Product Reviews

This Highlighter Will Give You A Fade Free Yoncé Glow That Will Last During an 8+ hours FaceTime Session

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By Amanda V.

Glow queen here, doing glow things... This MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Fusion Highlighter in Golden is a stunning gel-powder formula will drive that golden summer glow into the fall. I have not stopped using it these past couple of weeks. I love that the glow does NOT contain major chunks of glitter and glides on leaving a soft luminescent, heavenly glow onto the skin. This highlighter is talc-free (yes lawd) and is super seamless in texture and a smooth and silk like finish. It was comfortable to wear even on a hot humid day! 

What is major about this highlighter is that you can see my beam from a mile away at every turn of my head and it lasts more than 8 hours for me. It stood glowing on my face from about 3pm - 12am while on FaceTime with my Best Friend. It didn't budge until I wiped it off before I went to sleep. That glowing longevity is what I live for y'all!!!

The golden shade is the most flattering and will work amazing on all skin tones especially medium to dark. 

The MUFE Pro Light Fusion Highlighter is available in 2 shades, The Golden shade from this review as well as a light golden pink that would be even more flattering on the fairer skin tones. You can purchase this incredible product for $39 at Sephora Stores, Sephora.com and MakeUpForEver.com

Your hair has never been this clean before, R+Co's Oblivion will wipe out all!!

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By: Amanda V.

Long story short, I have had so many hair mishaps that I am extremely picky with what I use on my hair. My scalp is extremely sensitive and can be irritated easily and my hair is more on the dry, unruly side. Most of the summer i have been leaving my hair in its natural curly state but during the month of August I've dealt with a few blowouts and that lead to product buildup (thanks to dry texturizing spray and massive amounts of dry shampoo) which lead to an irritated scalp. Even after a regular triple wash my hair never felt clean. I recently took a walk to my local Bluemercury to invest in a new scalp scrub by one of my favorite brands, R+Co but sadly it was already sold out. Since I didn't want to leave the store empty handed, I decided on getting their OBLIVION clarifying shampoo and conditioner. This just so happened to be the best purchase decision i have made in a very long time. 

Keep in mind that when I used this on my hair I had a week old blowout with tons of product buildup and reside from finishing creme, dry shampoo, dry texturizing spray, hairspray as well as the natural oil my scalp produces... GROSS, I know. Even during the summer the chlorine from the pool and hard water from my shower head can lead to build up but after a triple wash with this shampoo my scalp was squeaky clean I mean C L E A N!! Not stripped completely from moisture but stripped from all of the buildup and residue from products and pool sessions. The lather was so comfortable and soothing which I think was due in major part to the ingredients like coconut oil, rosemary leaf extract, witch hazel and tea tree oil. My hair didn't feel like a parched brillo pad at all. It feels like a Detox but for my hair. I feel like my scalp has received a brand new lease on life. The restorative gel conditioner serves as the perfect companion to make this one powerful duo. This conditioner is an oil-in-gel hybrid that hydrates your hair while incorporating nutrients back into it. About 80% of this conditioner is made up of Coconut, Almond, Moringa Seed and Peach Kernal Oils but in a gel form to attach to the strands better. Although it won't lather like your average creamy conditioner, which might turn some people off, but it gets the job done perfectly and my hair is left moisturized and hydrated with superb shine. When would a basic clarifying product leave your hair like this? Never!! At least not that I know of. This lightweight conditioner left my normally dry, and kinda thin hair frizz-free and shiny without any weigh down. Also While Blowdrying my hair it smelled fresh and like the subtle scent on this shampoo and conditioner, THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THIS CLEANSING DUO LEFT MY HAIR AND SCALP CLEAN AF! I'm 3 days into my blowout and my scalp feels great and my hair still smells clean. It feels so good to finally touch my scalp and not get grossed out. 

The vegan and cruelty-free Oblivion duo is also gentle and mild enough for daily use which is a major plus to those with parched hair like mine. 

R+Co's Oblivion Duo is smaller than the other shampoos and conditioners, Both are 6oz rather than 8oz like the rest of their line. The shampoo retails for $24 and the conditioner retails for about $25. These are worth the splurge for me and I and it to be a worthy investment, whether you just purchase the shampoo or both. You won't realize how clean your hair can actually get until you use this. Totally recommend this duo for the dry, frizzy and thin haired babes. 

Can be purchased at Bluemercury.com and Bluemercury stores as well as RandCo.com and Birchbox.com.

The Eye Pigment That Taylor Thinks is Party Proof!

