The Budget Beauty Blog

Check it out! BBB Featured by new SnipSnap App

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 02 May 2013 01:29:00 +0000

The Budget Beauty Blog was featured on mobile app Snip Snap's Mo Money blog as one of five beauty bloggers to follow!
Check out the story HERE.

SnipSnap is the first app to scan, save, and redeem printed coupons on your mobile phone! It's such a cool money-saving tool for all us frugal gals- I highly recommend checking them out! This short video explains how it works, and shows a girl shopping at Old Navy pull up a 40% off coupon right in the store to use at the register- so cool!

Scunci Hair Chalk Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:04:00 +0000

If you've ever wanted to try out some funky streaks in your hair a la Katy Perry, but didn't want the commitment, you'll love Scunci's new Hair Chalk!

I had the opportunity to try it this week, and it's such a fun product, and super easy to use! Retailing for $7.99 at Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, these come in packs of 2 shades. I got to try the pink/turquoise shades.

Here are some product shots, including the instructions:

Basically, you use this just like you would a straightening iron, and it gives you a lot of control. You can smooth it over skinny pieces of hair, or create thicker stripes on a wide piece of hair. You can color just the ends of the hair, or do full streaks from root to tip. I ended up trying full streaks that were medium width. For a darker color/intensity, you can keep running the chalk over the same spot until you get the desired shade. The packaging also says that using hairspray on the section of hair beforehand can also make the color more intense.

Then it just rinses out completely in the shower!

Here's my before and afters. It came out a little darker pink than it looks in the pictures:

So who wants to win a free Scunci hair chalk kit?

We're giving one away to one (1) lucky winner who will be selected at random! Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maybelline Summer 2013 Collection- Bronzers and New Color Tattoo Shades!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:35:00 +0000

The other day, I spotted some new Maybelline products for the Summer 2013 collection. There are new powder bronzers, as well as liquid bronzer, and six new Color Tattoo shades, which are gorgeous! They are all pastel and have an iridescence about them.

So what do you think? I'm loving the golden shade, mint green and lavender. What shades are your favorites?

L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Review and Swatches- Jumbo Eye Pencil, Little Black Book, Color Spark Palette, Little Black Book

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:37:00 +0000

These days, I'm loving L.A. Colors for their bold, pigmented makeup and super low price points. Last week, I reviewed some nail polishes from the L.A. Girl line, so this week, I wanted to review some of the eyeshadows from the L.A. Colors line.

First up is the Jumbo Eye Pencil. This creamy crayon comes in 24 shades and is a total dupe for NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil, for a fraction of the price. This one costs $1.75, so it's easy to stock up on a ton of colors without shelling out a lot of money.

This shade is called Bikini Time and is a really pretty iridescent purple. This pencil works on its own as a cream eyeshadow, as an eyeliner, or as an eyeshadow base. To minimize creasing, I recommend using it over a primer, but even without primer, this didn't crease too much on me. Here's a swatch of Bikini Time:

To purchase the Jumbo Eye Pencil, click here.

Next up is the Color Spark Palette in Electric. This palette comes in 3 different color combos- this one has lots of blues and purples.

At only $3 for 10 shades, this palette is such a steal! Plus, the complimentary colors can be blended together to create different looks.

Here are the swatches in the same order as the palette- top row left to right followed by the bottom row left to right:

To purchase the Color Spark palette, click here.

Next is the Little Black Book Palette in Natural (also available in Glam or Smoky). This little book is so small, it fits in the palm of your hand- perfect for travel! It comes with 15 shades and is only $2. Inside the front cover is instructions on creating a natural eye look.

The swatches are left to right, top to bottom:

To purchase the Little Black Book, click here.

Last up is the eyeshadow pot, which comes in 24 shades. At $1.20

each, these are such a bargain! This pot is a large size, so you're really getting a lot for your money, plus these are just as pigmented as eyeshadows that cost many times this much.

To purchase the Eyeshadow Pot, click here.

Have you tried L.A. Colors yet? What are your favorite products?

Body Honee All Natural Hair Removal Wax Kit Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:38:00 +0000

In the wintertime, it's easy to get lazy about hair removal- I know I am! But I'm home from work today, since we just got a ton of snow here in Connecticut, (plus the hubby and I are taking our babymoon to Florida next week), so hair removal has jumped to the top of my to-do list.

It was perfect timing when I received my Body Honee all natural waxing kit in the mail earlier this week! Body Honee is 100% natural and made from 3 ingredients- sugar, salt and lemon- how awesome is that? The kit comes complete with a 9oz. jar of wax, waxing strips, wooden spatulas, and an instruction booklet that gives really detailed instructions on how to use it- everything you need to get started.

Here are some shots of the box:

Body Honee needs to be used on clean, dry skin. It's a really simple process- I just popped the jar in the microwave for 30 seconds until the wax was warm, and a bit thinner in consistency (just like honey). Then I applied it according to the directions, and viola! My legs were super smooth and hair-free! They also felt soft and non-irritated.

