Day 6 of my 14 Days of Giveaways is an Amope Pedi Perfect Electronic Foot File. I use mine all the time and it's the perfect tool to get your feet sandal-ready in time for the Spring weather (hopefully it's right around the corner!). Good luck! :)
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 6
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 7
Day 7 of my 14 Days of Giveaways is a Profusion Studio Contour Palette. This is a budget-friendly palette that can compete with the higher-end versions (see my review here). Good luck! :)
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Profusion Studio Blush Palette Review and Swatches
If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I've turned into quite a Profusion Cosmetics junkie lately. Their newest products have left me so impressed, especially the Studio Contour and Studio Highlight palette (see my reviews here and here). So when I saw their Studio Blush Palette on their website and I knew that it had to be mine. Luckily, before I even had to place an order, I spotted it at my local Kmart (I didn't even know they carried Profusion!). It looked even more beautiful in person, and at only $5.99 (or $1 per blush-crazy right?) I couldn't resist. Let's take a look...
Like the other Profusion Studio palettes, this comes in a slim black cardboard case with a magnetic closure. There's a plastic sheet taped over the blushes that has their names printed on it, so you'll want to keep this if you want to remember the shade names. Luckily, it's shaped to fit over the top and sides of the palette so it'll still stay put even after you remove the tape.
Formula-wise, the Profusion blushes are highly pigmented and velvety just like their eyeshadows. There isn't one dud in the whole palette either, they're all amazing. They do kick up a bit of fallout when you dip a brush into the pans but that's just because they're so soft. Wear time is really good at about 8 hours or so, even on my dry skin. I've found that buttery formulas like this tend to have better "grip" on dry skin, whereas more powdery formulas just brush right off in an hour or two.
I thought some of the shades looked similar to some Tarte shades I own, so I took out my Tarte Big Blush Book and did some comparison swatching.
Three of the shades in the Profusion Studio Blush Palette were very similar to Tarte's. The formula feels quite a bit different since Tarte's are made with Amazonian Clay and as a result, they feel drier but also have less fallout than the Profusion shades.
You can find the Profusion Studio Blush Palette at ProfusionCosmetics.com or in select Kmart stores.
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Flower Beauty Hydrasilk Ultimate Lip Butter Review & Swatches
The Flower Beauty section recently got an overhaul at my local Walmart and there are a bunch of new products with really pretty rose gold packaging (see my post here for all the newness), while a lot of the old products are now in the clearance section. Replacing the old Lip Service Lip Butter is the new Hydrasilk Ultimate Lip Butter ($7.98), which promises to give lasting hydration & conditioning with a glossy finish. Let's take a look!
Ultimate Lip Butter comes in six shades (see them in my post here) like nude, peach, coral, red, and this pretty rosy shade I decided to try called Rose Petal. Just like the new Ultimate Eye Color, which I reviewed a few weeks ago (see that review here), their packaging has definitely been stepped up a notch. These lip butters come in a sleek-looking slim black tube and the clear cap has a rose gold nameplate with the Flower logo embossed on it. It looks really high-end for a drugstore product!
The lip butter itself is a flat, slanted shape rather than the traditional lipstick bullet, similar to other lip butters that are on the market, such as the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters and L'oreal Colour Riche tinted balms. The difference with the Flower version is that the slimmer shape gives you a lot more control over where the product is going, and I really like that about it. In that way, it reminds me of the Colourpop Lippie Stix. I also like that they have no discernable scent, so that's good news for those of you who are sensitive to fragrance.
On me, the Rose Petal shade is the perfect MLBB shade. It warms up my naturally pale lips and actually gives quite a bit of color without looking heavy (you can build up the color easily too!).
Overall, this is another winner from Flower Beauty...I love both the packaging and formula updates! The Ultimate Lip Butters are a real treat for your lips and add the prettiest color and shine. I'm definitely going back and getting some more shades.
What about you? Have you tried these yet?
Available now at select Walmart stores (not online yet). For more information please visit Flowerbeauty.com
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Today's giveaway is a Feline Lip Luster set from Profusion Cosmetics! These are beautiful, highly pigmented liquid lipsticks that I reviewed last year (see my review & lip swatches here). This set comes with six shades so it'll be a nice addition to your lipstick collection! Good luck!