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Written By Twist.it.tea 

 

Milk Makeup’s Eye Pigment is my favorite go-to for when I need to quickly jazz up my eyes.  Keyword, ‘quickly’ because I’m always late and this eye pigment gives me a beautiful finish with 0 effort.  Normally my lids are naked, because I lack the patience to dedicate eyeshadow into my daily routine but this stuff goes on within seconds.  I can really appreciate a product that packs a punch but doesn’t intrude on my time getting ready. This stuff is sooo worth having around your vanity, and for $24 I promise you it’ worth every penny.  The formula is different…. It’s creamy, but  within minutes it magically sets to a long lasting eye shadow.

Milk Makeup  has a very solid range of pigments , all appropriately named for a rockstar -esque lifestyle; Rager as an ice blue, After Party in light pink, and Jam Room in iridescent lavender.  These shades are beautiful and sparkly and perfect for making a statement.  They’re bold and they pop on your eyes, so you don’t have to worry about dullness from this line.  I especially love them because they double as shadows or eyeliners. I’ve been wearing ‘Silent Disco’ which is a plummy/brown hue with bronze colored sparkles. This specific shade brightens my dark brown eyes and is a  beautiful accent. I've been testing the longevity and wear of this pigment all summer at various festivals and they've passed with flying colors. 

 You don’t need a lot of product while applying this shadow.  Sometimes I use my finger, other times a small brush for a more refined, liner look. The shadow’s formula makes it so easy to build for a richer, more dramatic look. It can definitely get messy and is kind of a pain in the ass to remove from your hands.  Like I said: It set’s  quickly, like within minutes. 

 

  I would definitely recommend doing one eye at a time with this stuff. I  use a cotton swab and eye makeup remover to clean up the edges and around my lids when I go full coverage but to completely remove you have to almost saturate the eye shadow with solution and cotton ball before you start wiping it away. I love that throughout the night I never have to worry about creasing or smudging or worry about it flaking off and landing under my eye.  For some reason whenever I wear eye makeup, under my eye gets increasingly dark and I feel like I have to constantly touch and lighten up throughout the night.  But Milk Makeup’s Eye Pigment stays on flawlessly even without a primer in the mix. It’s advertised to last through a swim, which I have not personally tested out but I did wear it to a festival this summer when the weather took a turn for the worst and I ended up in a monsoon..5 stars for this beauty. 

 

This Hydrating Mist Will Revive Your Skin and Your Life

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By: Amanda V.

This spray is infused with Coconut Water, Hibiscus Flower, Rose Petals, and which hazel to hydrate, soothe, balance, reduce discoloration and firm your skin naturally. 

Face Mists have become the new thing for me. I enjoy a good refreshing spritz session in the  sweltering heat and humidity of New York City's Summer days. I must say that that I am VERY VERY picky because some face sprays can smell a bit foul (Sorry Glossier I love you so much but your soothing face mist smells like breath) and I am not here for it. I am also pretty picky with what I put on my face in general and the all natural ingredients infused in this ROSE HIBISCUS COCONUT WATER HYDRATING FACE MIST by cult beauty brand HERBIVORE reassured me that this was safe enough to give a try.

I love to use this delicately refreshing mostly as a facial toner and also as a mist to wake up and recharge my face needed. 

As a toner, this has been the most super gentle on my skin. It is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I spritz a cotton round and wipe all around my face and it doesn't dry out my skin. it feels super soft and firm but not uncomfortably tight and dried out, like most basic toners will leave you feeling.I love to use this before and after I apply my serum and moisturizer as well so my skin can chug all of that moisturizing goodness. After using this for a couple of weeks, consistently toning my face with it as part of my routine, I did notice the texture in my skin is MUCH smoother. This product can replace Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (as cool as it is, it can be a bit drying for me).

As a refreshing mist, my skin loves to drink this stuff up. On a no makeup day I will drench my face in this spray and add a serum and them my moisturizer and then spray again on top of that (I'm totally insane, I know... but have you met my parched skin? It's like the Sahara Desert) and if I'm wearing makeup and mid way through the day I feel like I need a pick me up, I just spritz this and it not only revives my entire face and life, it also leaves a natural dewy glow. I would prefer a much finer mist because it is a bit much, more of a splash and thats not what anyone wants on top of their makeup, but I just make sure not to spray too close to my face. 

I'm not sure how this would work alone for keeping your makeup completely set from budging, especially a full coverage foundation and contour. If going heavier with makeup I wouldn't go for this, I'd just stick to an actual makeup setting spray, like one from Urban Decay or NYX rather than this. 

I totally recommend this spray to anyone who needs a hydration boost, especially if you have sensitive, dry/combo skin because this stuff is incredibly soothing and gentle and leaves absolutely no irritation whatsoever. I prefer this 110% over my smelly Glossier soothing face mist, and the fact that I said I choose this over something from my holy grail brand says a lot. This mist has the most subtle rose scent, and is not overpoweringly botanical whatsoever. 