There are so many great things about this kit:

-Only 3 ingredients, all natural

- Easy to use, with clear directions

- Wax stayed warm the entire time I was using it- I never had to put it back in the microwave.

-Leftover wax on the skin removes easily with water- no scrubbing necessary.

-Results last for weeks

I'm really impressed with Body Honee- it's the best waxing kit I've used hands down. To order the kit for $14.99, please visit BodyHonee.com.

***Disclosure-The products featured in this review included products sent for consideration by a company or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review. ***

Vancouver Fashion Week March 19th-24th

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:31:00 +0000

www.vanfashionweek.com

The Budget Beauty Blog is proud to be a partner of Vancouver Fashion Week- a diverse and innovative fashion experience that features both established and emerging designers worldwide. In their 12th year, they are the 2^nd largest fashion event in North America, next to New York Fashion Week. Currently, there are more than 55 designers participating at VFW, from 14 countries, and 26 cities.
To buy tickets to attend the fashion shows or to check out the designers that will be attending, please visit their website, Vanfashionweek.com.

Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Cream for Hair Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:03:00 +0000

I'll admit, when I first spotted Pantene's Ultimate 10 "BB Cream" for hair, I think the first words out of my mouth were, "Come on, really?" followed by a snicker and an eye roll. The whole BB Craze is starting to seem a bit ridiculous and over-the-top to me, and now there's a hair product calling itself BB- why not just leave the name as "Ultimate 10?" Needless to say, I almost didn't buy it because of the whole BB thing, but I ended up doing so out of sheer curiosity. OMG, I am so glad I did.

This all-in-one, multitasking balm has 10 benefits for the hair:

1. Repair for rough hair
2. Strength against damage
3. Silky Softness
4. Brilliant Shine
5. Smoothing
6. Moisture
7. Frizz Control
8. Heat Protection
9. Manageability
10. Tamed Fly-Aways

Zooey Deschanel, Pantene's spokesperson, (and whose hair is gorgeous by the way) recently said about the Ultimate 10 BB Cream, "This [product] is great because I'm lazy when I get home. I don't want to do anything special to my hair, so I can put this on and sleep on it, but it doesn't get anything on my pillow, and when I wake up my hair is nicer."

Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Cream is a lightweight balm/cream that isn't heavy, like I thought it would be. The consistency is lightweight and almost like a gel-serum. The bottle says to use 1-2 pumps (1 was enough for my shoulder length hair).

I applied it to damp hair and then got to blowdrying. For real, my hair has never looked better in my life. It had body (even my fine hair wasn't weighed down by this), tons and tons of shine, and my split ends were pretty much non-existent. I've been growing out a chin-length bob since the fall, and have been avoiding haircuts so that it'll grow out faster, so my ends were not in the greatest of shape to begin with. By the time I was done drying my hair, I was like, "what split ends?" Seriously. My hair looked freshly cut, swingy and shiny- and AMAZING.

So I take back all my skepticism, and I no longer care what this product is called...I'm calling it my "miracle cream". See how it works for you- I think you're going to love it- really.

Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:29:00 +0000

I've always had a hard time finding the perfect shampoo and conditioner for my hair type, because it's fine/thin and dry/damaged. Volumizing formulas never offer enough conditioning, yet dry/damaged ones are usually too heavy and weigh my hair down.
I've been seeing Garnier's Hydra Recharge line in the drugstores, but last week, I finally picked one up and read the label to see what it was all about. Turns out, it's for dry hair, but promises to add weightless moisture. I've seen products that have promised this before, but I was intrigued enough to buy the shampoo, conditioner, and leave in conditioner, especially since CVS had them on sale 3/$10.

The Hydra Recharge Shampoo has tiny blue beads suspended in the product that contain goji berry and passion fruit to hydrate the hair without weighing it down. The first thing I noticed about the shampoo is how thick it is. I ended up rubbing it between my hands first before applying it to my hair to break up some of the beads. The rest dissolved as I shampooed. Despite the thickness of the product, it rinsed out of my hair completely, without leaving the feeling of residue.

The Hydra Recharge Conditioner also contains goji berry, passion fruit and kiwi and is meant to deeply hydrate without adding weight. It was a medium thickness- not as thick as the ones I use for dry/damaged hair, yet not as runny as volumizing formulas. I was able to coat my hair from root to tip and let it soak in for a few minutes. When I rinsed, my hair felt silky and smooth, but at the same time, I didn't feel like my hair had a coating on it.

I debated whether to use the Hydra Recharge Moisture Whip leave-in conditioner after using the rinse out conditioner, because I was worried about too much moisture. But in the end, I figured it would be the ultimate test to see if I could pile on the products and still have weightless hair. I used one pump, which was plenty for my shoulder length hair. It starts as a foam and turns into a serum when you rub your hands together.