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Physicians Formula Ultra-Nourishing Argan Lip Oil Duo Review
Lip oils have been around a while now, but mostly from higher-end brands like YSL, Clarins and Hourglass. Until now there haven't been any at the drugstores, but that all changed when Milani and Physicians Formula released their own formulas for Spring 2016. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed in the Milani Moisture Lock oils...they seemed to actually make my lips drier, so I was crossing my fingers that the Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Lip Oil Duo ($12.95) would be better. Let's take a look...
Physicians Formula Ultra-Nourishing Argan Lip Oils are sold in a package of two...a pink shade that gives your lips a light pink tint and a honey-colored shade that goes on clear. They're packaged in adorable Moroccan-inspired tubes with heavy gold plastic caps.
Physicians Formula claims that these argan-infused lip oils:
- "Condition, hydrate, revive, and replenish lips instantly and long term. Transforming miracle boosts lips' natural color, smoothes texture, enhances lips' shape and volume for a healthy, more youthful looking pout.
- 100% Pure Argan Oil infused lip duo adds a hint of color and shine while delivering deep hydration that nourishes and soothes lips.
- Ultra-conditioning lip oil instantly relieves dryness and helps to protect against drying from environmental conditions. Ultra-luxurious coconut water flavored formula melts into your lips, absorbing instantly, for a lightweight, non-sticky luminous shine."
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This formula also contains some really nourishing ingredients such as argan oil, sunflower seed oil and shea butter. The Milani version also contain a blend of nourishing oils, but not shea butter so maybe that's the point of difference here.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Ethylcellulose, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Flavor, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phenoxyethanol
Like most lip oils, these have a runny texture that's fairly thin and absorbs into your lips rather quickly. These seemed to stay on my lips a little bit longer than the Milani ones but wear time is still very short. They do give your lips a lot of shine at first and feel really nice going on...very smooth and not sticky. They also have a pretty strong coconut scent (which I happen to love but just putting that out there in case you don't).
The good news is, my lips didn't feel drier after using these...but then again, they didn't feel measurably more moisturized either. My lips felt pretty much the same an hour later as they did before I applied them. In between, they did seem to boost moisture a bit, but once they disappear, they seem to take that moisture with them.
Overall, these are okay but they definitely don't replace my YSL Tint-in-Oil during the day and Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil at night...those are thicker formulas that actually stay on for a long time to seal moisture into my chronically dry lips.
So if you're looking for a truly nourishing lip oil to try, you're probably better off investing in one of the higher-end brands for now...at least until the drugstore brands get it right. But if you're just looking for light moisture and want an alternative to waxy balms, you might just love these!
You can find them at drugstores for $12.95.
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New! Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Aquacealer
For the next few hours, QVC is offering a fantastic deal on Tarte's brand new Rainforest of the Sea Aquacealer. It's the full size product with a brush for only $24.38 (normally the brush by itself would cost that much!)
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This product isn't even in stores yet, so you're getting it first through QVC.
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This is a full coverage serum concealer that is four times lighter than regular concealers and features pigments suspended in a deep-conditioning serum and water for flawless coverage. It comes in six shades and you can see them a bit better if you watch the short video presentation on the QVC website here. This looks amazing and I already placed my order! One of the best parts about ordering from QVC is their amazing 30 day return policy, so if you don't love it, you can send it back, no questions asked.
If this looks interesting to you, don't wait to place your order because once this hits retail stores like Sephora and Ulta, it won't come with the brush and will likely cost quite a bit more.
You can find it now at QVC.com
If this looks interesting to you, don't wait to place your order because once this hits retail stores like Sephora and Ulta, it won't come with the brush and will likely cost quite a bit more.
You can find it now at QVC.com
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 9
Today's giveaway is for one of my favorite lip products...the IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Lipstick Stain in the shade Je Ne Sais Quoi. This is a lipstick that feels like the most moisturizing lip balm ever and this shade goes on clear and transforms into a natural-looking flush of pink. Check out my review here for more information and swatches...good luck!
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Hard Candy Spring 2016 Spotted at Walmart
The Hard Candy Spring 2016 collection has arrived at Walmart and there's a definite "strobing/contouring" theme going on with most of the new products falling into those categories. That is, except for these new Velvet Matte Mousse liquid lippies...how gorgeous is this packaging!? Let's take a closer look...