You can purchase this spray at Sephora, where the full size, 4oz bottle is $32 as well as HerbivoreBotanicals.com and Urban Outfitters where they sell the Full Size and a 2oz mini spray for half the price at $16 which will be better for a trial run before you give in to the full size. 

 

 

Note: I did read on multiple sites that the scent and color varies and for some people the scent was a bit too potent for them. For me, my bottle smelled similar to the Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish and I didn't experience and foul fragrance to my spray whatsoever. 

That Awkward Moment When You Wash Your Face and the Result of Your Skin is Oily Than Before

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Algenist

GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser

SIZE 5 oz/ 150 mL

@Twist.it.tea 

 

I was so eager to try a makeup remover that “melts” off your makeup, that in retrospect I should have paid more attention to Algenist’s formula.  The advertised ingredients on Algenist’s Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser are Alguronic Acid and Microalgae Oil.    Respectively, the oil based compound of the formula didn’t sit well with me, Alguronic Acid is apart of the ‘Anti-Aging’ segment and that is not considered a physical attribute of the cleanser.  This is the first time I’ve tried an oil based cleanser and it will be definitely be my last.  I was curious to see what other users liked about this product and to me the running theme was simply; skin type. The formula is a thick oil which you apply to a dry face and then rub with wet hands to create the milky emulsion which is then rinsed. Personally, I felt really grossed out by the oily film that was left on my skin after completing the steps. One review suggested a hot cloth after the process to relieve the redness of dry, sensitive skin while minimizing pores.  I’m definitely going to give this cleanser another shot come the winter months. Right now my skin doesn’t need an excessive amount of moisture because of the summer season where it leans more on the oil scale.  This product may work for you and it may not, I think a lot has to do with preference as well as skin type. I have agreed to put the plastic smell to the side… people say it’s vanilla and sweet but I won’t get your hopes up. 

It is worth mentioning that this cleanser does a poor job of removing eye and face make up. I’ve looked in the mirror a few times and saw the Joker.  As you can envision in your mind, my ‘stubborn’ makeup mostly just smudges and smears all over my face creating a dramatic look of “Walking Through a Hurricane After a Night Out”. It is not cute.  BUT, I will say that even after another wash with a different cleanser, my skin feels noticeably softer and hydrated. I’m going to give this product 2 stars only because it has the opportunity to redeem themselves to 3. Once the winter months come around I will try the hot towel remedy and if it turns out to be the missing link then I will give up no more than a star.  Admittedly, I don't have much faith in this cleanser and would rather spend my coins (Algenist’s 150ML bottle retails for $38 at Sephora)  on one that just works for me with no extra frills involved in the process. 

The Cleanser I Reach for When my Face Needs a Tall Glass of Water

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Written by @Twist.it.tea

 

The mystery of a ‘mud to foam’ cleanser intrigued me, but I was wary of trying to a new face cleanser.  Murad is responsible for the progress my skin has been making over the last few months, and the last thing I wanted to do was irritate it again.  Rare Brazilian Yellow Clay, Pure Green Coconut Water, South Pacific Plumeria Flower Blossom Extract and Teaoxi Olive Leaf Powder were listed as the ingredients and this all meant absolutely nothing to me in terms of skincare, but I needed a light exfoliant incorporated into my routine and this was a high contender.  Everything started to make sense as I noticed 'brightness' and 'clarity' were turned way up on my skin's meter scale. Teaoxi accompanied by the coconut water are the ones responsible for the surge of moisture and hydration. I've used Glamglow cleanser in the morning and sometimes at night and never had a single issue with the formula or how my skin reacts.  It keeps my face soft, bright and hydrated, and breakouts are practically non-existent.  I have been fighting discoloration on my cheek area and this has exfoliated and helped minimize dark spots.  I use this face wash in addition to Murad Radiant Skin Renewal regiment and it’s been a great compliment to my skincare routine.  I love that I put the mud on my face first, and then lather it with water to turn the mud into a lovely foam.  The foam isn't as foamy as one would expect but it does a great job at removing my makeup and giving me a refreshing and clean feeling post wash.The mud smells like coconuts which is always a plus.  Anytime I can incorporate a fake tropical aspect into my day, I will.  Unfortunately, at first the scent can be a little unusual…. chemically if you must. It's not overpowering and your nose will quickly adjust, but it  doesn't fall under the typical coconut fragrance.This cleanser from Glamglow retails for $39 at Sephora, but before I repurchased I would wait for it to go on sale.  I still stand by the complimentary factor to my routine but it doesn't hold a permanent spot.  I love this cleanser because it is great for that little extra exfoliation you need every once in a while.