I was pleasantly surprised at this line, because not only did it hydrate my hair enough, but my hair had more volume than any thickening product has given me to date- no greasiness or weight. I even had more volume than I would get using a mousse or volumizing spray and I didn't use any styling products whatsoever!

I was more impressed with how thick and full my hair looked than anything else, so it's weird that the product description doesn't play that up more, but instead they choose to focus on the moisture aspect.

So if you're looking for something to give your hair volume, I would highly recommend this, even though it's not a "volumizing" product, it has the added bonus of giving fine hair quite an amazing boost while giving dry hair much needed moisture. I can't wait to try the deep conditioner next!

Have you tried this line yet? I'd love to see if anyone has had the same great experience I did!

Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:14:00 +0000

Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara was just launched as a part of their new Spring 2013 line and I spotted it at Walgreens yesterday for $4.99. Let's take a look!

The brush is really unique- it's made from both nylon and plastic bristles. The nylon ones plump the lashes and give volume, while the harder, plastic bristles separate the lashes.

I loved this brush, because I didn't need a separate lash comb after applying the mascara- I just turned the brush slightly, and used the plastic bristles, which allowed me to comb through any lashes that were stuck together. The bristles aren't as close together as my normal lash comb, so it didn't work quite as well, but it still got the job done, and it was really convenient.

One note though...be careful when using the spiked side, as those plastic bristles are a bit sharp.

So here are my before/afters which I'll post to the Wall of Mascara for reference. I think this does a good job of volumizing and lengthening without clumping or flaking. It didn't give me the biggest lashes ever, but for everyday I like the convenience of having one brush that does it all. I might keep this one in my purse for on-the-go applications.

What do you guys think? What's your favorite Milani mascara?

L.A. Girl Nail Polish Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:24:00 +0000

This week, I had the opportunity to try some L.A. Girl Products for the first time. This is a brand I wasn't too familiar with, but I'm so happy to have found them, because they have some really cool products!
This post will be in a few different parts over the next week or two because I have a lot of different products to try.
For those of you who don't know where to get L.A. Girl cosmetics, the products are sold on their website as well as at Rite Aid (however my local Rite Aid does not carry it, so yours might not either).
Today, I want to focus on some of their nail polish lines- Magnetic, Brites, and Fruity.

The Brites line are neon shades that make your nails pop with color- $5 each. Neons are my favorite in the summertime because they look great when you have a tan. I tried one in Electrocute, which is a neon orange sherbet color. It actually comes out a bit brighter than my camera could capture in the photo below.
This went on easily and covered well with 2 coats. As with most neon shades, no matter what the brand, you will need a topcoat because they don't tend to dry with a lot of shine. I'll definitely be wearing this when the weather gets warm soon, especially on my toes. To check out the rest of the Brites shades, click here.

Next up is the Fruity scented line- $5 each. These shades smell like fruit after the polish dries on your nails. The scent actually lasts a long time- even the next day after my shower, I would catch a quick whiff of Raspberry whenever my hands came near my face. It's not strong or overpowering, and it's nice for those who hate the smell of regular nail polish, which can linger long after your nails dry.

The shade I tried was Razzy Raspberry, which is a sheer, shimmery lavender. It looks really pretty as is, or if you prefer more color, you can easily paint this over an opaque shade to add some shimmer.

To check out the other scents/shades, click here.

Last but not least is the Magnetic line- $6 each. These have different patterns depending on what color you choose, and the magnet is actually contained in the top of the cap- just pop it out!

The shade I used, Polar Opposite, is a shimmery gunmetal gray and the pattern it makes is 3 lines. Depending on which way you hold the magnet, you can make vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines for all sorts of possible looks. I did a combination of looks so you can see the different ways- my pointer and ring finger have vertical lines, I did a diagonal on my middle finger, and horizontal on my pinky.

To see the rest of the shades/patterns, click here.

Have you tried LA Girl products yet? If so, what's your favorite product?

Stay tuned for part 2! I'm not sure what I'll review next, but there are some really cool nail design kits (ombre and polka dots) as well as eye and lip products. In the meantime, you can check out their products at www.LAGirlUSA.com

***Disclosure-The products featured in this review included products sent for consideration by a company or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review. ***

Splurge! Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:23:00 +0000

Last week, Sephora Beauty Insiders got the opportunity to try the brand new Petal shade of Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment before the general public (if you haven't signed up to be a Beauty Insider, it's free and has great perks). When I got the email, I jumped at the chance to order it, even though at $22.50 it's quite a splurge for a tinted lip balm. What makes it so special? If you've tried it, you already know, but if not, I'll explain...
My love for Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment started about 8 years ago, when I was working for Sephora and as soon as I tried it, I was obsessed!
It's the most moisturizing lip product I've ever used- it has a soft, glossy texture that melts easily, so you have to be careful not to keep it in your pocket. No matter what condition your lips are in, this will heal them- they can be dry, flaky and peeling, but apply this and they go from shriveled to plump in a matter of minutes. For even more conditioning, I wear the clear one to bed every night and wake up with plump, pillowy, lineless lips. When my nose gets raw from a cold, I dab some on my skin with my finger, and by the next morning, it's totally healed. I've tried to find a drugstore balm that compares to this and I just can't...I mean, some of them are pretty good, but this is holy grail status.

