winter beauty

even though I am now living in Hawaii, I vividly remember the days of harsh, dry winters (in Wisconsin & Colorado).  beauty-wise, it was always awful for me.  

I saw THIS ARTICLE and the first thing I noticed was the quote from SELF magazine's beauty editor which was "it really comes down to going back to the basics."

I like it basic.  I like simple solutions.  I like not having to go out and buy the most up-to-date whatever to make it just so.  I like to find & buy products that actually do what they say they're gonna do, that way I don't need layers of products for one issue.  girls, you know what I mean?  I like easy, manageable, everything ... beauty-wise especially.

since I'm an Avon Rep, I thought I'd do some homework to see if Avon carries a solution for each issues that winter brings ... and wouldn'tcha know it, they do!

* the underlined section of the product is the link to the details &/or to shop at my Avon store
** if you are interested in a product, don't forget to read the customer reviews, found on that same page

Hair - all of the following hair treatments are for dry & damaged hair, which is exactly what the winter months bring.  dry hair will get static-y and you'll be walking around zapping everyone!  which can be fun, but doesn't it get old after awhile?!  ouch!
Advanced Techniques -
Damage Repair Shampoo & Conditioner (on sale now! $4.99 each)
they also have a 5-day Rescue Treatment ($8)
Moisture Sleek Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner (on sale now! $2.99 each)
Naturals -
Almond Oil & Avocado Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner (on sale now! 5 bottles for $10)
- for you Avon fans in Hawaii, you have by now realized that winter brings humidity.  humidity and frizz go hand in hand.  check these products out -
Advanced Techniques -
Frizz Control Lotus Shield Shampoo & Conditioner ($6 each)
Frizz Control Lotus Shield Anti-Frizz Treatment ($12)
- here is a great set with everything you need -
Advanced Techniques: Bohemian Waves 4-piece Collection ($20)

Lips - no more chapped lips!!  so affordable you can have one in every room, coat pocket, and purse!
Moisture Therapy -
Intensive Treatment  Moisturizing Lip Treatment SPF 15 (on sale now! $.69)
Intensive Treatment Lip Ointment SPF 15 ($2)
for moisture & gloss, try this - Dew Kiss (on sale now! $.69)
- and of course Avon has Moisturizing Lipsticks -
Ultra Color Rich: Moisture Seduction SPF 15 (on sale now! $4.99)
Healthy Makeup: Lipstick SPF 15 (on sale now! $4.99)

Skin - my skin is what always takes the biggest toll, and in the winter, I am especially dry and itchy.  I'm finding even in a winter with humidity, I get dry.  what's up with that?!

Face - the article says specifically stay away from anti-aging products because they tend to be drying, however, Avon's Anew Skincare line (which is anti-aging) there is a step for moisturizing.  in fact, there is a different moisturizer for your morning and night cleansing, so to me, they [at Avon] must know the drying tendencies anti-aging products have.  you will find vitamin e throughout the Anew products, a.k.a tocopherol.
in your 30's, try Anew: Rejuvenate (full set on sale now! $60)
in your 40's, try Anew: Reversalist (full set on sale now! $70)
in your 50's, try Anew: Ultimate (full set on sale now! $75)
if you're not interested in anti-aging, here are some other facial moisturizers -
Avon Solutions-
Nutra Replenishing Cream (on sale now!  2 for $6.99 each)
Maximum Moisture Night Cream ($13)

Body - I think Avon is best known for their Skin So Soft line.  the oils take away your dry, itchy skin and replace it with smooth, soft, great smelling skin.  its the best!!
SSS - now in different scents
Original Bath Oil (on sale now! $8.99 for 24oz)
Body Wash (on sale now! $2.99)
Replenishing Body Lotion  (on sale now! $4.99)
Moisture Therapy - available in Oatmeal, Skin Renewal, and Vitamin Treatment
Intensive Treatment Body Lotion (on sale now!  2 for $8.99)
Intensive Treatment Extra Strength Cream (on sale now!  2 for $8.99)

