Kaplan Party of Three: beauty

Flamingo Razor

I'm reviewing the Flamingo Razor and adding a bonus! My DIY sugar scrub for a silky smooth shave.

Leave your skin feeling exfoliated, soft and moisturized with this razor and sugar scrub combo.

I strongly disliked buying razors before I found the Flamingo Razor. Every time I would go to the store, all the razors were on lockdown! I'd practically have to give my social security number and a down payment enough for a new car in order to get a new razor. Then, only to be disappointed when I finally used it.

I always thought razors were so expensive, irritating and not made with a woman in mind. Women often have more surface area they shave, delicate and sensitive areas that cheap razors make it torture to endure.

So believe me when I TRIED to find a flaw in this razor...but couldn't! This German-Engineered Five Blade Razor is my new favorite. I was actually looking forward to shaving my legs ha!

To make sure I had the best experience, I also used Flamingo's Foaming Shave Gel and my famous sugar scrub. First, exfoliate your legs with the sugar scrub, rinse off with warm water, apply the Foaming Shave Gel, and shave. Repeat (yes, repeat) and you will have the smoothest shaved legs you've ever had.

Here's how the sugar scrub is made:

DIY Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

2 cups of sugar: white, raw or brown sugar
1/2 cup of oil (olive oil, almond oil, grapeseed. You can also use coconut oil, just have it melted for mixing)
2 TBSP Lemon Juice
A container of your choice with a lid

Directions:

Mix together two cups of sugar and a 1/4 cup of oil and lemon juice.
Slowly add the remaining oil until you have a nice soft consistency that is soft but not too oily (You may not need all of the oil).
Scoop the mixture into a jar: I like a mason jar for a hand scrub or a plastic container for in the shower.
Store for up to three months in an air-tight container.
Rub on dry and tired skin to freshen. Gently scrub skin and then rinse with warm water.

This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you.

DIY At-Home Manicure

For a little self-care, here's how I do manicures at home that will last. In order to save some time and money, I've committed to perfecting how I paint my nails at home and give myself TLC.

A few things I look for in a good manicure is: Does it look good? Did it cost a lot to do (time and money)? Did it last? It's frustrating when you spend money for someone to do your nails, only to see that it's chipping a couple days later. With these steps, you'll eventually save money doing your nails at home, and will last longer too!

To help give my nails a boost, I've been taking over-the-counter hair, skin and nail gummies. They have biotin which supports healthy nails. So if you've noticed your nails chipping and breaking regularly, try adding these Nature's Bounty Vitamin Biotin Optimal Solutions Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies to your daily life. (Speaking of which, I need to go take mine!) Starting with a good foundation with your nails will be key to success.

Here's what I used and what you'll need:

White Towel
Small Bowl
Alchohol (rubbing alcohol, and if you prefer, a glass of wine too)
Buffer
Cuticle Nipper and Pusher
Clippers
Nail Files
Nail Primer
Nail Polish
Top Coat
Q Tips
Cuticle Oil
Lotion

Prepare The Area and Your Hands

The first thing I did was get everything out and ready for the manicure. I didn't want to have to go searching through any drawers or cabinets and potentially smudge my nail polish or get polish on anything else.

I used a clean white hand towel to set on top of my desk to catch any clippings or polish. Plus it felt spa-like. After that I washed my hands, making sure to get everything clean, especially under my nails.

Fill a small bowl of warm water to soak my nails before getting started.

Treat cuticles

You can use a cuticle remover cream if you prefer, but I just like to use my cuticle nippers and pusher to handle mine. You don't want to trim too much away, since cuticles are there to protect your nail beds and prevent infections.

Trim, Shape and Buff Nails

After I'm satisfied with my cuticles, I trim my nails to a manageable length. Out of laziness, I usually end up having long nails, but I like to typically trim them to just below the tops of my fingers. Next, using a nail file, I'll shape my nails. Instead of using a seesaw motion, as this can damage your nails and cause cracking/splitting, try to file your nails in the same direction with every stroke. I prefer a rounded square shape.

Lastly, I use a nail buffer block to buff my nails. This helps the nail polish to adhere to my nails better and give a smoother surface for the polish.

Wash Your Hands

Before you get ready to paint your nails, it's important to wash your hands. Inspect for any last minute shaping or clipping.

Primer Your Nails

You can buy a nail bond primer, but I find that using rubbing alcohol is just as effective. I use a Qtip with alcohol to paint my nails clean.

Next, I use O.P.I. Infinite Shine Primer to increase nail polish adhesion and prevent discoloration. The key to applying all of the layers to your nails is not to add too much at once. You can always add another layer later to make sure there's even application. But globbing on loads of polish at once will make for uneven coats and bubbles.

Paint with Polish

My latest favorite color is Essie - "Topless and Barefoot." It's a great neutral color with a soft blush pink kiss. When I paint a layer on my nail, I will typically do one stroke down the left side, then the right side, and then down the middle. I will typically only do 2-3 coats of a single color, which is enough to make an even, solid coat.

Top Coat

There's no point to taking the time to paint your nails, and wanting to make sure they last if you don't apply a top coat. I use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color, Clearly Quick. After I paint my nails, I want them to dry quickly and last a long time. Toddler Time means I'm always rough with my nails, and I need something to protect my newly painted nails. I couldn't believe how quickly this dried! I timidly poked my pinky nail to test if it was dry (expecting to see my fingerprints) but it was dry in just 1 minute! To be safe, I gave my nails a few minutes to dry and then was tackling chores with confidence that my nails would be fine.

Cuticle Oil and Lotion

To make my self-care treatment complete, I finished with Blossom Cuticle Oil and some hand lotion.

Here's a little tip: If you feel like the shine on top your top coat is starting to fade after a few days, you can reapply a new top coat.

Also, every few days, especially during winter months here in the desert, I like to reapply the cuticle oil. Apply it directly to your cuticles, and then finish with some hand lotion.

This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you.

Flamingo Razor

I'm reviewing the Flamingo Razor and adding a bonus! My DIY sugar scrub for a silky smooth shave.

DIY Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

Directions:

Everyday Makeup Routine

I'm not going to lie, I do not own expensive makeup. I try to buy long-lasting, affordable makeup, and this is what I use for my everyday look.

Products I use:

DIY At-Home Manicure

For a little self-care, here's how I do manicures at home that will last. In order to save some time and money, I've committed to perfecting how I paint my nails at home and give myself TLC.

Prepare The Area and Your Hands

Treat cuticles

Trim, Shape and Buff Nails

Wash Your Hands

Primer Your Nails

Paint with Polish

Top Coat

Cuticle Oil and Lotion

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