Bamboo Style Hoho Waves Tousled Texture Mist by Alterna Haircare

This product is a spray mist that gives you those amazing beach waves that you get only during the summer or when you’re at the beach. All you have to do is spray it onto wet hair and scrunch up your locks a little to get it to work. It has a great scent that I wish would last longer, but at least the hold is good.

BVLGARI Eau Parfume au the Blanc, Tea Bag For Bath

When I first read the name of this product I was pretty confused. As it turns out, it’s a tea bag that you drop into your bath. It has the wonderful white tea scent that BVLGARI is known for and while it’s strong in the tub, it’s light and airy once you’re done.

Honest Organic Lip Balm

Jojoba oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil and Omega 3. Need I say more about how moisturizing this balm is? A winter must have for anyone with chapped lips.

Glow Blush by TIGI Cosmetics

I have a touch of Rosacea so I don’t wear blush. However, the TIGI baked blush is a very pretty color with a touch of shimmer. I was thinking about using it as shadow however…..

Coffee Mint Invigorating Body Wash by Wash With Joe

This body wash smells like mint chocolate chip ice cream- yummy!!! It’s a great way to start the day because the scent really waked you up. Asides from that, it does make the skin feel smooth and clean.

Replenishing Daily Solution byLe Metier De Beaute

I’m very behind on my skincare so I haven’t had a chance to use this product. However, the company description says that it protects, conditions and hydrates while it nourishes, rejuvenates and detoxifies the skin. Sounds good to me.

I love the May Glossybox because it has a little bit of everything. If you want to get in on the next group of samples head on over to http://www.glossybox.com/  to sign up.

You might have come across an ad or two for pheromones throughout your life, but do you know if they really work? Is it really possible to have emotional, hormonal, and even sexual influence over another person by wearing pheromones?

According to psychologist Wendy Wood of the University of Southern California, the science of pheromones is “a controversial research area. Studies are highly inconsistent, and only a few studies have shown that women’s menstrual cycles influence their mate’s preferences – many more find no effect of menstrual cycles on preferences.”

Even though pheromones have been observed and studied thoroughly in most animals throughout the world, we still don’t fully understand how pheromones work in humans. We know how strong the effect of pheromones can be on animals. For instance, ants that get separated from the main group will sometimes create what is called an ant mill – a phenomenon where ants will follow a trail of pheromones in a circle until they die of exhaustion!

Check out this video- http://www.youtube.com/embed/mA37cb10WMU

Now a new study has been released that suggests that a women in heightened stages of fertility find the scent of male testosterone attractive.

In this correlative study, men were given t-shirts to wear for two days straight, after which women would answer questions about the appeal of the t-shirts and what stage of the menstrual cycle they were in. This is when the correlation was revealed, but the cause of the association is still not known. Many researchers suspect that it might have something to do with the sex pheromone androstenol.

Pheromone expert Bruce Boyd of Love Scent told us that “pheromones are not miracle sex attractants, but they do play a role in the day to day interactions of humans, albeit a more subtle one. They are a part of everyone’s life; they say that only 10% of communication is verbal, but how much is pheromonal? More than you think maybe.”

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In today’s post, we’re going to take a look at some of our favorite pet fashion trends! Yes, we know it’s silly, but we’re totally on board with dressing up our cute pooches and kittens – even if it’s more for us than for them!

Dog Featherheads

A cool, simple look that we’re big fans of is pet plumes from Fine Featherheads. I’ve seen people wearing these for a long time, but I’ve started running into pets with feathers in their hair too, and I have to say it’s a pretty cute look! You can find them in a wide variety of colors at the Fine Featherheads website, with lengths that range from 2-5 inches.

http://4theloveofanimals.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/petplume-006.jpg

Doggy Pantyhose

Let’s start with the most recent, and probably the most ridiculous puppy fashion trend to go viral – dogs in pantyhose :/ As weird as these are, I get a chuckle out of them, and even though the dogs look embarrassed, I’m not sure that animals that sniff each others’ butts and eat garbage are capable of embarrassment.

