February 2020 - A Peachie Life

Amazon Designer Dupes: The Look for Less!

February 26, 2020 No Comments

Want the look without the price tag? We all have different ideas of how much is too much to pay to look on trend, so I’ve rounded up a few similar pieces to get you the look for less!

These Amazon pieces are inspired by brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch Jack Rogers, David Yurman and BaubleBar but come at a fraction of the price.

Follow me on Instagram to see more lifestyle inspiration:

www.instagram.com/stinamarina

Shop My Instagram

You can find the links below or on the LikeToKNOW.it shopping app where can can follow me to shop all my latest looks: @StinaMarina

You can find each Amazon dupe item by clicking the links below:

Hope y’all enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed making it! Want to see more posts like this? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Shopping!

Lifestyle

Hair Extensions: What You Need to Know

February 23, 2020 No Comments

I want to share with y’all my experience with hair extensions; I’ve used two different types and want to give my fair share of personal information for both.

Why get hair extensions?

Initially, I only entertained the thought of hair extensions after realizing they would really help my overall “look” I was going for with my NPC Bikini Competition, so I purchased some temporary clip-ins through a company called Zala, based out of Australia (but now they have a US warehouse as well). After my competition was over, I continued to use them because I realized just how much thickness and length I was really wanting with my hair. Fast-forward about 8 months later and I decided to quit messing around with the clip-ins and just get something more permanent.

Which types of hair extensions have I used?

Clip-ins first and currently I have the Natural Beaded Row (NBR)

What is the cost?

I believe my clip-ins were around $200-$300. The NBR extensions are much pricier- your professional stylist will help to recommend how much hair you will need to purchase. Each “pack” of hair can easily cost $300+ dependent on the length and amount of hair within the pack. After purchasing the hair and paying for the application you can expect to spend $500 at the very least. Many times the price can be closer to $750-$1000+. Make sure you are very specific with your stylist regarding the cost and get a strong idea of the money needed for the initial install and cost up front as well as the cost of maintaining the extensions every 6-8 weeks. Needless to say, the clip-ins are a much more affordable option.

Pros and Cons

Clip-Ins:

Pro

Temporary- easily change your look if you don’t want to commit to one or the other

Financially friendly

Able to take them out to style them

No real maintenance involved

Quick application

Con

Feels heavy on your head after wearing for more than a few hours

Can cause irritation or wear down patches of hair on your scalp

May be easy to notice

Difficult to wear certain hairstyles

Hard to keep them unnoticeable while swimming

Uncomfortable to lay down in

If you accidentally snag your hair, it can rip the extension and pull on your hair

Having to re-place the extensions each time you wear them

Natural Beaded Row

Pro

Stay in place; don’t have to reposition or re-place

Can brush, pull, shampoo, etc like normal hair and they won’t snag or come out

Professionally applied to best for the shape of your head and blended to match your current cut

Can swim without worry of extensions being very obvious

Much more comfortable

No “heavy” feeling

Can pull off more hairstyles than with clip-ins

No bald patches or irritation

Con

More costly than clip-ins

Upkeep associated with NBR every 6-8 weeks

When you want to wash your whole head of hair, you have to wash the extensions too, which take longer to wash and add on an extra 30 minutes of drying/styling time afterward

Takes some getting used to after the initial application for about 5-7 days

You are more “committed” to your look

Longer application- mine took about 3 hours to put in

Helpful Hints

With the extensions- whether clip-in, tape-in, NBR, etc., they should all be made up of very high quality hair (something your hairstylist should educate you on).

The hair that extensions are made up of is extremely porous, so a piece of advice I got was to avoid purple shampoo, as this will turn the extensions purple/silver. Avoid heavily chlorinated pools as well, or if you do want to swim, put on some leave-in conditioner prior to getting to the water, as this can easily turn your hair green!

Always use a wide-tooth comb to comb out your hair (wet or dry) starting from the bottom and working your way up to the root until you can pull the comb all the way through without an issue.

Give yourself at least an extra 30 minutes for drying and styling time when you’re working with the extensions too.

Extensions can tangle easily, especially when they are longer, so make sure to take extra precautions to avoid that from happening. Take care of them by using recommended products form your stylist – I use Olaplex on my extensions and real hair and it has made a world of difference!

Even if you have clip-in extensions, you can still bring them to the salon and have them colored/toned to match your current color, and cut to better blend into your hair. No reason you need to have two obviously different lengths of hair happening!

Do your homework. As always, research, research, RESEARCH. Look up different methods. Talk to people who have had experience with different types and get their take. Talk to a few professional stylists. Understand your current hair type, and also the look you are trying to achieve with the extensions. Have a price point in mind, and be prepared to invest the time and money into the maintenance of more “permanent” type extensions.