The Velvet Matte Mousse Ultimate Luxury Lip Color comes in a beautiful tin case with a watercolor floral design. The lid opens with a hinge (much better than if it came off all the way) and there's a mirror and the lipstick itself nestled inside. It's a beautiful presentation, especially for a drugstore product. There are seven shades all together and I picked up three to try. I can tell you already that these have a similar mousse-y feel like the Revlon ones do, but these dry down better and are more matte. I'll have to wear them around a bit longer before I do a review, but so far they seem promising!
Next are the Look Pro! Illuminate & Strobing Mix-In Drops. You may remember when I posted a sneak peek of these on my Instagram page a few weeks ago. At the time, I assumed it was a liquid highlighter, but when I saw the package, I realized that these can also be mixed into your favorite foundation or moisturizer to add a bit of glow. I'm really excited to try this one!
Next are the Look Pro! Highlight & Contour Face Duo Stick, which look similar to the NYX Wonder Sticks. They come in three shades, Light, Medium & Deep.
There are three new kits available for Strobing and Contouring. The first one is the Look Pro! Ultimate Strobing Kit, which contains a small tube of the new Strobing Glow All the Way Face & Body Illuminator (not sure if they're going to have a regular-sized version), two luminizers, a matte bronzer, a matte blush, and a fluffy-looking brush.
The Look Pro! Ultimate Contour & Sculpt Kit comes in two shades, Light to Medium and Medium to Deep and comes with five contouring powders to prep, brighten, contour, blend and illuminate, plus a double-ended brush.
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| Light to Medium |
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| Medium to Deep |
Drop me a comment and let me know which products you're most excited about! That way, I'll know which ones to start reviewing first. :)
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City Color Contour Effects On-The-Go Palette Review & Swatches
I recently stumbled upon the City Color Contour Effects On-The-Go Palette ($5) at my local Five Below store and I bought it because 1), I'm rarely disappointed by a City Color product and 2), this is a $5 contour palette! It would be so amazing to have a high-quality contour palette at a budget-friendly price wouldn't it? Keep reading to find out what I think!
I wasn't able to find the Contour Effects On-The-Go palette on the City Color website, or anywhere else online so I'm not sure if this is something new and possibly not yet released? I don't remember seeing it before so I don't think it's an older product. I saw on City Color's Snapchat that they'll be releasing some new products toward the end of this month or the beginning of March so maybe this will be in there...don't quote me on that though!
All of the shades in this palette are highly pigmented with almost no fallout. They apply smoothly and evenly with a brush and you need to use very little product. There are four matte bronzer shades and two shimmery highlight shades, and I think almost any skin tone can find colors to compliment them in this palette.
Overall, the City Color Contour Effects On-the-Go palette is a steal at $5, given the high-quality formula and wide range of shades to choose from. However, I likely won't use the top two bronzers because they're way too warm for my fair skin. I would have probably been better off getting the Contour Effects 2 palette instead (although I do love that white highlight!). I'll definitely post an update if this To-Go version hits the City Color website soon.
Have you seen this in stores near you? What are your thoughts?
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 10
Today's giveaway is the City Color Contour Effects On-The-Go Palette that I just reviewed! This palette isn't even available online yet so one lucky winner will get it here first. This palette is high-end quality and has a great variety of shades. Good luck!
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 11
Today's giveaway is a two-piece collection of Julep products, including one of my favorite liners, the Gel Eye Glider in Olive ($16) and their new It's Whipped Matte Lip Mousse in XOXO ($20). Sorry about the quality of these photos, but I'm doing this post with my phone and they came out smaller than usual. Good luck to all!
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My Top 10 Beauty Splurges
You guys know I'm all about beauty on a budget, but that doesn't mean I don't like to splurge on higher-end items once in a while. I've tried so many products over the years that turned out to be total duds, so when I find something that lives up to all of it's claims I don't mind paying more for it...especially if I can't find a suitable dupe at the drugstore. Sometimes, it just makes more financial sense to own one or two expensive eyeshadow palettes that you use every single day than a drawer-full of $10 palettes you barely use! So I wanted to share my top ten beauty splurges with you. These are items I would purchase over and over again because these brands just got it right. If you read the reviews of these on the Sephora and Ulta sites, you'll see that I'm not alone...these are all 4-5 star products! Let's take a look...
