Living Proof Timeless pre-shampoo treatment & Living Proof frizz nourishing styling cream review

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Written by Deanna .P 

I first heard of Living Proof when I saw Jennifer Aniston advertising the product.  When I delved a little deeper, I realized Jen has invested in the company & swears by their products.  Jen who has had famous tresses since the show Friends aired, has gorgeous hair & I definitely was game to try anything that made her hair look so damn good! I tried sample sizes of 2of the products in the line. Living Proof Timeless pre-shampoo treatment this is used to fortify hair & lock in the color.Comes in 2 sizes

2 oz for $10 / 6 oz for $26

Works to lock in color & prevent aging of the hair.  It also works to prevent breakage & helps hair grow. It is to be used before shampooing.  It is recommended that you start using it in your 30s.

Living Proof frizz nourishing styling cream

Used to stop frizz, Comes in 3 sizes.

2 oz for $15 /4 oz for $27 / 8 oz for $37

This formula eliminates frizz, by smoothing your hair strands & leaving your hair shiny & tame.   It is not heavy or greasy.  Using OFPMA which is the healthy hair molecule( biggest breakthrough in 30yrs)  it blocks humidity 70% better than oils & silicones, nourishes hair, & keeps hair cleaner longer.  It can also be used safely on color & chemically treated hair. The company started in 2004 & took a scientific approach to invent their hair product line. There Philosophy speaks volumes about what the company stands for & I had to share as I was super impressed by it.

Before 

After 

We are not a traditional beauty company.
We are more than that.
We believe in rethinking conventional wisdom.
We believe when you can’t find something that works, you invent it.
We believe the answers are found in science.
We believe that beauty and brains are the best formula.
We believe a product should keep its promises.
We believe every day can be a good hair day.
We believe beauty is more than skin deep.
We believe in day-making, bliss-creating, confidence-boosting results.
We believe you are the living proof.

I liked both products & actually tried the frizz formula on a rainy humid day.   I am happy to say it definitely worked.  I would recommend trying both products.  They smell great & work very effectively.

Modern Renaissance ABH Review:

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Written by Pepper .B

Product Rating :

Price Rating:

I love eyeshadow, no matter how many palettes I purchase I find a need to add an additional palette to the collection. I am smitten over this palette and what I am impressed by most with when it comes to this palette is color pay off. This color payoff is unlike any other palette I have purchased from this brand. What you see is what you get. There is no need to dig the eyeshadows you get instant pigment even when swatching. The palette is broken down into 11 matte shades and 3 metallics.  My favorite shades are listed below:

Pepper's Palette Picks

Love Letter- Raspberry with an ultra-matte finish

Cyprus Umber- Dark coffee with an ultra-matte finish

Realgar- Brick with an ultra-matte finish

Venetian Red- Crimson with an ultra-matte finish

Red Ochre- Sienna with an ultra-matte finish

Burnt Orange- deep orange with an ultra-matte finish

Raw Sienna- neutral amber with an ultra-matte finish

The price point of the palette is pretty reasonable considering the palette has 14 shadows. This equals to roughly 3 dollars per eyeshadow which is awesome. I haven't tried the eyeshadows wet as of yet however the texture of the shadows are pretty soft and look like they can be used both ways. Must have for summer this year even transitioning into the fall. 

http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/modern-renaissance-palette.html

 

 

Tartelette Product Review

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Review By Christine. Q

I normally eschew eyeshadow palettes. I find that I only hit pan on one or two colors and the rest of the palette is largely left unused.

I'm picky about eyeshadows. Consistency, texture, and longevity are key for me. Get an eyeshadow that isn't pigmented enough you'll end up scraping it off the pan. Get one that's too powdery, well, have fun trying to get the loose shadow off your face without smearing the rest of your make-up. Normally, I would say, build your own collection with all different types of shadows, but if you did have to buy one catch-all palette, it would be the ones from Tarte.  I've been hooked on Tarte palettes since I first invested in the limited edition ones that they release every year around Christmas time. Since we're in the middle of the year, I'll share my other favorite: the Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette. What a mouthful! I love this palette because I use every single color. It is so versatile, you can use it for daytime, romantic, or even dramatic looks. For daytime, I usually sweep the color Wanderer (light brown) on my lid and line with the color Bombshell (dark plum).For a romantic look, I will use the entire middle row to create a soft rosy look that really highlights my brown eyes.  For a dramatic look, I will use the entire top row and fashionista (black shadow) to create a brown smokey eye. The great thing about this palette is that ll of the colors blend together well and have a beautiful texture. If you're into selfie's, they also photograph well!