Positively Glowing: A Highlighter & Priming Duo that provides Good Vibes, an aura of Love and a Glowing Beam.

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By Amanda V.

When cult favorite online beauty brand (as well as a major favorite of mine)  Colourpop Cosmetics announced that they were releasing a crystal infused collection I just knew that I had to get in on this. 

ROSE QUARTZ : This stone of the heart will attract love, keep love and help mend a broken heart. 

That's what you read when you first open the box of the Rose Quartz crystal priming spray and crystal liquid highlighter. I already feel surrounded by infinite mini pink heart emojis while unboxing these bottles gems!!

This liquid highlighter isn't completely overpowering, it is very sheer and the intensity of it's beam can be built. It mixed so well with my NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and My Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint. When Spot highlighting, I use a Small duo fibre brush (which I love for all of my liquid highlighters) and press into my skin and then use either my fingers or a Beauty Blender to make it appear more seamless. The light (especially natural sunlight) catches the reflects of the crushed crystals in this highlighter so beautiful, making you look like an ethereal goddess. The highlighter worked well with my sensitive, Dry combo skin and had no negative reaction to it as with all of my Colourpop products which is why I love the brand so much, other than their cute, witty names for shades and inexpensive price tag. 

As The Hoodwitch says, "Rose Quartz nurtures and aids in the use of positive affirmations. Self-Love & Self Trust". 

The Rose Quartz Crystal Priming Spray has been quite the refresher after skincare, before makeup application. I use it the way I used to use my Mac Fix+ as a Priming mist. This Spray is Hydrating and perfect for those with dry skin. Along with crushed rose quartz crystals, this spray also has major beauty benefits like apple extracts to bump up that hydration, grapefruit extract to provide antioxidants and vitamins and it also contains an Olive Oil derived moisturizer for a dewy gleam as your base pre makeup application. To be honest when I read the words "OLIVE OIL",  I was a bit skeptical because I thought "Oh my God, what if it clogs my pores? or possibly break me out?' but thankfully it did neither. My skin felt moisturized, soft, cool and refreshed. I found the subtle grapefruit scent to be revitalizing. Along with the aquamarine crystal setting spray, My makeup application seemed to last throughout a full work day like it normally does, then again I don't really wear too much. With that being said, I don't know how long it will last with a FULL FACE as in foundation, cream contour and highlight, bronzer, powder, etc. I haven't tried it with a full face yet. I'm hopeful it would work. 

The Crystal Collection was said to be Limited Edition (as with a majority of their products) but I have a good feeling they will be re-releasing these gems, and for $6 for the Priming Spray and $9 for the liquid highlighter, it is SO worth a try!!! Search the product on Colourpop.com, click on the product and add your email address to be notified when they come back out. 

Kissed By A Rose: This Body Polish is a savior for those with even the driest skin.

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BY: Amanda V.

HERBIVORE COCO ROSE COCONUT OIL BODY POLISH

Let me start off my stating that I'm going to have to repurchase HERBIVORE'S Coco Rose Coconut Oil Body Polish for the rest of my existence. It's THAT DAMN GOOD. I have the driest skin on the plant. Most products that i apply to my body absorb in seconds and then I'm parched again. The KP (Keratosis pilaris) on my arms and legs don't make it any better. 

This scrub has been a godsend. It is made up of Virgin Coconut Oil for major hydration and beneficial proteins for both in and outside of your body (insert longest "yeah boiiiiiiiiii" ever) Moroccan Rose is soothing, making it perfect for even the most sensitive skin and also works as an antibacterial and astringent to purify your pores while the Sugar. although isn't super abrasive but is still does the job of gently exfoliating your skin enough to renew it and have it glowing. 

This has become a staple in my nighttime shower routine. I shower with my regular Body Bar, and then after I rinse I start to apply this Body Polish all over but paying the most attention to the problem areas on my arms and legs. I rub and exfoliate for a couple of minutes while my skin soaks it up and then I rise with lukewarm/cool water. My skin is left hydrated and a bit more supple and super moisturized. At first I was in disbelief because I didn't think anything could hydrate my skin but this scrub did absolute wonders. I didn't have uncomfortable dry skin while asleep at night and it still felt moisturized in the morning when I woke up. It is a bit oily but I love that because for me that is needed (like I said I have the most parched skin on the planet). I don't think the light rose scent is over powering, it's quite subtle which is nice. Another plus is that this made my legs post shave, feel so nice with zero irritation. This scrub is not only nourishing but also luxurious because it makes you feel pampered after you use it. 