1. Eyeshadow Palettes- Drugstore eyeshadow palettes have always been notoriously bad...they're dry, lack pigmentation, and go on streaky. The past few months, we've seen some major improvements and they're definitely stepping up their game, but I still find myself reaching for my tried and true palettes like the Lorac Pro and Pro 2 ($44), the Urban Decay Naked 1, 2, and 3, ($54) and the Tarte Tartelette and Tartelette in Bloom ($45). Whether I want mattes or shimmers, these palettes always deliver with buttery soft formulas that are packed with pigmentation. Totally worth the splurge!
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| Top: Lorac Pro 2 Bottom: Urban Decay Naked, Tarte Tartelette |
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| Bare Minerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow |
4. Retinol Serum- A lot of skincare products claim to reduce wrinkles, but there are only a few tried and true ingredients that are backed up by science, including retinol. I've tried drugstore retinols but saw absolutely no difference after months of use. I've also tried stronger versions that ended up creating dry patches, peeling and making my skin look worse (and even more wrinkled because it was so dry and dehydrated!). Then I got my hands on Peter Thomas Roth's Retinol Fusion PM ($65). This serum is so light it feels like water, and it absorbs instantly with no greasy feel. It contains high amounts of encapsulated retinol, so it releases it slowly for hours after application and I never experienced any irritation, redness or peeling. In fact, I noticed my fine lines fading after several weeks of use and I can honestly say they look better than they did five years ago when I look back at pictures. It's literally the first retinol product I've tried that actually does what it claims. It's amazing!
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| Sunday Riley Good Genes and Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM |
6. Lip Balm- Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask ($26), is the richest lip balm I have ever tried. It's a leave-on mask that can heal your lips no matter how chapped they are...it's hands-down the best lip balm and totally lives up to the hype. Plus it smells like a vanilla cupcake...so good! I also like to use the colored version, Smashed during the day, and it gives your lips the most beautiful rosy tint. These two products may be expensive, but if you're prone to dry lips like mine, once you try them, you won't want to go back to anything else.
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| Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil, Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask |
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| Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes (Big Blush Book no longer available) |
9. Concealer- When it comes to full coverage concealers that don't crack, crease, dry out, or accentuate fine lines there's only one for me...IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye ($24). It covers everything and still manages to look natural, blending beautifully into the skin. Just be careful to only use a tiny dab, because you can definitely overdo it! There's also a travel-sized version available at Ulta for $10 if you don't want to splurge on the full size right away.
10. Primer- OK so I know I have two of them here, but I couldn't decide between them since I love them both equally! The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52 full size, $18 for travel size shown in photo below) is almost like magic because it feels so light and disappears into your skin, but it still creates a silky smooth base for foundation. It doesn't have that heavy feeling most primers have so it's my ideal summer primer. Once you try it, you'll be hooked...there's nothing else like it!
I'm also obsessed with Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer ($35)...it fills in lines, pores and wrinkles and makes my face so smooth. This has been my go-to primer for years...it has that silicone feel, but isn't as greasy as most primers. It feels more matte, if that makes sense. Once it absorbs into my skin, I don't feel like my makeup will slide around over it and it makes my makeup last a lot longer. Mally also suggests using it at night to seal in your skincare products, and when I use it that way, my skin is baby-smooth in the morning.
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| It Cosmetics CC+ Cream, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer. |
So that's it...my top ten beauty splurges! Of course, there are many other splurge products that I use often and love, but these are my absolute favorites. What are your favorite splurge products?
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 12
We're almost to the end of my 14 Days of Giveaways! Today's prize is a Makeup Revolution bundle which includes:
The All About Cream Blush & Contour Palette, The One Blush Stick in "Malibu" (bronzy shade), Vivid Baked Bronzer, Ultra Velour Lipstick in "Can't we just make love instead?", Salvation Lip Lacquer in "Nothing Like You and I", Eyeshadow Single in "Killer", The Beach & Surf Eyeshadow Palette, and the Disappear to the Beyond Eyeshadow Palette. Good Luck!