Worth the investment?

Absolutely! Investing in hair extensions two years ago was one of the best beauty decisions I have made for myself – they have given me a new confidence and are easy to work with on a daily basis.

I have used both Bellami and JZStyles beaded hair wefts and have been equally pleased. One great thing about my current extensions from JZStyles is they came out with a “co-z weft” which lays much flatter against your head and blends much better!

Clip-in extensions were great as the most cost-effective solution especially for someone that had never used extensions and didn’t know if it was a look I would want to continue outside of my “competition look”. NBR is more permanent, which- though more expensive- makes much more sense because I don’t have the irritation or the susceptibility to developing bald patches from the clip-ins over time. They are also MUCH more comfortable- I never notice they are there anymore. It does take a bit of planning for the maintenance of them, but I am quite happy with the ease of care and how much they have transformed my look. Overall I would support either option depending on what your reasoning was for each and your goals!

I do always recommend going to a salon and working with a professional who has been properly trained in extension installation and who has a broad knowledge on the different extensions, and sufficiently conveys that to you and works with you to come up with the best plan for your look. There are many different options, but always go to someone trustworthy and adequately trained!

Visit my Instagram to see more photos of my extensions, or hop over to this page on my blog!

I truly believe that great hair brings the whole package together, and extensions have done just that for me.

Note: Photos show different color hair extensions and highlights/lowlights as I have changed them up throughout the years!

Lifestyle

My Self Tanning Routine

February 21, 2020 No Comments

Growing up in Florida, I spent the majority of my years baking in the sun chasing that golden glow. Now that I’m in my 30s, I am all for that golden glow.. as long as it comes from a bottle. Over my lifetime (and if you’re reading this, probably your lifetime, too) as scientific studies and medical advancements have evolved, the fear of skin cancer became all too real. Furthermore, having some knowledge in aesthetics has further seasoned my beliefs that the risk just isn’t worth the reward: if I want a healthy glow, I’ll find it in a product!

There are a few key things to consider before just jumping right in:

What type of tanner are you looking to use?
What does the application process look like?
What is the level of tan you are trying to achieve?
Is the tan for an event? If so, when does the tan need to be at its “peak”?
What products are available to help prepare for the tanning application?
How long will you need to complete the process?
What clothing are you planning on wearing afterward?

Seems like a lot of thought that goes into this, right? Through my own process of trial and error over the last 7 years, these points have become a pretty standard means of thinking.

First things first: Planning

Like any process, you must plan! Are you looking to tan for a special event? How long will the tanning process take? Do you have the time it takes to set aside to shower, exfoliate, apply the tanner and dry prior to putting on clothing and getting ready for the day?

Many like to apply their tanner at night and sleep in it to rinse it off and get their fresh glow during the next day. I am in this boat if I have the time. However, many days I do not, so it just goes on first thing in the morning after my shower and exfoliation process.

Something important about the preparation process: If I know I’ll be applying tanner directly after my shower, I try to skip shaving (having made it a point to shave the night or a few hours before). Why? The tanner tends to congregate in the freshly-shaved hair follicles and create tiny little speckles instead of a smooth appearance.

Exfoliant-wise: I use an exfoliating sponge – no fancy products with micro-beads mainly due to the fact that it always feels like they leave a layer of film on me that needs to be scrubbed off after the fact. Just plain Dove soap and a good exfoliating sponge – that’s it!

Just like you would plan to get your hair or nails done, planning out your tanning routine helps to maintain a consistent, even glow! I like to take 1 or 2 days each week to plan out a time to apply my tanner (once every 3-4 days is ideal) to ensure I keep a steady glow.

Time to tan!

Now that you are freshly showered and exfoliated, it’s time to apply the tanning product. The product I’ve been using for the last year is St. Moriz 60 minute Fast Tan in the form of a mousse. I used to be a die-hard St. Tropez fan, but St. Moriz gives me the same results for less than half the price! I prefer the way this 60 minute Fast Tan formula dries and the color it dries in – it seems to have more red and brown undertones as opposed to the Dark Tan which has more yellow and green undertones.

You can find my specific tanning mitt here.

You can find the St. Moriz 60 Minute Fast Tan here.

Application:

I put on my tanning mitt and begin on my face using very light amounts and spreading them as evenly as possible. It can be easy to look splotchy with how quickly the product can dry, so be sure to work in smaller areas and spread and blend the tanner out as much as possible!

