Happy Hairstyles: Twisted Up-do for Short Hair

 

Hello, fellow regular girls! It's almost Valentine's Day and I thought this would be a great hairstyle for those of you that want to do something cute with your short hair for your date (or for no good reason, if you're like me :P). I came across this idea and got the pictures from Refinery 29 and thought it'd be cute for Valentine's Day (or any day, really). I tried it out on myself, and it turned out really well! It's easy and looks really cute! So, here we go!
Note: You could also do this with longer hair, but you'd just have more to do at the end.

1. This hairstyle will be easier if you already have mousse or product in your hair. It is more difficult is your hair is freshly clean. Part your hair down the center and tame any fly-aways with a cream. My hair is naturally parted on the side, and it worked that way as well. Do what you're comfortable with or what looks better to you.

2. Start at your hairline and part and grab a 2-inch section of hair, splitting it in half. Begin twisting them away from your face. 

3. Gradually add sections of hair like you would for a french braid going downwards towards the nape of your neck. It's ok if your twist isn't tight against your head. You can always adjust to your liking with bobby pins at the end.

4. Continue twisting along the nape of your neck and secure with a bobby pin.

5. Repeat on the other side.

6. Tuck in the loose ends and secure with bobby pins. Now is when you can add bobby pins to the loose parts of the twist that are not tight enough to your liking. Add some hairspray and you're all ready! If you have longer hair, you might be able to tie the ends into a bun. This was made for shorter hair, so you'll just have to improvise the end for longer hair.

Disclaimer: Again, this idea and these photographs are not mine. Click the link above at the beginning of the post to view the original post on Refinery 29.

Cosmetic Review: Aveeno Active Naturals Creamy Moisturizing Oil

I don't know about all of you guys, but this winter weather is really taking a toll on my skin. This is my first winter back in the Midwest, and I had forgotten how dry it makes my skin. Previous to this, I had been using the regular Aveeno body moisturizer (I'm not sure what it's called, but the label is green). I was becoming unhappy with it because it tended to leave my skin a bit greasy and I didn't like having to wait for it to dry to be able to put my clothes on after a shower. So, I went looking for something a little bit different.
I stuck to the Aveeno brand because I knew it worked and I've used many of their other products. This Aveeno Active Naturals Creamy Moisturizing Oil is $6.99 at Target and I decided to give it a try.

Directions 
The directions on the bottle read: "Apply AVEENO Creamy Moisturizing Oil after your shower or bath to leave skin feeling silky smooth and soft - without any greasy after-feel."
I follow those directions since the time when your skin absorbs the most moisture is right after a shower or bath.

Review
Use: I love how this product has a pump. It makes it easy to use and does require me to squeeze the bottle with the product already on my hands. The product is not the oil that I thought it would be, but that turned out to be a good thing. It's more of an oil/lotion combo and it smells very soothing. The scent is not strong, but leaves me smelling clean. 
The product also does what the bottle claims. It is non-greasy and it definitely soothes my wintery dry skin. I am able to apply the oil, and immediately dress without feeling sticky. 
Price: As an Aveeno product, it is a bit pricier than the generic brands, however, I am very happy with the results and I'm sure I will re-purchase after I run out. At $6.99, you do still get a lot of product (12 fl. oz.). 

This is a must-use product for the winter and it has really helped my skin a lot.
What are some products you guys use for these dry winter months?

Cosmetic Review: Nutra Nail Olive Oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment

I have this awful habit of picking at my cuticles when they're dry, and that is especially a problem right now because the weather is so cold and dry. So, something that I've been using to help fight the problem of dry cuticles is this Nutra Nail Olive Oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment. It is available at Walgreens for $6.79.

Directions
The directions say to apply to unpolished nails and the cuticle area. However, I just use it regularly around my cuticle area even with my nails polished. Another time that I use it is after I've taken off old nail polish and before I put on new polish. In this instance, I put a little bit on each nail to moisturize the nails since nail polish remover tends to dry out your nails.

Review
Use: I absolutely cannot get enough of this product! It is easy to use with the same applicator brush as nail polish and it is intensely moisturizing. I use it about once a day and at night before I go to bed. It is kind of oily, so it's a product to use during leisure time. I find it easy to use while I'm watching tv or before bed because then I don't get the oil on my phone or keyboard on my laptop. I tend to follow up the use of this oil with a hand cream. Pictured in the background above is St. Ives Naturally Smooth Hand Cream. It's only a couple dollars at Target and it works great paired with the cuticle oil.
Price: I think that this product is appropriately priced. At only $6.79, the bottle lasts a very long time. I regularly use this product, and as you can tell from the picture, I have only used about a quarter of the bottle. Definitely worth the price.

I highly suggest this product, especially for use in the winter with these cold and dry months. It has greatly improved the look of my cuticles and my nails. Give it a try and let me know what you think!