During the day, my favorite shade is Rose- a sheer rosy pink that looks really nice with my fair complexion.

Rose

Since I just finished my tube of Rose, it was the perfect time to try Petal, which is described as sheer petal pink. It has the same soft lemony scent as the rest of the shades, and the luxe metal twist tube comes in a pretty shade of pink.

This shade is definitely a little pinker than Rose, which has a bit more of a berry/reddish tint to it. It's not a pale baby pink, but more of a nude-pink. Here's a swatch:

Here's my before and after- from the pictures it doesn't look like there's much color to it, but it definitely shows up a little darker than it looks in the picture and is a great my-lips-but-better shade.

Have you splurged on Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment, and if so, what's your favorite shade?

To purchase, head to Sephora.com.

Budget Beauty Blog featured in All You Magazine's March Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:21:00 +0000

The Budget Beauty Blog was among those featured in the March 2013 issue of All You magazine- I gave them my best tips for saving money on beauty in the article, "Shop for Beauty Bargains like a Pro". It's four pages of advice on how to save at the drugstores, department stores, and even on high end products. You can find All You magazine at Walmart stores, or you can subscribe on their website.

New Milani Products for Spring 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:19:00 +0000

Milani has launched some great new products for Spring 2013. Check 'em out!

Ultrafine Liquid Liner- $7.49

Sparkling intense color, long-lasting, waterproof formula. The ultrafine felt-tip applicator makes it easy to apply a thick or thin line and dries down to a sparkling finish. Black also available in a vinyl finish!

Grandissimo Lashes Mascara- $5.49

Bigger is better! The mega volume brush creates a false lash effect. Dramatically enhances and thickens even the littlest lashes. Long-lasting, smear-proof, and non-clumping formula. Paraben-free.

Eyeshadow Primer- $6.49

Intensifies and extends the wear of any shadow, over 8 hour wear. A lightweight invisible finish works on all skin tones. The primer helps provide a seamless canvas for eyeshadow application and minimizes creasing throughout the day. Makes any cream or powder eyeshadow long-wearing!

Color Statement Lipstick- $5.49

Make a statement without saying a word! True Instant Color. One stroke, full coverage application. This next generation lipstick gives the ultimate in color, texture and finish. The lightweight creamy formula contains Vitamins A, C, & E to moisturize and nourish lips. Paraben-free.

Available in Vinyl, Metallic, Cream, Shimmer, Pearl & Matte finish.

Eye Tech Bold- $7.49

The next installment of our best-selling Eye Tech series goes BOLD! The bold felt-tip point creates a variety of dramatic winged looks in one stroke application. Smear & smudge-proof, this liner lasts all day. Paraben-free.

Color Statement Lip Liner- $3.99

Make a statement without saying a word. True Instant Color. Satin color in one stroke application. This next generation lipliner is a long-wearing, easy-glide formula to line & fill-in your lips. Paraben free.

So what do you think? See stuff you like? Do share!

Flower by Drew Barrymore BB Cream Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:38:00 +0000

One of the things I was sure to pick up last week on my Flower haul was the BB Cream. So far, all of the drugstore versions I've tried are basically tinted moisturizers, offering little coverage (with the exception of Physicians Formula Super BB).

So how did the Flower version stack up? Well, lets have a look shall we?

There are four shades, and I chose the lightest one, since other BB's I've tried have come out too dark on me. This was a bit too yellow for my pink undertones, but after I blended it well, it wasn't too noticeable.

The coverage is excellent, and much closer to what the Korean BB Formulas are like. I would say this gives medium coverage and has a thick, creamy texture.

What I disliked about this product, was the dryness of it- it has a matte finish that seems to accentuate the dryness of my skin, clinging to flakes and sinking into lines. Not everyone will have this problem, of course- if you have an oily to normal skin type, you might truly love this, especially if you'd like more coverage out of your BB. In the photo below, you can see how my hand looks after I blended it in. If you look closely, you can see how it clings to dry patches, especially on the right side of my hand.

Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but it's a step in the right direction for BB Creams. I have to admit, I was amazed at how perfect my skin looked if I stood back from the mirror a bit, as it covered every bit of redness and created a perfect blank canvas for applying color. But close up, it just looked too dry and flaky.

Flower's BB Cream costs $12.98 at Walmart.

Has anyone else tried this, especially those with skin types that are different than mine? What are your thoughts?

New Products Spotted- L'oreal Versailles Nail Polishes, Vichy BB Cream, Organix Keratin Oil

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:42:00 +0000

I spotted some new products on the shelves of Walgreens tonight.