Shalimar Fragrance Review

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Written by Deanna. P

 

I have heard of the famous Shalimar scent, but I had never tried it.  This is a fragrance that was inspired by the love story between an Indian princess & an Emperor.  Shalimar actually means temple of love & the origin of the word is Sanskrit.  It is the the promise of eternal love forevermore.  

The Eau De Toilette comes in 3 sizes:

Complete refillable spray 30 ML
Spray 50 ML
Spray 90 ML

The spray is Oriental and some of the ingredients include iris, jasmine, & rose.  Also notes of vanilla, & the tonka bean. I tried the 50 ml & I am sad to say as much as I wanted to fall in love with the scent, I am not feeling the love.  It just did not smell good on me.  This is a great example of the issues I described in my Scentbird review,  Some scents just don’t combine well with people’s body chemistry.  The bottle is pretty & the story & long history of the fragrance &  brand speaks volumes about it.   It just unfortunately was not for me. If interested in trying, stop in any of the high end department stores, Sephora, or the Guerlain Spa to try it & see how it smell on you.   You could be pleasantly surprised as it all about body chemistry.

 

 

When you decide to change the life you like in order to have the Life You Love: Fit Mom Michele Marsili

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Interview with Pepper.B

Think like a queen.

A queen is not afraid to fail.

Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. 

-Oprah

I am a former Sales Executive and makeup artist turned stay at home, work from home wife & mother. I am a fitness coach and have a passion for beautiful things and connecting with people. I have 2 dogs and live in the San Francisco, Bay Area. I feel like I’m an introvert stuck in an extroverts body. My experience in the beauty industry really made me realize a lot about myself. I can take a lot of heat and make shit happen. I was leaving on a plane every week for work, crying in my hotel room all alone and I missed my son and family so much. I realized I wasn’t prioritizing myself or my happiness.   

What made you decide to get into fitness?

One day, I was scrolling through Instagram and a friend that I follow was posting a ton of workout videos. She was working out from home, with her baby and I thought that was pretty cool. The next day, I was getting ready for work, drinking my 2nd cup of coffee and noticed a grey hair. I’m about to be 27, I wasn’t gonna let that happen. I needed change.

 

Was fitness always your lifetime goal ?

As a kid and teenager, not really. I had my vegetarian binges in high school but nothing hardcore. Once I started to grow up, I watched people that were a few years older than me, start to look grey and overweight. Some of them had kids, some just looked burned out. I remember freshly graduating high school, and crying to my best friend, that I didn’t want to look like ‘that’ after I had a child. Fast forward to today, I made sure that there was no way in hell I was gonna let that happen. 

You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” - Steve jobs

What is your workout routine like?

I wake up every morning at 6:00AM and try to hit my yoga mat by 6:30AM, after 30 minutes of yoga I will incorporate core and butt routine. I’ve been really into using a medicine ball or weight for oblique twists. Every day I focus on something a little different, but always practice yoga.

 

Do you like working out at home better thAn the gym ? if so why ?

I love working out from home! I used to have a gym membership, and would go one to three times a month if that! Bad, I know. I remember a 3 month period where I didn’t go at all, and this was before I had my son. I like working out from home because I host a challenge group that includes people from across the nation to participate. We schedule our workouts and post our progress so we can see where everyones at, as far as reaching their fitness goals. I need the accountability from my challengers! Without anyone holding you accountable, it can be very difficult to achieve that long term goal.

 

What are common excuses you hear that prevent people from working out consistently?

Too busy, in pain, and so and so is coming into town. Haha. I think for the most part it’s not a matter of not having time, (because we can all wake up earlier and go to sleep earlier) it's a matter of not prioritizing their health. 