http://a.abcnews.com/images/ABC_Univision/cc_animals_lead_130408_wb.jpg

Dog Jewelry

More and more pet owners are spoiling their pets rotten these days, and one way that manifests is with extraordinarily opulent jewelry that your pet most likely doesn’t even care about! I’ve come across bejeweled collars, studded hair clips, and even tiaras on dogs. But by far the most extravagant item of dog jewelry I’ve ever heard of is the Amour Amour, estimated at $3.2 million and called “the Bugatti of dog collars.” This collar is made with white gold, platinum, crocodile leather, and is adorned with over 1,600 diamonds.

http://www.yeepet.com/includes/ckfinder/userfiles/images/amour%20amour.jpg

Our pets are our babies, and we want them to look as good as they can! Just make sure you’re not going overboard and everyone will have a blast. Dressing up our pets can be a lot of fun, just know that you’re really doing it for yourself, and not your pooch. All he or she wants is to hang out with you!

This post was submitted by Alex.

I was sent  the Spa Sonic skin care system to try out and review. After a long, dry winter, it’s a welcomed product.

Company Description:

• Safe and effective for all skin types
• Exfoliates, smoothes and softens skin
• Tightens and reduces size of pores
• Supports the reduction of fine lines and dark spots
• Eliminates dirt, makeup and oil
• Recommended by dermatologists

Spa Sonic Review

The Spa Sonic is a product that is very similar to the ever-so-popular Clarisonic. A major difference is that it’s waterproof so that you can use it in the shower which means that you get to save time. Like the Clarisonic, there are parts involved. In this case, the Spa Sonic kit contains five parts:

• 2 small facial brushes
• 1 large body brush
• 1 facial buffer
• 1 pumice stone
• 1 battery pack

I found that it really did a great job  at getting rid of the dull, dry looking skin and bringing out a beautiful, healthy glow. Best of all, because it’s so fast, it takes seconds to do my face and less than a minute to cover my entire body. All I had to do was pour some cleanser on the brush and the Spa Sonic did the rest.

The bristles are soft and small so that they hug the curves of the face and body nicely. It’s also a plus because if you have sensitive skin like me, you don’t have to worry about scratching it senseless. The pumice stone is amazing and really work to reduce any rough spots.

Since the Spa Sonic has a rubber handle I was able to concentrate on what I was doing rather than trying to hold onto the gadget.Again, this is a great time saving quality because you get to do more doing rather than fumbling.

The price for the Spa Sonic is very reasonable, but you can save more if you headover to Walgreens.com right now  where the Spa Sonic will be on sale for $39.99 which is 40% off of the regular price of $64.99 until May 18th. You can also follow Spa Sonic on Facebook to keep up with their specials

A new site that features daily deals on beauty products called http://www.cutandblow.com/ sent me some AG Hair products to review. AG Hair, is a company that makes some amazing hair care products.

AG Hair Products Review

I got two of their lines to try out- the Volume Solution Trio and The Oil.

The Oil Review

Company Description: “Rich in organic Moroccan Argan oil, AG’s The Oil adds indescribable softness, shine and slip to all hair types. Lightweight and non-oily, The Oil won’t weigh hair down or discolour blonde hair”.

The Oil is a smoothing tool from AG. It’s made from the ever popular Argan oil which is known to be packed with vitamins and minerals to keep your locks looking and feeling healthy and shiny. I found that a few drops of the oil was enough to cover all of my hair (and I have a lot of hair), leaving it smooth and almost completely frizz free without feeling well… oily. It also smells amazing which is another plus.

As I mentioned earlier, Cut and Blow sent me these products. If you want to purchase The Oil by AG, it’s normally sold individually. However, Cut and Blow had a sale featuring a kit containing six of the oils. This is great because I can keep one in my purse, another at work, one in my car and one in my beauty drawer.  And I still have two left!

The Volume Solution Trio

Normally, these AG hair products are sold separately, but during the Cut and Blow sale they were available together so that you can see how well the line works as a whole.

