After being down in the dumps from a recent move gone bad, I realized I needed some kind of serious therapy. Basically the stress got to me and I looked like “crap!” Now I know that the best way to deal with stress is good nutrition, exercise, and getting a good night’s sleep. However, I was much too anxious to eat, too tired to do much of anything from lack of sleep, and I certainly didn’t want to leave the house looking and feeling as bad as I did.

I didn’t know what to do with myself and all of a sudden the little proverbial light bulb turned on in my head and I had the answer. I found it strange that when anyone I know is feeling down I help them by giving them a few beauty ideas. The famous little saying “when you look good, you feel good” is so on point! Yet when I happened to be the one who needed the help, I never thought of taking care of myself that way. I would never let you, my family or friends down by not suggesting a few ideas on how to look good to feel better.  Whether it be how to take care of those puffy eyes, or get their hair nice and shiny by suggesting a conditioning mask , or even by doing a home exfoliating peel I found that once the sad person starts to look better they really perk up. The strange part was that I never thought of it for myself.

So I took a look at myself in the mirror and the first word that came to mind was “dull.” I needed a few things to brighten me up (actually on more levels than one). So I thought about highlights for my hair but realized I’d have to leave the house and that was definitely not going to happen. So I thought maybe some new cosmetics would be just the ticket but realized I’d never go to the mall looking the way I did, not to mention I couldn’t even get up the motivation it would’ve taken to get out of bed to eat. If I couldn’t talk myself into driving a short distance to get the highlights (when all you have to do is sit in a stylist’s chair), I knew I’d never be able to walk around a mall.

But then once again that cool little light bulb flickered some light and I thought, “oh my gosh, I know what to do; I’m going shopping online!” I actually got out of my bed and went into the kitchen to get some cheese and crackers and some kettle corn. Right then and there; I knew the concept was working. The whole idea kicked in my appetite and revved up my motivation. I was starting to have fun!

I got online and went straight to all of my favorite beauty websites and read beauty blogs and got beauty tips that I had never even thought of. It turns out that this beauty therapy I share with others really WAS just what the doctor ordered. As it turns out, I ordered a few things myself.

At SkinStore.com I was looking at the home page trying to decide where to begin and I saw the word “gifts.” I thought why not get a gift for myself? It will not only cheer me up to get a gift, but the contents will be beauty products to make me look better, which in turn will make me feel better. Additionally, I didn’t let buyer’s remorse set in because gifts, kits and sets are almost always a better value, simply because there are usually bonus items thrown in or just a better deal to purchase the combination packs.

There were dozens of pages of under the tab of “gifts” but I had only perused a few when I saw sitting side by side, two of the best sets ever to brighten me up. The Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Set was just the thing to brighten, exfoliate, nourish and luminate my dull skin. I saved about forty bucks on this set by purchasing it as a set. The next gift box was just the thing to bring it all together. In this Bare Minerals treasure chest called Bare Minerals Barecrystals Collection were brilliant, vibrant and yet understated color for eyes, cheeks and lips. The set came complete with professional makeup brushes for gorgeous unflawed application. The only words to describe how I felt when I got that Skinstore delivery the very next day (I went with overnight delivery, considering the condition was stat!) and used every product in proper order was “bright and luminous.” I shined once again; on more levels than one!