Nails - the article does have the cheapest and easiest solution on this one: olive oil from the grocery store!!  but just for kicks, here's what Avon has to keep your cuticles soft and pliable -
Nail Experts -
Hydrating Cuticle Cream (on sale now! $2.99)
Fresh Aloe Cuticle Gel ($6.50)

From the Inside Out - drink more water!  doesn't get any easier than that!  well actually, you could drink your water AND donate to Breast Cancer Awareness by purchasing one of these:
Breast Cancer Crusade Pink Water Bottle ($5)
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Clear Water Bottle ($10)


as a woman, I know how difficult it can be to find the right products.  if Avon works for you, then its great to use it as a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs.  if you're new to Avon, I encourage you to try ... and seriously, not because I sell it ... but because it has such a great reputation (for 125 years now!) at a very reasonable price.  I don't care how rich you are, you have to cringe a little if you spend $100 on facial cream!!

I hope this was helpful to you.  stay warm AND MOISTURIZED this winter!!

Shop online 24/7 @ www.youravon.com/katiegrimm - or click the Avon logo on the right side of my blog
extra discounts for you-
order on President's Day (this coming Monday 02/21) and get FREE shipping with $10+ order!  coupon code: PREZDAY10
order any other day with $30+ and receive FREE shipping using code: FSC05

I am not my own

more and more I am being shown that I am not my own. we are taught by the world to have, take, or keep control of our lives, but really, God has control. total control. to me, that's comforting. scary at times, but ultimately, it's comforting.

change of subject, but I'll bring it all back together ...

moving to CO I had to chop my hair. the elevation totally flattened it and I didn't know what to do with it. honestly, I don't care about my hair. sometimes I try to be a girly girl, but it's fake and it lasts only a short time. it's just not in me to care or get excited about it.

with these 2 thoughts running around in my head, I finally got to put them together with a 3rd thought ...

for whatever reason, my heart aches for people affected by cancer. it's a disease that comes no matter what you do to avoid it. a disease with no sure cure available. people of all ages gets it. no one knows why or how.

I really don't have too much experience with cancer. I don't know my family tree that far back, but of the ones I know, there are a couple that have died from cancer. but their deaths came from their lifestyle of smoking; in my opinion, their own stupidity. but from what I remember, I don't think they had to go through chemo and loose their hair. the cancer was either too far gone or came on too fast.

I also got involved with a mom's club a couple years ago, and I became the community outreach contact for the group. I'd set up park clean-up days, get us in the local parades, and one year, got us involved with the Relay for Life, which is a huge event to raise money for cancer awareness and research. I was so happy to help and so heartbroken at the candlelight vigil held that night.

all that put together equal this ...

seeing and understanding that I am not my own, and I don't really care about my hair, and I somehow want to help ease the pain of cancer, I've decided to get involved with Pantene and their Beautiful Lengths program. I don't particularly like Pantene products, their too heavy for me, but they have this great program with the American Cancer Society.

so hair donation has been added to my bucket list. :)

wish me luck to grow my hair that long!! should be interesting. I haven't had long hair since high school I think.

Here are some other programs to get involved with if you're interested too.

it's just hair

I have never been a real trendy person, and I don't think I ever really compared myself to others too much ... ok maybe in my high school days, but still, it was never too extreme.  I was never really into fashion, make up, name brands, or "what's hot" that season; just not a girly girl I guess.

Moving here, I have been forced to get some style!  I've always had great, naturally curly and naturally thick hair, until I moved to here ...  actually after being pregnant twice, my hair has thinned out a bit, but living at this elevation has made my hair gone pretty much straight.  blah.

what's a girl to do?!

luckily I have a beautician for a sister!

so here's the cut I've gone with; and the only celebrity I can think of who also has this cut is:

I think it looks really good on her.

now that I have some sort of style, I notice everywhere I go!  when I'm out and about running errands with the boys, I see tons of other moms with the same haircut.  apparently I picked something too trendy, so that makes me not like it so much.

and then I think, well, at least I didn't get in on this mom-phase, ha!  

PS - have you seen the SNL skit for mom jeans?  hilarious!