The single reason I took away half of a star is because I really wish this came in a larger size. This will last only 2 weeks tops. PLEASE HERBIVORE, MAKE A LUXURY SIZE!!!!

This product retails for about $36 and it is sold at multiple stores including Sephora.com and UrbanOutfitters.com as well as the brand's own site HerbivoreBotanicals.com. It is quite pricey for not lasting more than 10 uses maximum (and that's pushing it) I will justify the price by saying this is a MEGA treat, especially for those of you like me with supremely dry skin. It's an actual relief in a jar. 

 

ROSE TIP: THIS PAIRS SO WELL WITH THE OUAI ROSE HAIR AND BODY OIL.

How can I look younger with Clarins? Clarins Paris Lift -Affine Visage serum contour parfait

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Written by Deanna. P

I have been familiar with Clarins for years & although I had known it was a French company, I did not know the luxury products produced were centered around plants. Clarins is known asa high end cosmetics company.  It was founded in 1954 by Jacques Courtin-Clarins and introduced to the US in 1981.   In 1987 Clarins sunscreen took off in America.    They currently provide skincare, fragrance, and cosmetics worldwide through department stores & select pharmacies.  I tried Clarins serum which comes in 1.6 oz/50ml and retails for $81.00.  It can be used on all skin types which include Normal, Oily, Combination, and Dry skin.  

The product addresses & tries to correct your skin’s loss of firmnessand elasticity.  

The combination of it’s plant based ingredients help to redefine your facial features.  

The ingredients & what they do,  include:

Guarana Extract: Promotes a slimmer-looking face. 

-Zerumbet Ginger Extract: Visibly reduces puffiness. 

-Kaki Extract: Helps prevent skin slackening. 

-Oat Sugars: Visibly firm and smooth for a lifting effect. 

 

The product was tested on 79 women & the satisfaction rate of the women on the results were in the high 80 percentile.  They agreed their faces appeared more defined, firmer, lifted, & prettier from the front & side profiles. With results like this, I was excited to try.  I used the product for about 2 weeks & definitely noticed a difference.  The recommended way to use it was to pump some into your hands and rub together to warm.  Apply to face and neck, sit down, & put head down and drain. There is a short video online to watch so you can mimic these directions.   You should apply the serum mornings & evenings. My face definitely looked lifted & more defined.  I plan to continue use to see what happens after a couple more weeks.   My only complaint about the product is the scent was a little strong for me.   I don’t love the smell of a strong perfume & this is what I got from it.  

 I definitely do think the price is high, but it works so this was not an issue.  This product is a great treat for your face instead of getting a monthly facial.  

 

You can purchase it at Sephora.  Check out the details here:

http://www.sephora.com

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

 

2 Products from @boscia that you need this summer!

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Written by Deanna. P

Boscia I have seen, but had never tried.   Boscia is one of the world's first preservative-free, botanically based skin care lines.  This excites me!  I am very careful about what I eat so to know there is a skin care line that will help me put natural things on my face as well makes me very happy. I tried two product by the brand and was very happy with them both. Boscia cleansing oil can be used on all skin typesNormal, Oily, Combination, Dry & Sensitiveare all included on this list.   It comes in two sizes.  The 1.7 oz/50 mL retails for $10.00 &  the 5 oz/150 mL retails for $32.00.  The oil is used to remove makeup, brighten your face, cleans pores, & moisturizes.   It also helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines. 

There are all natural ingredients in the cleansing oil.  Some of them include:

-Natural Oil Complex (Rose Hip, Green Tea, Avocado, and Olive Fruit Oils): Delivers rich antioxidant vitamin E (tocotrienols) and utilizes a unique nanotechnology to detoxify and nourish the skin, refine the appearance of pores, and protect against free radical damage. 

-Botanical Amino Acids: Removes impurities and excess oil gently, while leaving skin conditioned and maintaining its protective moisture barrier. 

-Hydrangea Leaf: Purifies and minimizes the appearance of pores. 

-Eucalyptus: Stimulates the skin’s natural circulation for an invigorated look and feel. 

It’s very easy to use & can be used in the morning & evenings.  You apply the oil onto your face and massage in with a circular motion.   When product is evenly distributed, splash on some water and massage some more.  Then rinse off with water.  I love this cleanser & this brand.  The smell of the oil was so good.  It smelled so fresh & natural.  Also the product was easy to use & cleared my makeup off very easily.  After just one use, my skin looked great.  With no makeup on, my skin look fresh, clean & glowing. For $10, I definitely recommend this & if you like, I would purchase the bigger size.  It is a very good value for what it is & th results you get from it! 