Company Description of the Volume Products: “Fine, limp hair longs to be bigger, thicker and stronger. AG’s Volume Category delivers with our light, airy and uplifting products that provide healthy volume and fullness to otherwise flat hair. And, our ideal mix of weightless ingredients provides the nutrients delicate hair often needs”.

Thikk Wash Shampoo Description: “Thikk Wash’s weightless formulation effectively boosts volume in fine to medium hair by using an abundance of body building panthenol, keratin and silk proteins. Full, healthy hair, with a refreshing satsumi fragrance pH 4.5-5.5”.

Ingredients include:

• Nettle extract
• Wild cherry bark extract
• Hops extract
• Rosemary leaf extract

The thick wash shampoo smells like a sweet orange- yummy. It lathers nicely and is easy to rinse out. Once I’ve finished rinsing my hair, I find that there is no residue left over and that my locks feel light.

Thikk Rinse Conditioner Description: “Fine hair needs weightless conditioning. Thikk Rinse is infused with body building volumizers like panthenol, keratin and silk protein, to nourish fine hair without weighing it down. The result – soft, healthy hair with bounce and movement”.

Ingredients include:

• Jojoba seed oil
• Sage leaf extract
• Hops extract
• Rosemary leaf extract
• Wild cherry bark extract

Like the shampoo, the AG hair conditioner has a sweet fragrance. I use a bit more than I normally do because it’s been a while since my last cut and I have very long hair. It detangles my locks nicely without weighing down my strands.

Foam Description: “Foam boosts fine to medium textured hair with feather-light volume while adding softness and shine.  Alcohol-free and humidity resistant, Foam discourages frizz and provides effective thermal protection from hot tools”.

Ingredients include:

• Sage leaf extract
• Nettle extract
• Matricaria flower extract
• Hops extract
• Rosemary leaf extract

The AG Hair Cosmetics foam is the last product that is included in this trio and it’s a great tool to set your hair in place. It gave my hair some nice volume and sealed in the shine as well. I use about a quarter size amount to get the job done.

When used together all of these products truly complement each other so I feel that CutAndBlow.com offered a great deal and opportunity in selling them as a trio. This deal is no longer live on CutAndBlow, but there are other great ones that you can check out. If you’re looking for the AG hair products just head on over to their site to see their line.

Life is filled with a multitude of responsibilities, and what little time exists for beautifying yourself should not be wasted on following popular “beauty secrets” that are simply no more than plain, old myths. From getting rid of pimples to thickening your hair, beauty myths run rampant. The following five common “beauty secrets” may appear to be logical, but facts show that these are truly old wives’ tales.

Shaving makes your hair grow thicker and darker.

Uncut hair grows only to a certain point, making the hair thin and light at its tip but dark and thick at its root. Shaving your hair gets rid of the tip, allowing the dark, thick base to grow out. Your hair may appear thicker and darker, but shaving does not change the hair’s density, color or width.

You can cure cellulite.

Cellulite is a fact of life for many people, and nothing, not even liposuction, can get rid of it. Cellulite develops when fat cells build up against your tissue’s fibrous bands, occasionally pushing through and resulting in a clumpy appearance. Several treatments, such as VaserShape and VelaShape, can help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but nothing will cure it for good.

Permanently shrinking your pores is plausible.

As with cellulite, large pores are a reality many people face every day. Removing access stretching debris and applying skin-tightening treatments may help pores appear smaller, but this is only a temporary solution. A plastic surgeon in Phoenix, AZ can provide fractionated laser treatments to help rearrange and increase your skin’s collagen production, resurfacing your epidermal surface for a smooth appearance.

Crossing your legs creates varicose veins.

Crossing your legs is not the culprit for varicose veins, but standing may be. Many people who stand for long periods of time or are genetically disposed are more likely to experience ghastly varicose veins. Pregnancy and traumas can also place a lot of pressure on your circulatory system, leading to spider or varicose veins.

Sleeping with a satin pillow and laying on your back helps your face remain wrinkle-free.