Do you think Meal Prepping is important in order to lose weight?

Meal prepping for me is a game changer! Yes! If you can discipline yourself to meal prep healthy and whole food one time a week on Sundays, you have no excuse to eat poorly throughout the week. Right now, my challengers are on a meal and portion control plan where it gets your eating habits in check quickly. My rule of thumb is weight loss is 75% diet and 25% exercise.

Who is your Muse?

Nicole Richie. Maybe it's because she’s a Virgo and born in the Bay Area haha. I love that she appreciates beauty and doesn’t give a fuck if she fits into the mold or not.

Talk a little bit about your son.

My son is so peaceful and independent. We also share the same birthday, he’s my baby Virgo twin except a little sweeter than I.  Growing up, all I wanted to feel loved and supported no matter what or who I was. I want to give that to my son.

What is your Zodiac Sign?  Virgo- Leo cusp

Talk a little bit about being a fitness coach?

I’m pretty new to this whole fitness thing and a big reason I became one was because I wanted to pursue an avenue that promoted a healthy lifestyle. I was tired and turned off of people celebrating this ‘work hard, drink energy drinks, and eat whatever’s in front of you to be on your game’ lifestyle. I want to add value to people's lives. I wanted to feel good about myself. Coaching has allowed me to connect with people on what I feel is a positive and self improvement level. It’s not a competition. Another perk is, I always have to be on my fitness game, which has changed my life physically and spiritually. I really love it.

What are 5 easy tips you can give women working out from home?

  1.  Wake up an hour earlier to fit it into your busy day

  2.  Drink water right when you roll out of bed

  3.  Schedule your workouts like they are an appointment

  4.  Buy a yoga/workout mat

  5.  When you're feeling unmotivated to workout, put your workout clothes on

When do you feel beautiful?

I feel beautiful after I’ve practiced yoga. Yoga really brings me at peace with myself and connects me to world. I think beauty starts with how you feel on the inside.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." -Steve Jobs

 

What are 5 items you can't leave home without?

  1.  Water bottle

  2.  Lip stick

  3.  Sunglasses

  4.  Gum

  5.  Snacks, always gotta be prepared!

What’s the last song you listed to in your Ipod?

Needed Me - Rihanna

 

If you were a smoothie what would you be and why?

Spicy Mexican Chocolate smoothie!

Because it’s a classic flavor that most people like, but it’s not for everybody and a little different.

 

What foods do you avoid?

Any thing that comes frozen and is pre cooked or made to be microwaved. No hot pockets or TV dinners for this mama.

Other than that, i’m not picky and I eat a lot more since i’ve been working out consistently. I’m always hungry!

 

What are 3 words you would use to describe yourself?

  • Resilient

  • Courageous

  • Communicator

What food is your guilty pleasure?

I loved baked sweets. Please keep it away.

 

What is a message you have for women?

Don’t waste your time going through the motions if it doesn’t make you truly happy. I guess that can be applied on many levels with relationships, jobs, friends. Don’t do it. When you find yourself doing that, it’s time to make another move. Practice listening to your intuition. Value yourself and be true to who you are. You are noT supposed to fit into someone else’s agenda. You’re in control.

Join Michele on Instagram @mamas.michele

 

Zoya Naked Manicure Perfector Lavender Review

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By Deanna P

Zoya Naked Manicure Lavender Perfector $10.00

 

 

I hate getting a manicure as the process is always a little bit too long for my liking.   Then when I am finally finished I always get a chip a day or two later & the whole experience feels like it was a waste of time.  I tried Zoya Naked Manicure Lavender Perfector & I liked it a lot.  It was subtle enough on my nails to give them a little shine, make them feel stronger, & not show any noticeable imperfections such as chips or dents. I am also not the only person to enjoy the polish’s final results as it was a 2015 Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award Winner! It is definitely a keeper.

NEW Philosophy renewed hope in a jar

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By Deanna .P 

2 oz $52.00

 

renew hope in a jar was formulated by Philosophy to work on the skin throughout the night while we sleep.  The moisturizer is supposed to help with cell renewal & will also fight dullness, roughness, &  dehydration. 