I move to my arms, chest and torso, legs and do my hands and feet last. Be extra careful on your hands and feet! They (along with your knees and elbows) tend to be particularly dry and can absorb more of the tanning product than you may anticipate. Be extra careful about tracking tanner through the house, especially after tanning your feet! I recommend tanning in the tub or shower if you are not yet comfortable with the process.

This method of application usually takes about 10-15 minutes for me and another 10 minutes to fully dry. With this specific formula, the longer you leave the tanner on, the darker it gets. Sometimes in a pinch I apply it in the morning and wear it throughout the day and rinse it off at night. This is fine! If you find yourself strapped for time and just need to apply and go, be aware of wearing certain clothes (whites or light colors) and make sure you dress appropriately for the heat. The sooner and more you sweat, the more easily running and splotchy your tan can look!

After:

Once my tan is applied I usually let it air dry for a few minutes and then change into loose, dark clothing. This way, if any excess tanner gets on my clothing it doesn’t stain. The more loose the clothing is, the better so the tan doesn’t smudge initially. Also, protect yourself from water splashing! Whether that’s doing the dishes, getting caught in the rain etc., water splashing on your newly applied tan can and will make it uneven and runny!

Once the tan is left on for the desired amount of time to achieve your optimum results, you are safe to rinse it off (not scrub!). This will rinse off the developer but keep that beautiful golden glow ever-present. Of course, read the directions with the product to ensure you achieve optimum results and take advantage of your new glow when it counts!

To maintain your tan, be sure to moisturize!

Again, to find the tanning products I use:

You can find my specific tanning mitt here.

You can find the St. Moriz 60 Minute Fast Tan here.

Happy Tanning!

Style

Spotlight: The Mad House

February 18, 2020 No Comments

Looking for a unique boutique with looks friendly to all shapes and sizes? You’re bound to find something at The Mad House! A portion of their inventory is even handmade, which is pretty awesome and backed by some fabulous quality. Help support these kind, savvy women and find yourself a little somethin’ – use this 20% off coupon code when you check out! THANKSX20

https://shop-themadhouse.com

Roommate of the Year: My Dog Sweatshirt

Cream Chenille V-Neck Sweater

Leopard Print Bodysuit

To shop the rest of my outfits down to the earrings, click here!

Lifestyle

At Home Teeth Whitening: Does it Work?

February 17, 2020 No Comments

There’s never a better time than now for teeth whitening, right?

I have made countless “emergency” trips to the store for a box of whitening strips for some upcoming event of my life, or simply because the lighting hit my smile just right so it resembled the half of a stick of Land O’ Lakes butter sitting in my fridge. Of course, this caused me to panic and think, “HOW HAS NOBODY TOLD ME I WAS SHOWCASING CORN NIBLETS AS MY TEETH?!”. Yeah, pretty safe to assume we’ve all been there.

My History with Whitening Products

I have been through quite the arsenal of whitening products – from drugstore cheapies to expensive high-intensity custom trays from my dentist and everywhere in between. I’ve always strive to have a bright, white and beautiful smile and there were many times when I was younger that I would rather smize than show my teeth because I was too self-conscious. When Smile Brilliant reached out to me, I was instantly on board. This was a chance for me to truly test and take my time with a product and to experience the entire process before offering up a review, and I have to say: I’m quite impressed.

The Breakdown:

Smile Brilliant would fall into the upper echelon of whitening products in my opinion. Why?

– Everything you need is sent to you in one kit

– Clear, detailed instructions

– Convenient and easy to use

– Customization – molds are used to develop custom-made reusable whitening trays

– Plenty of product

– Non-irritating – a “desensitizing gel” is included in your kit

– Results!

Where does it stand amongst competitors?

The last time I experienced truly efficient and noteworthy results was from my whitening products from my dentist. Unfortunately, I had to stop using them because my gums became overly sensitive. Smile Brilliant whitening gel has worked just as well without the burning or irritation I have experienced in the past! This is honestly my favorite thing about the product.

Using the custom whitening trays is easy, I usually just pop them in as I’m getting ready for the day and by the time I’m finished, my teeth are finished too! There’s no peeling a sticky strip off of your teeth or having a slimy film for a while, and because the trays are custom and reusable, you are more likely to get adequate and even coverage to each tooth and for the trays to effectively stay in place.

Results

The results? I think they speak for themselves! It is important to remember that whitening your teeth and keeping them white is an on-going process. Your teeth are constantly absorbing stains from coffee, tea, sauces etc., so it remains a constant battle to keep those pearly whites truly brilliant. This last round of whitening I have done with Smile Brilliant has given me a more noticeably bright smile and because of that I smile a little bigger!

Overall, I’m highly satisfied with my entire experience with the Smile Brilliant products and definitely recommend y’all give it a try and enter my giveaway!