
Girlfriend, you know I love me some lists.
I’m the type of person who writes a list of all the lists I need to make, LOL! At any given time, I’ve got at least five lists going.
There’s something about the process of getting it all out of my head and writing it down, and then organizing it in a way that makes sense to me, that I really enjoy. I guess I’m a freak show like that, ha!
Today, I wrote a beauty to-do list.
Beauty to-do list
- Get a haircut. I need one desperately. My hair’s getting heavy again, and it’s giving me headaches. BOO!
- Find a new shampoo and conditioner. I recently bought some things from Function of Beauty to try, and unfortunately it’s not working out. My ends are hella dry, ugh! So now, I’m contemplating going back to my old school hair love, Bumble & Bumble, or trying a different “clean” hair line called Innersense.
- Research Innersense products. Fun fact — they’re based out of the Bay Area.
- Rectify upper lip and brow situation. Once again, I am suddenly a sasquatch, and it happened seemingly overnight.
- Wash a few brushes. I have a few retractable brushes by Chanel which I love! I’m going on a trip soon and they need a good cleaning.
What’s on your beauty to-do list? You can list the things you need to do, or products and brands you’d like to research, or things you need to restock… Write it all down in the comments!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen

I already scheduled my manicure on Saturday at Jin Soon. It’s my birthday and I’m treating myself. I am dyeing my hair tomorrow (it is currently an atrocious mane of grays, faded reddish orange, and my usual dark brown. I look like a child’s doll experiment). On Friday I am taking the day to do a DIY spa day: pedicure, foot soak, face mask, shaving, etc.
How, exactly, do you plan to rectify your upper lip/Sasquatch situation? I find myself in the same predicament. I’m turning 38 next week, and it seems I’m growing more of a mustache the older I get. 😬 and I don’t really know what do do about it. I’ve tried those facial razors (Tinkle), and they do the job, but my hair feels prickly/tingly when it starts coming back, and I hate the feeling. I tried tweezing today, and it took forever, and I didn’t even do a thorough job. I was thinking about threading. I worry waxing might be irritating. What do you do?
Haha, just wait til you turn 50 and your beard starts coming in!
I’ve always found waxing to be fine, honestly and it works like a charm in five seconds.
I’ve been using some Innersense products, with variable results. My hair is very thick, curly (2C/3A, low porosity), dry, and getting coarser (thanks perimenopause). I’m also very sensitive to fragrance and level of fragrance and generally, these products are acceptable on both those points. Everything is very concentrated, which is good but the price point is high.
Hydrating Cream Hairbath – this is very similar to the moisturizing version of Pureology shampoo, same concentration and even scent. I will repurchase this.
Hydrating Cream Conditioner – the instructions claim that you only need a few pumps, but this is a lie. I need at least eight pumps and even that doesn’t feel like enough sometimes. This sinks in well, but doesn’t have much slip. I’ll use up what I have, but not repurchase – just too expensive per use.
I Create Finish – a decent hairspray, especially for use on edges with a toothbrush, but I’ll probably run through the travel size and not repurchase.
I Create Hold – this is like a gel with a tiny amount of cream in it. The hold is OK, but second-day hair is difficult with this. I think I’ve found something better (and cheaper) since. Currently using All About Curls strong hold gel. Won’t repurchase this.
Quiet Calm Curl Control – I like this as a general smoother before gel and if you’re just running around on the weekend, this is great alone. You really don’t need much at all, a couple of pea-sized dabs. May repurchase this.
I Create Lift Volumizing Foam – didn’t notice volume, but it did dry more piece-y and again, it’s good on the weekend. Doesn’t leave hair sticky or difficult to refresh. Won’t repurchase though – not a real need for me.
Hope this helps!
My first item on the “to do” list is to finish organizing my beauty shelf in the closet. I got a couple small caddy’s – one for my Leahlanni products which I use to give myself a facial at home each week (LOVE the mermaid mask), one for body care (lotion/sunscreens, etc), and the third I’m still organizing.