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Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Gel Eyeliner Review
Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Gel Pencil ($7.99 at drugstores) is a new eyeliner that has a micro-tip for sharp precision. I've been eyeing the Hourglass 1.5mm Gel Eyeliner ($16) for a while now, because when you have hooded eyes like I do, a skinny line takes up a lot less of that precious eyelid space. I've tried a lot of skinny liquid liners, but the idea of a skinny automatic gel pencil is even better, especially for everyday use. So I was really glad to see Maybelline come out with a 1.8mm version for half the price of the Hourglass one. Let's take a look!
Master Precise Skinny Gel Liner comes in three shades...Defining Black, Refined Charcoal, and Sharp Brown. It claims to be a waterproof gel formula with a 1.8mm tip (slightly larger than the Hourglass one) that gives mistake-proof application, an ultra-smooth glide, and up to 24 hour wear.
When I opened the package for the first time and took off the cap, I was a bit confused because the packaging shows a pointed tip but it's actually flat. The flat tip actually works out great for lining inside my waterline...it glides across easily and covers more area that a sharp point would...a definite plus! I also don't feel like I'm going to poke my eye out...it's very comfortable to use in that way.
But up on the eyelids, it's a different story, as it doesn't have the same glide that it does inside the waterline. It's not dry by any means, but it did feel like it was skipping a bit and I had to use a bit more pressure. The problem is, when you apply more pressure, the skinny micro-tip breaks off easily. Also, this pencil is not retractable, so once you twist it up, it doesn't go back down. Thankfully, it twists up very slowly so you won't go too far accidentally.
Here it is compared to one of my Julep Gel Eye Gliders, which is an average-sized retractable gel pencil, similar to others you'll see from L'oreal and Maybelline. This gives you a good frame of reference for how skinny the Maybelline pencil is.
Overall, I'm a little torn with this one. I like that it's long lasting and the flat micro-tip is perfect for lining the waterline. But when it comes to the upper lash line, I would much prefer a pointed tip, especially since I like to wing my liner out at the corners a bit. I find it really challenging to create a nice pointed wing with the flat top. Not to mention, it becomes extremely fragile if you apply more pressure to it.
If you love to line your waterline, I think you'll really enjoy this one, but otherwise, you may want to skip it (or maybe spring for the Hourglass version).
You can find Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Gel Eyeliner at drugstores and at Ulta.com
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 13
Only one more day left! Today's giveaway is for an Elf Cosmetics Day to Night Eyeshadow Palette in Party Ready. This is a gorgeous palette that you can use to create bold, bright looks or subtle, everyday looks. Good luck!
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14 Days of Giveaways- Day 14
It's the last day of my giveaways and today, I'm letting you choose your prize with a $25 Sephora gft card! Good luck to all, and thank you to everyone who entered! :)
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What is a Dry Conditioner and Do You Really Need One?
By now, everyone is probably familiar with the concept of dry shampoo but what about dry conditioners? I admit, I was confused by them when I first started seeing the around. I kept thinking, "my hair gets greasier the longer I go without washing it, so why would I want to add more moisture and oil to it??" As it turns out, there's a really good reason for using them, but not everyone will benefit from dry conditioner. Keep on reading to find out if it's right for you!
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| Oribe Soft Dry Conditioner, Kardashian Beauty Take 2 Dry Conditioner, Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Conditioner, CHI Dry Conditioner |
I have naturally dry hair to begin with, and highlighted from mid-shaft to the ends, so the bottom half is even more dry than the roots. My ends usually look good the day I wash it, but after sleeping on it, they get all wonky and crunchy. They don't have the same bounce they had the day before and usually won't cooperate at all. To make matters worse, they feel so dried out, I don't want to use a curling iron on them again. Adding more shine serum or styling cream will just weigh them down, so that's where dry conditioner comes in!
It's an aerosol spray that delivers lightweight oils and nutrients into the hair to soften it without adding weight. My favorite one is by Kardashian Beauty ($14.99 at Target & Ulta). Say what you want about the K-family, but their hair products are actually amazing. They're made by Farouk Systems, the same company that makes CHI, so they're salon-quality products.
I just spray it from the mid-shaft to the ends from several inches away and then finger comb my hair. This photo below is how my second-day hair looked after using the Kardashian Dry Conditioner...my ends went from crispy to bouncy with lots of shine. The best part is, it doesn't feel weighed down at all. Since I have dry hair and scalp, I generally don't need dry shampoo on the second day, but if I go three days without washing, then I just use dry shampoo on my roots and dry conditioner on the ends.