As you grow older, your skin’s elastin fibers and collagen begin to break down, causing wrinkles to form. Granted, burrowing your face into a pillow several hours every night can decrease the chances of your skin snapping back, but wrinkles develop on everyone. Phoenix cosmetic surgery can help reduce wrinkle and pigmentation variations, providing your skin with youthful appearance.

This post was submitted by Madyson.

Company Description: “Beecology Lavender and Bergmont Body Wash is a subtle, smooth and soothing lavender body wash with a delightful citrus afternote. You’ll love the great lather and fabulous moisturizing of this relaxing all natural body wash”.

Beecology Body Wash Review

The very first thing that I noticed about the Beecology body wash is the delicious lavender fragrance. It totally enwraps the room in itself in a soothing manner. It makes cleaning up feel more like an aromatherapy session than a shower because it’s very calming without feeling overbearing. I should mention that I’m not one for heavy scents. In fact I get annoyed fairly quickly when a fragrance simply won’t quit after a minute. However, I find that I can’t wait to use my body wash because I actually do love this one. If you’re not into heavy fragrances either or if you like lavender, based on scent alone, I would say this product is AMAZING.

I found that a little bit of body wash is all that I need to get a nice, thick lather to form. It’s easy to spread over the skin and just as easily rinses off without leaving any residue behind. Once I’m done using it I also find that my skin feels smooth and nourished.

Ingredients include:

• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Hemp oil
• Aloe
• Honey

I’ve been going towards natural products more and more these days so I’m thrilled that I got a chance to try out this one. In fact, I plan on making it one of my go to products for the year. The Beecology body wash is priced at $8.99 for an 8oz bottle. Definitely well worth the price for such an amazing product.  They send me a bottle to try out but you can get yours on the Beecology site.

I’ve been spending a little bit of time thinking about how to redecorate my house to make it a little more comfortable, inviting and energetic.  The problem is that my husband likes the antique French look (Versaille style) and I like modern (as in black and white with touches of orange). It’s a good thing that the decor trends for this year can satisfy a little bit of both our tastes.

2013 Spring Decor Trends

Loving Nature

ooh_food / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Green is one of the more popular colors as far as decor trends for spring goes. Whether it’s because you want to get in touch with nature, you want to support the go green movement or because you like the soothing effects of the color be sure to incorporate some green into your home. A light green will really brighten up a room while giving the ambiance a more relaxed feel. A bright, leafy green will catch the eye and give a more energetic  feel to the room. It’s encouraged to incorporate green into your accessories and furnishings. Do I even have to mention the plants?

Graphic Wallpaper

Image: http://www.countryhomefurnishing.co.uk/

Remember all of those old Hollywood movies that showed beautiful, rich wallpaper in every room of the house? Some with graphic designs and others with softer lines. I’m so happy that this style is back with full force. You’ll be amazed at how many styles you can choose from so be prepared to fall in love with more than one style. Oh- and don’t be afraid to go bold by incorporating some of the other trends into your wallpaper style.

Kitchen Seating

If you have an island in your kitchen, it would be an idea to pick up some bar stools to keep it company. If you’re not someone who likes to eat your meals in the kitchen then consider that it’s a place for your friend to sit while he/ she watches you make dinner.

Neutrals With Pop

ooh_food / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

This trend is a good compromise for those of you who have the same issue that my hubby and I have because it gives you the simplicity and sophistication of neutral colors while giving you the edginess of a bright color. To achieve this look, decorate the entire room in one to three neutral colors and add one bright color that totally stands out from the rest. For example, you can get a camel couch with wooden tables and add turquoise throw pillows.

Bold Patterns

fabulousfabs / Foter.com / CC BY

Patterns are everywhere. Tiles, carpets, wallpapers, bedding , lamps and so on. If you want to use a bold pattern on your walls but don’t want to go overboard, you might consider using the pattern on just one wall. Animal print rugs are also very inviting while florals are always desirable during the spring time. Some of the more popular ones are zebra, square prints, stripes and honeycomb. You will also find lots of florals and geometric prints.