Right by the front door, these caught my eye. Organix always has the best scents, and this line looks intriguing because it's an anti-breakage Keratin line. For a girl with dry/damaged hair, this is a little too tempting. I'm not sure if this is the whole line, but they had shampoo, conditioner, and a dry oil spray. I didn't purchase any of it, but I'm sure I will soon!

Wet n'Wild has some cute new nail polishes that look like lollipops- ColorIcon Toppings. The display says that these are a limited edition, so if you want one, I'd hurry and go get one soon before they disappear!

I'm loving L'oreal's new Versailles Collection nail polishes, especially the baby blue- so pretty! I love Spring.

Last but not least, Vichy has launched a BB Cream as a part of their ProEven line in 2 shades- Light and Medium. Other products in the line include dark spot treatments for the face and under the eyes. I was dying to try the BB Cream, but it's $33- kind of steep.

Are you interested in any of these, or have you already purchased any of them? Do tell!

New NYX Products for Spring 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:41:00 +0000

I'm such an NYX fan and am excited to see new products launching for Spring 2013! Also, once you've read this post and seen stuff you like, check out this deal- get $60 worth of NYX products for $30!

First up is the Wonder Pencil- $4.50

"Introducing the Wonder Pencil…It’s the essential pencil that will meet all of your beauty desires! Conquer the 3 important makeup deeds with one product – conceal, brighten, and line! Use this pencil as a lip liner and an eye brightener inside your water line. Get that impeccable look naturally. Available in 3 shades to match your skin tone flawlessly"

Next up is the Smoky and Natural Shadow Palettes- $7.00

I love palettes, and these have some really great shades in them.

Love in Rio Palettes- $6.00- Available in 22 shades.

These 3-shade palettes are gorgeous, shimmery colors perfect for summer. Shown in Amazonian Babes. Love the bow compact too!

• What it is: Astonishing 3 color eye shadow palette featuring natural and pulsating colors. Available in 22 color selections. Debuting New NYX Bow Compact.

• What it does: Provides intense eye colors with a silky texture for seamless application for any eye look that you desire.

• Why we love it: Consists of 3 complementing eye shadows to wear together or alone. Carry your favorite trio with you and create any look on the go with the help of the dual applicator that allows you to apply, smudge and line your eyes effortlessly!

Next is the Collection Chocolate- $6. 6 brown eyeliners in different formulas from satin to matte, kohl to liquid. Whatever finish you're looking for, they have it!

"Let your eyes take the cake with Collection Chocolaté! The collection carries 6 different formulations of lustrous eyeliners, from matte, satin, glossy pencils to liquid eyeliners. Wrap your eyes with one or all of these smudge-free formula liners. The collection offers various types of eyeliners that apply smooth and effortlessly for lasting and dramatic wear".

Butter Gloss- $5.

Add a little more sweetness to your lips with a touch of the Butter Lip Gloss available in 12 scrumptious colors! Get creamy sheer to medium coverage on your lips without that sticky sensation. It’s perfect for every sweet tooth!

Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator- $7.00

Enrich your lovely features with a touch of the Liquid Illuminator that will give your skin a hint of a pink or peach tone. A light application will give your skin that luminous and healthy goddess glow.

Love in Florence Shadow Palettes- $8 (shown in Tryst by the Trevi). These come in such beautiful, feminine shades.

Live, explore and discover Love in Florence through the lush 5 color eye shadow palettes available in rich hues catering to all eye colors and looks! This compact palette comes with a dual ended applicator so you can carry the kit and spread the love everywhere you go. Available in 10 different complementary collections.

Love in Paris Shadow Palettes $10 (shown in A La Mode).

Fall in Love in Paris with our brilliant 9 color palette that complements all eye colors and fashion ensembles. Use this adorable travel friendly kit with the included applicator through every voyage and adventure for creating captivating looks and touch ups. Attract the Love in Paris with your eyes! Available in 12 color selections.

Do any of these appeal to you? If so, which ones will you get? Or have you tried any of these already?

Infusium 23 Volume Builder Shampoo and Conditioner Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 03:18:00 +0000

Recently, I had the opportunity to try Infusium 23's Volume Builder line. I've used the Leave-In Treatment, but I didn't realize that there was a bigger line out there, since my local drugstores don't carry anything but the one treatment product.
Since I have fine, thin hair that's only gotten finer since I hit my 30's, I am always looking for products that will plump things up and increase the bounce while still moisturizing, since my hair is dry.

The description on the bottle says:

"Flat, fine, lifeless hair becomes beautifully full-bodied. Infusium 23 does it all with an integrated system of proven science and exclusive technology and personalized products that transform hair for better-than-ever hair days".