Boscia I have seen, but had never tried.   Boscia is one of the world's first preservative-free, botanically based skin care lines.  This excites me!  I am very careful about what I eat so to know there is a skin care line that will help me put natural things on my face as well makes me very happy.I tried two product by the brand and was very happy with them both. Boscia cleansing oil can be used on all skin typesNormal, Oily, Combination, Dry & Sensitiveare all included on this list.   It comes in two sizes.  The 1.7 oz/50 mL retails for $10.00 &  the 5 oz/150 mL retails for $32.00.   

The oil is used to remove makeup, brighten your face, cleans pores, & moisturizes.   It also helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines. There are all natural ingredients in the cleansing oil.  Some of them include:

-Natural Oil Complex (Rose Hip, Green Tea, Avocado, and Olive Fruit Oils): Delivers rich antioxidant vitamin E (tocotrienols) and utilizes a unique nanotechnology to detoxify and nourish the skin, refine the appearance of pores, and protect against free radical damage. 

-Botanical Amino Acids: Removes impurities and excess oil gently, while leaving skin conditioned and maintaining its protective moisture barrier. 

-Hydrangea Leaf: Purifies and minimizes the appearance of pores. 

-Eucalyptus: Stimulates the skin’s natural circulation for an invigorated look and feel. 

It’s very easy to use & can be used in the morning & evenings.  You apply the oil onto your face and massage in with a circular motion.   When product is evenly distributed, splash on some water and massage some more.  Then rinse off with water.  I love this cleanser & this brand.  The smell of the oil was so good.  It smelled so fresh & natural.  Also the product was easy to use & cleared my makeup off very easily.  After just one use, my skin looked great.  With no makeup on, my skin look fresh, clean & glowing. 

For $10, I definitely recommend this & if you like, I would purchase the bigger size.  It is a very good value for what it is & the results you get from it! 

 

Is Caviar in your hair healthy?

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s caviar in your hair healthy?  

 

Caviar for the hair, anyone?

 

Is caviar as good for the hair as it tastes?

Written by Deanna. P 

ALTERNA Haircare whose tag line is pure proven & professional is known to be the company that is the science of skincare for hair.  They are the pioneers that have many new innovative and free of additives & harsh ingredients products.  Some of these ingredients include caviar, Italian white truffle, and THC free Hemp seed oil.

They were founded in 1997 in California.

I have recently tried  Alterna CAVIAR Anti-Aging® Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.Bothcome in 3 sizes 1.35 oz/40 mL sample size for $10.00,  8.5 oz/250 mL $34.00 and 16.5 oz for $52.00 This is a sulfate free shampoo & conditioner that provides instant moisture while protecting hair from fading & future damages. The products containno paraben, sulfates, phthalates and gluten.  Both have also never been tested on animals. 

 

The ingredients in both shampoo and conditioner include:

-Seasilk®: A blend of marine botanicals that provides exceptional moisture and helps repair damaged hair. 

-Color Hold® A proprietary technology that locks in hair color & brightness 

-Age-control Complex®: Addresses natural, chemical, and environmental aging; infused with caviar extract and vitamin C to help smooth the hair strand and increase shine. 

-Enzymetherapy®: An exclusive blend of enzymes and minerals designed to help vital nutrients adhere to hair. 

 

Easy to use as you massage it into wet hair & rinse out.   The conditioner you put in after you ring out excess water then you rinse out as well. I used the shampoo & conditioner and was a little surprised at how thick the shampoo felt in my hair, but I used it anyway & then the conditioner and styled my hair.  I was taken aback by how good my hair looked.  It was definitely softer & shinier & I was very happy with the results! The fact that the ingredients were all natural and protected my hair color from fading was definitely an added plus. The other thing I found very impressive was that they did an independent study on the shampoo & conditioner and 100% of the women who tried it saw a noticeable difference in the texture, shine, manageability, and softness in their hair after just 1 use.  I thought the price was fair for the product and I liked the fact that you can buy it in a sample size to see if you liked the product before investing in a larger more costly size. 

 

It can be purchased at fine department stores, ulta &  sephora or sephora.com.

 

4 out of 5 stars

 

Kooky trend? Or here to stay: K Beauty

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Written by: Kayla . M

Trends and fads are ever changing and leaves us with the decision of either partaking in them or simply waiting for the next passing one. However there’s one current trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and that is K beauty, so climb aboard the K train and get ready for a ride.

 

 K Beauty and the products it offers has many aspects but so far there is only one I have found myself trying to understand, the sheet mask. I have tried many sheet masks before and had no idea it was considered a “K Beauty” technique.  The K stands for Korean which means all of this comes from, spoiler alert, Korea. Recently, I have been desperately trying to have my skin as “perfect” as possible, why? Because skin is your biggest organ and I have convinced myself that having a good base leads to a much better overall product, I always love my makeup much more when I’m having a good skin day. 