The second is a haircut. I haven’t been to the salon since October. My hair got really thin after a long hospital stay (not COVID but ended up in ICU) so I have been leaving it alone as much as possible, no highlights, just a gentle shampoo and weekly conditioner with the ACV deep conditioner you had recommended.
Since catching covid and experiencing that dreaded hair loss late last year, my top beauty priority is my hair.
I’ve done a LOT of research and I have a bunch of products I want to try. It gets expensive, so I’m only getting and trying two a month.
For instance, I’ve tried the Briogeo Biotin Blossom conditioner (it’s nice, I like) and Olaplex no. 7 bonding oil on my ends just to protect from hair drying. Next is finding a gentle balancing shampoo and an effective shampoo for dandruff (I wash my hair 2x now) and then once I’m satisfied with that, I want to try rosemary water for my scalp, a scalp scrub, hair masks and leave in conditioners, etc.
Secondary, is skin care. I’m just looking for a decent simple moisturizer and eye cream. Treatments for exfoliation and such, I’ll research and try at a later time.
Currently nothing for makeup except I need a new concealer because it turns out the one I was using at MAC has been discontinued. Boo.
Try Nioxin Shampoo and Conditioner for your hair loss! I had terrible hair loss after Covid and I used the Nioxin Level 2 shampoo and conditioner for a couple of months. It really helped!
Interested in seeing your review for Innersense products!
Dude! The list is long!
1. I’m getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow. Starting to fall out of love with my hairdresser so I’m not sure what to think about that.
2. I’m in desperate need of a mani/pedi but see #3 below
3. Sorry if this is TMI but I think I may have developed a toe fungus and need to get into see my dermatologist. My big toe nails are splitting vertically and at the last pedicure I noticed some white spots on the nail.
4. Got to tweeze my brows
5. Got to shave toes (this is so embarrassing to say but the older I get the blacker and coarser my toe hair gets.)
6. Got to apply depilatory to the upper lip AND the chin. Then pluck the really stubborn chin hair.
7. I need to find a new shampoo/conditioner. I’ve been using those Lush shampoo bars, which I adore but I think they’re really drying out my already stressed hair. I’m thinking about going back to VERB. But I’d forgotten about Bumble and Bumble until you mentioned it.
8. Weight training. I’ve got that precursor to osteoporosis so I need to start lifting weights. Walking and yoga I’ve been doing for years and yet I still get the weak bone density.
9. I need to find a nice new pink lipstick now that I’m wearing safety masks a little less.
P.s. How was Connor’s birthday party? I missed any recap you might have had this week.
Jennifer – can you get a blood test to check your Vit D levels? I spoke to a gynaecologist recently and asked what she thought was the best protection against osteoporosis was and she said other than HRT, Vit D with Vit K to balance it. She told me to get my levels checked so I did and it was so low my doctor was alarmed and has upped it twice since then. Hope that’s helpful.
Your lists are heaven to me! And this one of things you love is such a positive reminder to look at that for myself too – especially when things get tough or sadness creeps in.
I have been trying a new brand of shampoo and conditioner called Davines from Italy and it is environmentally friendly and sustainable. You may like this too. There is a great hydrating set in the collection and the leave in hair oil and smoothing cream are delightful. Pricey but you don’t need much per use as my hairstylist noted and I am 4 months in to use 3 to 4 times a week and have only used about a quarter. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for the to do reminder to get my upper lip waxed. It is looking so obvious now when I put on powder. Thank you goddess of lists Ms Karen!
Thank you more than anything though for your positive and uplifting posts. It really is nice to find someone like you out there in the world of blogs.
Try the podcast the Whole Picture – the host is Britt and she speaks about holistic and clean skincare and beauty products.
I love me some lists as well, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to keep up with everything I need to do!
Washing my brushes is definitely on mine as well, I am not even sure I have washed my brushes at all in 2022 – gross, I know… Good thing I only wear the same kind of brown eyeshadow these days.
You know I need you to make my lists and also finish all the items on them for me! HAHA! Where are you off to? I hope it’s a fun trip!!