. Let me know if it works for you!

Here is a video showing you what the Sage Spray looks like in action.

Acne pimple master patch

Do you have teenagers in your life? Do you have hormonal acne or adult acne? Well, these little patches are the bomb. Whenever I see a blemish popping up, I pull out a patch and place it on the offensive blemish and by the morning, boom, all cleared up!

These patches are easy to sleep with, stay on all night, and are easy to remove the next day. Truth be told, you can wear these during the day and few people will be able to notice.

About this item…from Amazon

  • Quick & Easy Treatment: This patch effectively protects the concerned area effectively and creates a moist environment, which makes the healing process faster.
  • 24 Patches in Three Sizes: Designed three different sizes to cover multiple pimples all at once.
  • A.D.F. Hydrocolloid Dressing: Calms redness and keeps skin moisturized to promote faster healing.
  • How to Use: 1. Cleanse the area around the problem spot. 2. Select a bigger size patch than the problem spot and attach the patch to the spot.
  • COSRX: Cosmetics + Rx(Prescription) – The best solutions for various skin problems

These patches are about $15 for 96 different size circles. They’re a great choice if you have something small you need to take care of overnight. Ali approved!

https://www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Pimple-Master-Patch-24patches4sheet/dp/B014SAB948/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-rsf1_0?crid=3CKZ52DVNKWDK&cv_ct_cx=acne+pimple+master+patch&dchild=1&keywords=acne+pimple+master+patch&pd_rd_i=B014SAB948&pd_rd_r=9f171aed-d7c2-4550-b92f-aa7742448897&pd_rd_w=ucAZC&pd_rd_wg=1eXjy&pf_rd_p=5168df84-062d-4bdf-8a6e-2680813bd42f&pf_rd_r=EAS2GQCR9HZ80W3WWQ3B&psc=1&qid=1615743023&sprefix=acne+pimple%2Caps%2C430&sr=1-1-7bf78e84-8ef2-4f13-9926-bee5153e81cb

Go here to shop my Amazon store front.

http://www.amazon.com/shop/alisonviktorin

morpheus8

This Post is to inform you of an interesting procedure, not to show you my results, yet…I will do that in a follow up Post. I want to share what I went through and why I chose to do it.

Ok my friends, I have been on the hunt for something to diminish my college acne scarring. My main problem is that I have melasma, due to lasers–not hormonal. So, I can’t use any lasers on my face. There are soooo many great lasers that would’ve helped me like: CO2, IPL, Resurfx, etc…alas, I cannot use these great options. Please, please make sure you are going to a reputable place or else you will end up like me and have melasma that you never would’ve had to worry about!

So, I’m sure you’re wondering what I was able to find….in walked Morpheus8. According to parkavenueplasticsurgeon.com Morpheus8 is a non-surgical advanced needling treatment. … Using radiofrequency, a Morpheus8 treatment stimulates collagen production to tighten and smooth wrinkles on the face and body. I am here for all that tightening!!! Yaaas!

I noticed the device had 24 needles and a red pulsing light. The light seemed to heat up my skin to an extent that I smelled burning flesh, think tanning salon. Tee Hee! I went to Charity at North Texas Plastic Surgery and for an extra $50, I was able to receive Pronox, nitrous oxide. This seemed to help my pain level because I was able to focus on something. The cost of 1 treatment was $750, a package of 3 is $2,100. This is definitely not a cheap procedure and when I say procedure, I mean my recovery time was not 24 hrs. I’m on Day 4, and still have tons of scratches on my face. My son informed me that I look like an 80 yr old and I shouldn’t have wasted my money. Ha! Little does he know that my skin is going to look GORGEOUS in about 3 weeks. So, Boom! I, specifically, asked for my money’s worth in aggression levels, you can choose to have a less aggressive approach…therefore, your recovery time might not be as long as mine.

Did it hurt? Not really. At NTPS, they let me pick a movie/tv or listen to music. I chose the French music I like so much, the chair was comfy, I had my Pronox…so, all in all, the ambiance was so nice that I didn’t feel much pain. The immediate after effects…my face was slightly swollen and I had visible raised ridges, and scratches. My face also looked like I had large pores, these were just where the needles went into my skin. Have I scared you yet? I really hope not. From everyone that has gotten this done, I have heard nothing but rave reviews.

I was numbed for about 45 min. I say take the extra 15 min. if you are given the option.

This video is immediately after the procedure.

Day 2, my face was still a bit tender, but by day 3 and 4, I have scabbing and no pain.

I can’t wait to see how my skin will look in the next couple of weeks. I’m also glad there’s an alternative to lasers. I’ll keep ya posted on how I’m recovering and what results I notice.

This video shows the entire process.

This video shows the aftermath…days directly following the procedure. Still healing almost a week out, no pain, just a lil red in certain areas…skin feels tighter.

Charity had me put on a SkinCeuticals Biocellulose Restorative Mask and a dermal repair cream…Magic happened. I’m on Day 7 and am healing quite nicely. That mask is a game changer and I highly recommend. I’m used to the cheap masks on Amazon and this one is a whole other level.