 

Innisfree is a Korean beauty brand. According to their website it is a “natural brand that shares the benefits of nature with the pristine island of Jeju” additionally the company has a Green Promise where they are “trying to lower their carbon footprint, use 70% natural ingredients and return 1% of annual profit to ‘neighbors’ (I believe they are referring to nature).” I tried their Green Tea Sheet Mask. 

 

The mask I tried is part of their “it’s real squeeze” and is made of a 3 layer sheet as opposed to their 100% natural cotton and their fermented soybean sheet masks.  The triple layer sheet comes inn 16 types and it retails for $1.20. YES! YOU. READ. THAT. CORRECTLY. A. DOLLAR. AND. TWENTY.CENTS. The most expensive mask on the site was $5, the real squeeze mask are said to be absorbed into your skin at a quicker rate than the others. The green tea mask was allegedly going to soothe and moisturize leaving my skin supple, hydrated and smooth. 

 

The brand recommends you use the mask after cleansing and toning. I used one of my “everyday exfoliates” followed by a rose water spray and glow tonic toner pad. Right off the bat I will say it was by far the EASIEST sheet mask to apply. I usually find myself annoyed with sheet masks because I fear most of the liquid/product gets all over my hand while I try to unfold the Hannibal lector realness that is the sheet mask itself. I then fumble around with positioning and having the mask stick. None of that happened with this mask. I could unfold it easily and almost immediately it stuck to my face with very little to almost no adjustment needed for eyes, nose and mouth. The mask was a winner in my eyes already. 

After trying some snapchat filters and catching up on youtube 20min had passed and I went to remove my mask. I really liked that the sheet had started to dry—which I usually use as a symbol of completion with regular masks, having a sheet mask that let you know it was game over was a very happy change.

Like most masks they tell you to rub the extra liquid into your skin, while doing so I immediately felt how soft my skin was and was amazed. About 5-10 minutes after I had rubbed the product in I found my face felt a little tight which I didn’t mind and understood to be a skin tightening effect, shortly after that I felt my skin to find it had a sticky/tacky feeling. The stickiness led me to wonder if this mask would help with makeup application aka have my makeup stick to the tackiness. The tacky feeling lasted for almost 40minutes (lasted even longer on my neck), the pro to that? You would have a longer possible window to apply the makeup, the con? My face felt tacky and when there is no makeup involved it isn’t the most amazing feeling.

 

The next day when I woke up my skin still felt so soft I couldn’t stop touching it, I think it definitely did its job of hydrating and smoothing my skin. I can’t wait to try more from this brand

 

Your best glow can be found in the skincare aisle! Algenist REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops is a 5 Star Gem!

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By: Amanda V.

I, the self-proclaimed glow queen has come across yet another gorgeous highlighter, this time from high end skincare brand Algenist. Being that this product ISN'T laid out there with the other makeup products throughout all of Sephora, you would more than likely walk past this and not know that your best glow yet even exists!

You can see the shimmering glow dripping off of the dropper. its so gorgeously pearlescent. 

I am a major fan of liquid highlighters and this one is no exception. This serum formula gives a gorgeous dewy effect and I love the way it sinks into the skin rather than lay on top, especially for the hot and humid summer months. This gorgeous highlighter was love at first drop. The iridescent sheen pulled on my heartstrings. I love how the beam can be built from subtle radiance to an intense glow yet still feel so incredibly lightweight and airy. It feels like nothing on the skin. You can apply with your fingers or a brush like Real Techniques' duo fibre contour brush (which is my go to for liquid highlighters) and then tap  a tiny bit with a beauty blender just to blend out any harsh lines and make it seamless. It seemed to last an entire work day which is major. This liquid highlight may give a dew effect but it doesn't set wet. It sets kind of like a semi matte, So this will work for all skin types even for all of you oily babes out there. Also, It works so well with my sensitive skin but I felt like that was a given coming from a great skincare brand. The highlighter is formulated to work well with mature skin as it has gold pigments and ultra fine luminous pearls that don't crease into fine lines and wrinkles as well as Alguronic Acid to reduce the appearance of them. You can mix this into your moisturizer for a brightening effect and even your foundation for a diffused soft focus effect to the skin. This highlighter contains an AlgaCorrecting Complex that aids in color correction and treats uneven skin tone. It is also formulates without synthetic dyes, parabens or sulfates and is dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic. ALL OF THIS SKINCARE MAGIC WHILE GIVING YOU A BOMB GLOW!!! YES PLEASE!!!