Here are some bottle shots so you can see info and ingredients- first the shampoo:

At first, I was a little concerned when I saw the second ingredient in the shampoo, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, because shampoos that contain that have tended to dry out my hair a bit. I usually stick to sodium laureth sulfate, which is the gentler of the two (sulfate free is best for your hair, but it doesn't get rid of enough oil for me and weighs my hair down). Since I no longer bleach my hair, and have gone back to my natural brown shade, my hair isn't as damaged as it used to be, and this shampoo actually didn't make it feel dry. It rinsed away clean and didn't leave any film whatsoever, so that was a nice surprise!

Since my hair is dry and somewhat damaged, I've been using thick, rich conditioners. The problem with those is that they make my hair flat and lifeless. When I first poured the Infusium 23 Volume Builder conditioner into my hand, I noticed that it was not as thick as the conditioners I've been using and I worried that it wouldn't be enough moisture. Like the shampoo, it rinsed away clean, and my hair didn't feel like it had any residue in it at all, yet it felt smooth and silky.

Once dry, I realized that my hair had more body than it's had in years, thanks to absolutely no residue and buildup, yet it still felt soft and moisturized. If you have truly damaged, bleached hair, this may not be enough moisture for you, but anyone with oily, normal, and yes, even dry hair will love this stuff! Give it a try, and I know you'll be impressed.

If you can't find it at your local drugstore, you can purchase the Volume Builder collection at Drugstore.com.

Has anyone tried this or any other Infusium 23 products? What did you think?

Original Herbal Essences is back!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:30:00 +0000

I was beyond happy to see these familiar bottles from the 90's on the shelf at CVS today! I popped open the cap on the shampoo, took a whiff and sure enough- it's the same beloved original scent that takes me right back to my high school days!

Are you guys as excited about this as I am?

Flower Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:58:00 +0000

The other night, I headed to Walmart for a pretty big Flower haul. My local store finally got the rest of the line in stock, and I was super excited to pick up some more products, since I really liked the Extreme Measures mascara and the Lip Service lip butter.

I'm in the process of testing everything, but the first thing I tried was the Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara. It retails for $7.98 at Walmart.

This mascara has a really interesting brush that goes from straight to corkscrew with a twist of the cap. Here's the description from the Walmart site:

Flower Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara transforms lashes to appear dramatically longer, fuller and defined. A unique adjustable brush lets you customize lash volume and length.

Flower Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara:

D-panthenol helps to smooth lashes and stimulate growth
Naturally derived gellifying agent for ease in application
Rice wax for smudge-proof color
Helps to strengthen lashes

The brush has a twist cap at the top and the brush basically contracts when you twist. The straight position is for lengthening and separating the lashes, the middle position (slightly twisted) is for curling, and the full corkscrew position is for volumizing.

I've read some really great reviews of this mascara, but I have to say, I'm not overly impressed by it. The brush worked best in the lengthening position, but the other two brush styles seemed to make my lashes clump up. The formula gave me only average length and volume, even after applying multiple coats. The good part is, it gave my lashes some curl, and didn't smudge all day.

Here are my before and afters...I'll post it to the Wall Of Mascara, so you can compare my results to other mascaras I've tried.

Overall, I'm not really sold on this one. People may think I'm crazy, especially with all the great reviews I've seen so far, but oh well.

New Page- Wall of Mascara

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:29:00 +0000

I've tried so many mascaras over the past four years, it's easy to lose track of which ones I liked and which ones didn't really work out. So I created the Wall Of Mascara page so that you guys can compare all of the mascaras I've tested side-by-side. It was interesting for me to see how the formulas differ when they're right next to each other, vs. scattered all over the blog.

So, aside from being a creepy looking page full of eye close-ups, I hope it's a helpful resource! I've marked my all-time faves with hearts. These are the ones I keep going back to and continue to use.

And if there's a certain mascara you'd like to see reviewed and up on the wall, please let me know! I'm just a comment or an email away.

Flower by Drew Barrymore Lip Service Lip Butter Haute Honeysuckle LB5 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:41:00 +0000

I was really impressed with the first Flower by Drew Barrymore product I tried, Extreme Measures Mascara, so I went and picked up some more products. I'm a huge fan of lip butters/tinted balms as an alternative to lipstick and lip gloss, so I was drawn to the Lip Service Lip Butters right away.

The shade I chose was Haute Honeysuckle, a pinky-nude shade.

The packaging is cool and funky, and the lip butter itself is a pretty thin tube (think of L'Oreal's lip butters as opposed to Revlon's which are a bit chunkier).

This goes on smooth, and is actually pretty thick in consistency, giving it good staying power. It's also nicely pigmented and leaves behind a pretty stain after the balm wears off.

Here's the description from the WalMart website:

Flower Lip Service Lip Butter has a buttery-soft texture that glides on easily, leaving leaves lips looking smooth and full. The rich texture provides an optical plumping effect and has a high percentage of emollient oil for a super-smooth, shiny finish.