It is interesting to note that the Hope line debuted domestically in 2014 & was launched globally in 2015.  This gives me great confidence in this product since Philosophy has been in existence since 1996. 

The formula has a miracle ingredient named MYRAMAZE which is a natural plant that is known as the resurrection plant.   94% of woman who used this felt their skin looked noticeably improved from the night before, upon awakening.   The directions said the product should be applied in the evening. I put it on every night for a couple of weeks & was happy with the results.  My skin felt softer & looked healthier.   I will continue to use in the hopes of getting even better results in the weeks to come.

 

For more information on this product, click here:

http://www.philosophy.com/renewed-hope-in-a-jar-night.html? cgi =C112

NEW Philosophy take a deep breath eye

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By Deanna P 

oxygenating eye gel cream

0.5 oz $42.00

 

As we age, the skin underneath our eyes is one of the first things to show the noticeable signs of aging.  There are a lot of eye creams on the market, but it is important to find the one that works best for you. Philosophy a beloved brand on the market since 1996, has a great product line that includes eye care.   Their Philosophy is “we believe every woman deserves to have radiantly beautiful impeccably smooth and healthy-looking skin through products that deliver real life results.”   I have to agree with their assessment & tried their eye cream in the hopes of getting positive results.  take a deep breath eye works to help smooth, brighten, & revitalizes the skin underneath the eyes.  The cream is refreshing cool & easy to apply.  The directions say to apply a moderate amount 2x daily in the morning & evening.In a study 83% of woman saw a brighter well rested eye after 8 weeks of daily use.  I am on week 2 & there is a definite difference. Under my eyes is looking brighter & the fine lines seem to be diminishing. I credit the results on the ingredients which include barley leaf extract, caffeine & a peptide blend to name a few of them.   I will continue use of this product in the hopes that under my eyes get even more improved after continued use.

Here is more information on the product

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

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Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Size 3.4 FL OZ/ 100 ML$26.00 Size 1.7 FL OZ/ 50 ML $17.00

Origins has been around since the 1990’s.  An interesting fact about the brand is its two tree logo stands for yin and yang. The trees visually represent the brands belief, Powered by Nature. Proven by Science.This neat charcoal mask recommended for dry, normal & oily skin works to mainly clear pores.  The bamboo charcoal works like a magnet does, to attract  & get out the pore cloggers that attach themselves to our faces daily. The main ingredient charcoal, found in China, is known as the “black diamond”.   It is created from Bamboo ash & draws out skin’s impurities.  Charcoal has been used by the Chinese since 1486 during the Ming Dynasty.After one use of this product, my face felt cleaner, & more radiant than it had in months.   My pores seemed to be much smaller & my skin was soft to the touch. I have to admit I loved the long history of the product’s key ingredient & was super impressed on how many years charcoal has helped to treat the skin. I likened the experience with it to a do it yourself facial at home.   An actual spa treatment in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the price, was what I believe this mask’s intent was.

For more information & to try more products by Origins, check out:

https://www.origins.com/product/15346/11588/skincare/treat/face-masks/Clear-Improvement/Active-Charcoal-Mask-to-Clear-Pores

 

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion

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Christine .Q

“Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.”

And always remember, so do wrinkles. 

 

 

That is why I'm obsessed with Sunscreen and products with sunscreen. I don't believe in avoiding the sun. I am not a vampire, I like the Vitamin D boost, and I like being outside. Wear a hat where applicable and apply sunscreen everywhereMy personal everyday sunscreen is Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion WetForce Broad Spectrum SPF 50+. It's light weight, has a fresh scent, and is the perfect primer for foundation. It makes your skin smooth, poreless, and doesn't leave that funny white cast a lot of sunscreens do. It's not only a great daily sunscreen, but it's excellent for those who lead an active lifestyle like myself. I walk/bike 2 miles to work. I play tennis, box, spin, bootcamp, hike, swim, you name it, I sweat it and this seriously lasts longer than anything I've tried.But with any great sunscreen, you have to reapply especially if you're active. Cheers to starting off summer right! Hope it's full of sunny days!