five on friday 1.10.14 (beauty edition)

happy friday!  today i've got a bit of a "beauty" theme going on for today's five on friday linkup.

1.  i am a huge fan of eyelash extensions, i'm just a bit too poor to get them done professionally on a regular basis :)  i've experimented with false lashes ever since i can remember, but it really does take a while to master the art of individual lash application.  i scored these ardell duralash natural individual false lashes  (a total impulse buy) on my last trip to sally's, and i love them.  they maintain their shape and are very natural looking, and not as obvious as the larger cluster of individual lashes also made by ardell.  just apply a drop of permanent lash glue on the bottom of the lash, place at the base of your own lashes, and a few lashes later, viola... effortless luscious lashes for a few weeks!!

2.  i have used oscar blandi dry shampoo for years, and as a fine-haired gal, i swear by this stuff.  my scalp is comparable to the bp oil spill if i don't wash my hair every 24 hours, and this dry shampoo has been a lifesaver on those mornings i'm running late for work and don't have time to wash my hair.  plus, it's small enough to fit in your purse, lasts for a really long time, and smells like lemons!  win, win.

3.  speaking of bad hair days... when i'm having one, this is my go-to hairstyle!  milkmaid braids are super easy and i always receive tons of compliments from strangers.

4.  since we are going to have a bit of warm weather this weekend (71 degrees!!) i decided to slather on some of my favorite tanning lotion in anticipation of wearing shorts/skirts.  i'm a bit of a tanning lotion expert, since i'm extremely pale (all year around) and my only chance of being tan is if all of my freckles miraculously blend together one day.  i've been experimenting with different tanning lotions since middle school, and they has definitely come a long way since then (goodbye stinky orange tiger stripes)!  currently jergens natural glow is my favorite affordable tanning lotion.  it has a pleasant scent and provides a subtle even glow in a matter of a few days.  also, it's so much better for you than sun damage and premature aging caused by the sun and tanning beds.

5.  besides the fact that i just mentioned it's going to be 71 degrees here this weekend, it's been a pretty cold winter so far.  as someone who suffers from chapped lips every. single. winter., this vaseline lip therapy has literally been a godsend for me this season.  i tried the rosy lips version (apparently sold in the uk for several years, but just recently available in the us) and it moisturizes and protects your lips like no other!  the color is very sheer... but it's just enough glow to brighten up your makeup routine during these dreary winter days!

here's hoping you all have a great weekend!