Black And White

coco+kelley / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

One of my favorite decor trends for 2013 is created by mixing the sophistication of black with the stark look of white. When done properly a black and white room can be sensual as well as modern. While I love a room that is entirely black and white, you can also use this trend in small amounts. For example, you can implement some monochrome bed linen in the bedroom.

Vintage

Or you can call it recycled if you prefer. This trend involves making old furniture looking new by repainting it, stripping it or by cleaning it. Whether it’s a sturdy wooden chair or an old armoire, you’re sure to find lots of furnishings that fall into this department at garage sales, antique stores or grandmas house.

Colors that you can use to amp up your decor include gold, green, cobalt blue, light yellow and red. All happy colors.

This post was submitted by LookAgain.co.uk.

Just in time for spring, Jane Iredale has launched a new line of glosses called PureGloss which they sent me to review. According to their site, the inspiration to create this new line of glosses is simply “to create the best lip gloss imaginable: one that is glossy but not sticky; creamy but not too heavy; fruity but not sugary sweet”. Sounds good to me.

Jane Iredale PureGloss Review

I’ve tried other Jane Iredale lip glosses before so the first big difference that I noticed was the packaging. Rather than the usual cylindrical tube, these glosses are encases in an almost flat tube. It’s still easy to hold, but now it can fit into your purse or your pocket more easily than ever. I also noticed that they changed the shape of the wand. Not only is the wand longer but the tip is shaped in a way that it’s much easier to apply the gloss without messing up. It’s so easy to use that I often don’t even use a mirror when I’m reapplying.

The PureGloss has a light sweet fragrance that lasts a few seconds at most. Once applied, it feels very moisturizing which is great because the cold from this past winter really dried up my pout. It’s my first time using a lip product that is made with moringa butter and avocado oil and I’m definitely a fan now because my lips have never felt better. What’s missing (thankfully) is the stickiness that many glosses have. Really, I can’t imagine a worse attribute to a gloss than stickiness because who wants their lips to keep clamming up as they try to speak?

The Jane Iredale PureGloss is available in 18 different shades and the ones that they sent me are Snow Berry, Beach Plum and Red Currant.

• Snow Berry- A sheer iridescent color that has a pink sheen. It’s very pretty on its own but can also be used to liven up a neutral color.
• Beach Plum- Something between a soft pink and a coral, this one is my favorite color for the summer. It has more pigment than the other two glosses that they sent me and isn’t quite as sheer.
• Red Currant- A beautiful sheer red that brings out the natural color of the lips and makes them appear to be a touch fuller.

The Jane Iredale PureGloss retails for $24.00 which is a bit pricey, but well worth it when you consider that it truly does deliver great color and comfort. I can’t wait to try out the mascaras that they sent me.

Note- Jane Iredale sent me these products to try, however the opinion stated here is my own and my review is not biased in any way.

One of my favorite things about layering during the warmer months is all of the gorgeous spring scarves that we can play with. While wintry scarves are more plush and cozy, you’ll find that the scarves for spring are light, colorful and almost whimsical. I was sent a new FRAAS Scarf from their spring line to review and help build my spring looks around.

The scarf that I got is one that was designed with a watermark design as the concept. If you’ve kept an eye on the runways you know that water is a huge inspiration for the spring season. While the runways show tons of blue hues there are also a fair number of other bright colors that are infused with h2o inspiration. In the case of my FRAAS scarf it has a gorgeous coral background and the watermarks have been created with burgundy, maze, lilac and sky blue shades.  The combination creates a sort of dimension that holds its own so I tend to wear it with solid colored clothes. This way, I don’t have to worry about clashing patterns.

The scarf that I got also comes in blue, but if it’s not your thing be sure to check out the other patterns that are in style for spring. They include:

• Florals (of course)
• Animal prints
• Tribals
• Water inspirations (as mentioned)
• Two toned
• Neon
• Stripes

I have my eye on a neon one that I thin will look great with my black dress.