Flower Lip Service Lip Butter:

Superior shine
Non-tacky
Buttery-soft texture
Plumping effect

Above is the swatch on my hand- this was taken in daylight (outside).

Here is the shade on my lips:

Again, another score for the Flower line! I love this lip butter, and Haute Honeysuckle is the perfect Your-Lips-But-Better shade. It's long lasting and moisturizing- what more could a girl ask for?

Have you tried these yet? Or any products from the Flower line? I'd love to hear about it.

Suave Professionals Keratin Smoothing Line and Moroccan Infusion Line Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:05:00 +0000

I've been meaning to post about Suave Professional's Keratin Smoothing line for quite a while now, and since they recently launched their newest product, Moroccan Infusion, I thought maybe I'd do a post comparing the two.

I'll start by saying that I love both of these lines, and if like me, you've had negative experiences with Suave from years ago, I can tell you now...try these products and you'll never go back!

Back in the day, I used to use this Suave Coconut shampoo and conditioner because I love coconut scents, but it was thin, watery and dried my hair out. Once I started coloring and bleaching my hair in my late teens, I really needed to step up my game and started using salon products. In fact, I was always looking for that miracle product that would make my hair shampoo-commercial worthy.

Honestly, this new Suave Professionals line rivals any salon product I've ever used. I can't think of one shampoo or conditioner that performs better for me. And these are around $3 a piece- cheap even by drugstore standards!

Keratin Infusion

First, let me start with the Keratin Infusion Line. I bought the smoothing one, but there is also one for color-treated hair. At the time, I couldn't decide between the two, because I have color-treated hair, but also want smoothing benefits. Since the shampoo is gentle and low-sulfate, I figured it wouldn't strip my color, so I went with the smoothing line.
The line has a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, smoothing serum, and dry shampoo. I have all of them, and they are all fabulous.

When I first purchased this, I had bleached blonde, dry, crunchy hair. The Keratin Infusion shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel softer than anything I have ever tried in my life. My husband actually complimented it on being soft, and he has never said that in the 8 years we've been together! Since my hair is fine, I never used the leave-in conditioner on top of the rinse-out one. I use either one or the other. Once I used both, and my hair was way too weighted down and got greasy fast. Using the smoothing serum on wet hair before blow-drying seals the cuticle and adds shine, and even more softness!
The only downside to the Keratin Infusion line that I found was that after a couple of days, my fine hair started to get a little weighted down. I usually had to use a clarifying shampoo just to bring some bounce back, and then went right back to using it. I told my sisters and friends about it,(most of them have thicker hair than me) and everyone just raved about how amazingly soft this line made their hair. Plus, the Keratin Infusion dry shampoo that's part of this line is probably the cheapest dry shampoo on the market, and also one of the best!

Moroccan Infusion

A few months ago, when I got pregnant, I decided that I didn't want to be bleaching my hair all the time and went back to brunette for a while. My hair is in much better shape now, and isn't the crunchy, strawlike texture it used to be.
When I saw the Moroccan Infusion line in CVS, I didn't hesitate to try it, because of the great luck I had with the Keratin Infusion line.
So far, there is a shampoo, conditioner, conditioning mask, and smoothing serum. The only one I haven't tried yet is the conditioning mask.
I've heard mixed reviews on the scent of this line, but I happen to love it. If you like oriental/woody/spicy scents, you'll love it too. But if you like flowery/fresh scents, you may not like this.
This line is more well suited to my hair now. I don't have as much damage, and this is so lightweight, I haven't had any problems with it weighing my hair down or making it greasy at all. My hair feels like silk in the shower after rinsing and once it's dry. I use the smoothing serum on wet hair before blow-drying and a tiny dab on the ends when my hair is dry. I will say that this doesn't make my hair quite as soft as the Keratin Infusion line though.

The Bottom Line:

I would say that both products can be used on most hair types, from fine to coarse, however, fine haired gals who don't have a lot of damage might want like the weightlessness of the Moroccan Infusion line since it won't build up over time. But if you do have a lot of damage, no matter what your hair type, you'll see incredible results with the Keratin Infusion line. I have yet to come across a shampoo and conditioner that have made my hair that soft...at any price!

What are your thoughts on either of these lines, or any of the products in them? Do you love them as much as I do?

E.L.F. Essential Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:00:00 +0000

The other day, I posted part 1 of my ELF haul, reviewing their new Jumbo Lip Gloss Sticks, which I'm loving right now! So for part 2, I wanted to review their Jumbo Eyeshadow Sticks. At $2 a piece, they're a total steal, but did I like them as much as the Lip Gloss Sticks? Read on....

I purchased five shades: From left to right, they are-

Rock Out- A dark grayish green.

Turkish Coffee- A bronzy brown.

Feeling Lucky- Dark plum shimmer.

Little Miss Thing- Golden Shimmer.

French Lace- Nude with a hint of pale pink shimmer.