It's an aerosol spray that delivers lightweight oils and nutrients into the hair to soften it without adding weight. My favorite one is by Kardashian Beauty ($14.99 at Target & Ulta). Say what you want about the K-family, but their hair products are actually amazing. They're made by Farouk Systems, the same company that makes CHI, so they're salon-quality products.
I just spray it from the mid-shaft to the ends from several inches away and then finger comb my hair. This photo below is how my second-day hair looked after using the Kardashian Dry Conditioner...my ends went from crispy to bouncy with lots of shine. The best part is, it doesn't feel weighed down at all. Since I have dry hair and scalp, I generally don't need dry shampoo on the second day, but if I go three days without washing, then I just use dry shampoo on my roots and dry conditioner on the ends.
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| After using Kardashian Beauty Take 2 Dry Conditioner |
If your hair is oily or your ends are healthy and you don't have any issues with dryness on the bottom half of your hair, you probably don't need it. But if your hair gets crunchy at the ends the day after washing, dry conditioner is a must-have product! It prevents me from having to just throw my hair up in a ponytail or bun, which is what I always used to do with second-day hair. I'm hoping to see some drugstore options soon! Suave and Got2b used to make them but I can't find them anymore.
Do you use dry conditioner? If so, which one is your favorite?
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Hard Candy Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Color Review & Swatches
Hard Candy Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Color ($6 at Walmart) is brand new for Spring 2016 and I am so excited to review them for you guys because I think you'll really like the formula compared to the other matte liquid lipsticks at the drugstore right now. Let's take a look!
Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Color comes in 7 shades (see my photo of the display here) and the most adorable packaging I've seen for a lipstick...maybe ever. The flat, oval-shaped tube itself isn't all that remarkable...it's sleek and clean-looking with a silver cap and it's see-through so you can clearly see the color inside. The real point of difference is the beautiful metal tin they come in. Each one has a different watercolor floral design and there's a mirror inside the lid. Also, I love that the top is hinged, rather than coming off completely. It's a beautiful presentation for any lip product, but especially for a $6 lip product. It kind of reminds me of the Nudestix packaging, except those tins are solid black and I like the feminine, floral design better.
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| Hard Candy Velvet Mousse Lip Color in Daffodil, Sweet Pea, and Cherry Blossom |
The applicator is long and flat and gets even flatter toward the tip, making it easy to apply around the lip line. I prefer this type over the standard short doe-foot applicator because you can cover a lot more surface area and usually don't have to dip the wand back into the tube to get more product because it holds more.
This formula has a vanilla cupcake scent that I much prefer over the fruity scent of the Revlon Ultra HD ones or the Maybelline Vivid Mattes.
First of all, they're incredibly pigmented and the three shades I got go on smoothly and not patchy at all. One swipe on my bottom lip and all I have to do is press my lips together and it transfers right to my top lip and covers it completely. Then I just have to go around my lip line and I'm done. They have a soft, mousse-like texture that goes on with a little bit of shine, but not as much as the other drugstore formulas I mentioned. A quick blot with a tissue helps them dry down to matte right away and they stay put for a good 6 hours or so. The other night I didn't bother removing it, I just put a lip balm on top and went to bed. In the morning, my lips were still stained the color of the lipstick, so the staying power is very impressive. They also didn't dry out my lips, which is a huge plus!
Word of warning though, these do transfer quite a bit before they finally stay put. I think that these mousse-like formulas go on thick, so they just naturally have to wear down a bit, while a thinner liquid lipstick sinks into your lips easily rather than sitting on top, therefore they don't transfer.
I ended up purchasing Daffodil (a nude-brown), Sweet Pea (a cool-toned Barbie pink) and Cherry Blossom (a berry shade). Personally, I'm not crazy about each shade on it's own...Daffodil is too brown, Sweet Pea is too light, and Cherry Blossom is a lot brighter than I would wear on a daily basis. I was craving a more natural-looking shade, I guess.
So I ended up mixing the three together on my hand and applying it with a lip brush and I'm loving the shade it makes (see the photo on the bottom right)....it's more of a rosy MLBB shade.