This is a swatch on my medium skin tone (with flash) & The beam is real!!! It will photograph beautifully. This is in the shade "Champagne". 

The Algenist REVEAL Concentrated Luminzing Drops comes in 3 different shades, "Rosé", "Champagne" and "Pearl". This highlighter is more on the pricier side, retailing for $38 and you get 0.5oz of product. A single drop of this product goes a very long way. Although it may seem small, you're still getting alot of glow for your buck. You can find this Product at Sephora Stores and Sephora.com as well as Algenist.com.

What is the best natural mascara? NUDESTIX Lash Lengthening Mascara is a minimalists' dream and it also supports LASH GROWTH!

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By: Amanda V. 

It's no secret that I love big beautiful lashes. I have been in a long lasting relationship with my Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara for the past couple of years. To say I am attached is an understatement. Lately I felt the need for change, because my go-to mascara became too intense for me to wear for work especially since I don't put much makeup on anymore during the weekdays. I began searching for something more subtle just to define my lashes.

AFTER WEEKS AND WEEKS of searching I finally came across NUDESTIX Lash Lengthening Mascara. Not only does thjs mascara perfectly coat my lashes with the creamiest formula, it is also a treatment, formulated with a lash boosting complex and peptides to strengthen your lashes and assists in natural growth of your lashes. BINGO!!! The wand is sleek and slender and perfect for shorter lashes. The perfect amount of product comes out with the wand so it isnt messy whatsoever and you aren't wasting any product. So far my lashes haven't clumped and the product hasn't flaked onto my cheeks. I apply 2 coats and it makes my slightly unruly lashes perfectly defined and wispy.  My lashes also don't feel stiff and crunchy, they feel feathery with movement. Although I haven't noticed much lash growth in the past 3 weeks, I do notice less fallout which is a plus.

The packaging of this gem superb! The mascara comes in a sleek black/black case that can be re-used for so many things. I usually fit a couple of emergency Tampons and a packet of Midol. 

If you are aiming for a dramatic lash look this is NOT for you. This is more for the minimal, natural look.

The Mascara itself is certified organic, hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested and fragrance free so even the most sensitive babes out there can use this bad boy. It is also Gluten and Cruelty free and perfect for the Vegan babes!! It retails for $24 and can be found at Sephora.com, Ulta.com, Beautylish.com and Nudestix.com. It can be quite the splurge for most but it is so worth it if you're looking for natural fluttery lashes that aren't too intense for daytime. 

 

NOTE: This product is NOT recommended for those with oily lids.. unless Raccoon Eyes is the look you are going for. 

Are your curls dehydrated and frizzy? Bumble and bumble's Bb. Curl (Style) Pre-Style/Re-Style Primer is the perfect Summer Refreshment to bring your curls back to life.

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By Amanda V.

Oh that New York City summer heat... It can be a curly haired gal's best friend or worst enemy. Im normally someone who would blow dry and straighten their hair even during a city heatwave but i found myself going natural ALL summer. Keeping it clean and deeply moisturized, I usually start the day with a full on fro that turns into ballerina bun because I give up and just can't deal. for the past month, I found myself reaching more and more for the "Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl (Style) Pre-Style/Re-Style Primer". This gem of a hair product has been coming in clutch for refreshing my hair so that I'm not washing and stripping my hair of its natural oils every single day. After freshly washed hair I apply this before any other product being that it is a primer and I comb it through as I detangle. it gives my curls a bit if definition. i follow with my everyday curly haired products and then I end with a couple of more sprays of this because it is also a UV protectant that will shield my hair from the harsh summer rays. I keep it in my work bag for refreshing and protecting throughout the day. A major plus... My hair is also left frizz free on even the most humid days!

I found that this works at its absolute best on damp hair rather than dry hair as it tends to leave a sticky feel. I usually add some water to my hair before spraying this on Day 2 and 3 hair. 

On Days 2 and 3, I would spray my hair with a water bottle and then add some of this and refresh the styling from the 1st day. I also have taken this with me to the pool again, as a protectant. A spritz here and there and in minutes your hair is refreshed and redefined and hydrated. The fact that this styling spray is formulated without sulfates, parabens and phthalates is ace. Love products that don't contain terrible chemicals that can damage my hair. 

This priming spray retails at $11 for 2oz and $23 for 8.5oz. I know that everyone has a different hair type and curl pattern so you can always try out the travel size and see if it works for you and your curls and then decide if you feel the need to splurge. This product is definitely helpful for the gals with severely dehydrated, tight, curly hair like mine who feel like nothing can help their hair. I recommend you give it a go and release your fro!