Here's some packaging shots:

These are chubby sticks that twist up and down from the bottom- no need to sharpen. I find that using them on their sides rather than pressing the tip down directly helps to keep them in a point.

Left to Right: French Lace, Little Miss Thing, Rock Out, Turkish Coffee and Feeling Lucky

The Good News:

These are creamy, and very pigmented. They glide right on without much tugging, although I prefer to apply eye crayons to my finger first, and then press them onto my eyelid. It helps to get a more even color.

Left to Right: French Lace, Little Miss Thing, Rock Out, Turkish Coffee, Feeling Lucky.

The Bad News:

These CREASE. The first time I wore them, creasing started within about 2 hours or so. The next day I used a primer which helped them last a little bit longer, but they still creased. And I have dry skin, so those of you who have oily eyelids will likely see these slide right off, unfortunately.

The Bottom Line:

I'm disappointed in these, since I loved the ELF gloss sticks so much. Their smooth creamy formula, while easy to apply, isn't dry enough to keep them in place for long. The only way I'll use these now is as a base under eyeshadow- the powder on top should keep them from creasing, and the color from the sticks will add depth. But other than that, I wouldn't recommend these.

ELFJumbo Lip Gloss Stick Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:26:00 +0000

ELF (Eyes Lips Face) is one of my favorite budget beauty brands, and every time I go on their website, I get a little carried away. Everything is just so cheap! And by cheap I mean inexpensive, not quality-wise. In fact, this brand has almost always left me feeling quite impressed and feeling almost like I'm ripping them off.

So I purchased quite a large ELF haul a few weeks ago, and all this product was just sitting there in the box, waiting for me to get some pictures for the blog. I was so crazy-busy with my 9-5 job during the day and so tired at night from being pregnant that I haven't gotten to it until now. Not being able to try this stuff out until I could take pictures, well, that took a lot of patience, let me tell ya!

These chubby lip gloss crayons are similar in style to those made by Revlon and Clinique, however these cost.......$2 a piece. That's right- two bucks! So for the price of one at the drugstore, I was able to get 4 shades to try:

In the Nude- a Nude, peachy shade
Summer Nights- Shimmery, rosy pink-nude
Tiki Torches- a pink-coral
Pink Umbrellas- a sheer pink shade

Here's some packaging shots:

The formula is extremely moisturizing due to the Jojoba and Soybean oils and Vitamin E- it feels really nice on the lips and keeps them soft and smooth. These are sheerer and less pigmented than the Revlon and Clinique versions, but I actually like that about them. Sometimes you just want a sheer wash or hint of color for a more natural look, and these deliver exactly that.

The wear time isn't too long, about average for a lip gloss, maybe 2 hours or so. But the twist up chubby stick is super convenient to take with you for touch ups.

These have a hint of minty scent to them, but it's not overpowering. I'm not a fan of lip products that smell like mint, but these are so light, it doesn't bother me.

From Left to Right: Tiki Torches, Pink Umbrellas, In the Nude, and Summer Nights

These look much darker in the tube than they look on the lips.

Here are the swatches on my arm:

Left to Right: In the Nude, Summer Nights, Tiki Torches, Pink Umbrellas.

I love all of the shades except In the Nude- I found it to be too nude for my lips, which have a bit of pink pigment in them. It made them look unnaturally light and frosty. The other three were beautiful, natural looking shades, adding just a hint of rose, coral, or pink depending on the color, and lots of shine. There is some shimmer in these, but it doesn't feel gritty when I rub my lips together.

I'm so glad I found these, and unless I'm looking for something more pigmented, I think I'll stick with these over other similar lip crayons, since the price is just too good to pass up!

Has anyone tried these? If not, are you thinking about it?

L'Oreal True Match Crayon Concealer and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer M) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:01:00 +0000

I'm a bit obsessed with finding the right concealer and am always on the lookout for something that will make my under eye area look flawless without caking or settling into lines.
I was drawn to L'Oreal's new True Match Crayon Concealer because it seemed like a really convenient option, especially since I'm usually in a hurry in the morning.

It comes in a chubby crayon stick that twists up from the bottom. There's really no way to sharpen it, but I've been using it on the sides, rather than directly on the point, and that seems to keep the point pretty sharp.

This is super easy to use- just swipe it anywhere you need coverage and quickly blend with your finger. The formula is really creamy and easy to blend with medium coverage.
The downside is that it did settle into lines under my eyes a little bit, even after using moisturizer and primer, so I feel that it could have been a little more moisturizing for that purpose. But the point tip makes it so easy to conceal other areas, such as around the nose, and in the inner corner of the eyes and eyelids. I use it in those places, and absolutely love the results. I just won't be using this as an under eye concealer.
Here's a swatch of shade # N-1-2-3.

Overall, this is a great option to throw in your bag and pull out for quick touch ups. It covers imperfections well and is easy to work with. Even though it didn't work for me under the eyes, it gives great results on other areas of the face.

Have you tried this yet? What do you think?