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| Top Row: Daffodil, Sweet Pea Bottom Row: Cherry Blossom, All 3 Shades Mixed |
Overall, I really love these, from the adorable packaging to the formula that's a bit closer to a true matte lipstick, all the while still keeping that soft, velvety feeling that doesn't dry out your lips. I wish there were some more shades in the range, but I'm happy to have found a way to wear all three shades that I bought.
Unfortunately, these aren't online yet so I'm not able to link to them, but hopefully your local Walmart carries Hard Candy and they've already put these out.
Have you seen these yet? Tried 'em? What do you think?
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Milani Lash Trifecta Mascara Review
Milani Lash Trifecta ($7.99 at drugstores) is a brand new mascara for Spring 2016 and I've been wanting to get this review posted since a few of you have asked me if I've tried this and the other new Milani mascara, Big & Bigger Mascara (review coming soon on that one). So I've been using this for about a month now, I'm definitely ready to share my thoughts...keep on reading after the jump!
![Milani Lash Trifecta Mascara Review]()
Lash Trifecta claims to lengthen, curl and separate, hence the "trifecta". This doesn't include adding volume, so if you're looking to add thickness and drama to your lashes, you may want to try their other new formula, Big & Bigger. This one is for you if you like that long fluttery, fanned out lash look without a lot of bulk or clumping.
![lash trifecta]()
The brush is long and on the thinner side with a slight curve. It's also triangular-shaped instead of round.
![Milani Lash Trifecta brush]()
In this closer photo you can see that it has spikes all the way around as well as at the tip. In that way, it kind of reminds me of Benefit's They're Real mascara, except these spikes are shorter. That's a good thing since They're Real tends to stab your eyelids when you try to apply it (I still love it though). This one doesn't do that, and yet those spikes are just as effective at combing out your lashes and giving them nice separation. I think the fact that this brush is curved also helps because it follows your lash line, making application more comfortable. The spikes at the top of the brush are awesome at finding those tiny little lashes in the corners and grabbing every last one...they also catch the bottom lashes easily.
I love that the wand isn't big and chunky either. It's a nice size for getting right up into your lash line to start coating them right at the base.
![Milani Lash Trifecta Mascara brush wand]()
In my before and after photos, you can see how Lash Trifecta gave me lots of length and curl without adding too much bulk. I put on about three coats, so my lashes aren't as separated as they were after the first coat, but that's not the mascara's fault. I like to pile it on and get as much length as possible out of a mascara, so after the second coat, some of my lashes started to stick together a little bit. If you like a softer, more separated lash look, I would just stop at one or two coats.
![mascara before and after]()
I really like the length I get out of this mascara...it's almost like falsies! Also, the formula isn't super wet and it feels very lightweight so I don't find my lashes drooping after a few hours...they hold the curl for hours.
![mascara review]()
I was able to wear this most of the day without any smudging under my eyes, but I did see a little bit late at night before I went to bed. I don't know if it's just me, but almost every mascara smudges under my eyes at some point...it's really rare to find one that doesn't. Oh, and that reminds me, this one also doesn't come in waterproof, in case you were wondering.
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Lash Trifecta claims to lengthen, curl and separate, hence the "trifecta". This doesn't include adding volume, so if you're looking to add thickness and drama to your lashes, you may want to try their other new formula, Big & Bigger. This one is for you if you like that long fluttery, fanned out lash look without a lot of bulk or clumping.
The brush is long and on the thinner side with a slight curve. It's also triangular-shaped instead of round.
I love that the wand isn't big and chunky either. It's a nice size for getting right up into your lash line to start coating them right at the base.
I really like the length I get out of this mascara...it's almost like falsies! Also, the formula isn't super wet and it feels very lightweight so I don't find my lashes drooping after a few hours...they hold the curl for hours.
I was able to wear this most of the day without any smudging under my eyes, but I did see a little bit late at night before I went to bed. I don't know if it's just me, but almost every mascara smudges under my eyes at some point...it's really rare to find one that doesn't. Oh, and that reminds me, this one also doesn't come in waterproof, in case you were wondering.
Overall, I love the new Milani Lash Trifecta! This mascara is right up my alley, since I prefer that fluttery, fanned-out look to thick and clumpy...at least for everyday wear. If it's volume you're after, stay tuned for my upcoming review of Milani's new Big & Bigger mascara.
You can find Milani Lash Trifecta at Walgreens, CVS and online at Drugstore.com
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