Monday, March 31, 2014

Products worth the hype. #1

Beauty blogging has become quite popular and it seems that there are an infinite amount of them on the web these days. That means that there will be many products being reviewed and gaining a certain popularity among them.  Some of these products are worth all the hype they are receiving, however, some really are not.

From makeup, to skincare and more, here are the products I have purchased due to an overwhelming popularity in the beauty blogger world, and whether or not I found they deserved the title of "best product ever".

Urban Decay Naked palette (the original)











Urban Decay is very well known for having amazingly pigmented and overall good quality eyeshadows. A couple years ago they came out with a do it all palette for everyday wear, then was born the Naked palette. There are 12 shades in the palette that range from light champagne shades to dark coppers and browns.  All are very pigmented, blend beautifully and last all day.  The price is the only down side ($60), as it is with many high end makeup item, but if you are a sensible person, unlike myself, and you only purchase one neutral palette that can work for everyday and on a special occasion, then the UD naked palette is the one for you. I've had mine for over a year now, have used it almost everyday and haven't hit pan on any shadow yet. 

M.A.C lipsticks






(From left to right: Rebel, Pink Nouveau, All Fired Up)

(From left to right: Fanfare, Please Me, Lady Danger)

Everyone seems to know the names, finishes and shades of the M.A.C lipsticks. The packaging is sleek and classic.  They even look great displayed on your vanity table. Over the past year or so I've become quite a M.A.C lipstick junky.  I've accumulated 6 shades and I love every single one.  A great advantage of the Mac counters is that the salespeople will actively help you find a shade that suits you, and that means cleaning 5 to 10 lipsticks so you can try them on and decide which shade of pink goes best with your pale winter skin.  Some find Mac lipsticks to be too drying, but I disagree.  All you need is a moisturizing lip balm and you're good to go. These lipsticks last very long on the lips, which is always essential and the colour payoff is always on point. A M.A.C lipstick costs $18, but in my mind they are worth every penny. 

Benefit Gimme Brow


(I have the shade light/medium)

It took me a while to start doing my brows on a daily basis, don't ask me why, it just didn't seem important to me. Then one day I decided to groom them properly and apply a brow powder and the result was amazing. It really does frame your face and makes you look that much more put together. Even if all you have on is some concealer, mascara and lip balm, doing your brows changes your entire appearance. Ever since I made that life changing discovery, I was on the prowl for the best brow product, and let me tell you I found it.  Benefit Gimme Brow is a miracle in a tube. In a couple sweeps your brows can go from unruly messes to sleek, human eyebrows. 


There you go, a first post on the products that get a lot of buzz and in my opinion deserve it. More posts like this will come later ! 

Hope you all enjoyed  :) Leave a comment with products you find are worth the hype, or maybe that aren't.

Friday, March 28, 2014

The makings of a good hair day


For quite a while I've had the same style and a very laissez-faire attitude when it comes to my hair. I thought that my naturally wavy hair looked good without any effort. I'd shower at night, sleep with wet hair and wake up with beachy, unkempt waves.

The problem was when I'd straighten my hair. I wouldn't use heat protectant, honestly, up until a year and a half ago, I didn't know the stuff existed. I also get highlights done once in a while to maintain my preferred hair colour, which means more damage.

Here are my tips and fave products that have helped my hair see the light. 

1) Dry Shampoo




One of the best ways that I changed my hair for the better is by limiting washes. I used to wash my hair every day or every other day, but now I can easily last three even four days without washing my hair and it is so much better since I've cut back on shampoos.

I have only ever tried the Batiste Dry Shampoo, so I cannot really say if other brands are better or worse.  But one can safely assume that if I am sticking to one brand, it means that it does what it claims and that it's just plain good.

2) Oils




You might be thinking, "oh no I cannot put oil in my already oily hair", but times have changed and oils are welcome and they do not make hair more oily, over washing is what makes hair more oily, because by constantly stripping your hair of its natural oils, your hair goes into overdrive and produces more oil.

I have tried a few brands and have found some gems amoung the wide range of products available these days.

First, I have to mention the simple product, 100% pure coconut oil.  This stuff is all natural, can be found almost anywhere and is very inexpensive.

Next, there is a dry oil that I have loved for a couple months for smoothing and adding shine after styling. It's the Bamoo smooth kendi dry oil. This oil also has some heat protecting properties, which is great for an all-in-one product.

Then, there are two oils I like using alternately when I step out of the shower with wet hair.  These are the Ojon Rare Blend Oil and the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. I love applying an oil to my hair when it's damp to help protect and repair it.


3) Heat protectant



This is a product no one should ignore.  I have been using the L'Oreal heat protectant spray as it is the one I was able to find while living in France, but I cannot say that it is my favorite heat protectant ever.  I much prefer the Tresseme one, which is also much cheaper.

4) Masks



Applying a deep conditioning mask to my hair once a week has become one of my favorite rituals and my hair absolutely loves it.  My two favorite products of the moment are the Lush H'Suan Wen Hua and the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque.

The Lush product is to be applied before washing and can stay in the hair anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours.  It nourishes the hair and then is washed out in the shower, leaving the hair soft and shiny.  It is also quite an affordable product.

The Macadamia natural oil mask is to be applied on clean wet hair and stays there for up to 7 minutes.  This masks smells divine and the results are just as wonderful.  The downside is the price, at $33 it can scare away many people, but I say that it is worth the price, and it lasts quite a while (I've had mine for over 6 months and there are still a few applications left).

5) Brush



Brushing your hair can cause breakage and it can also hurt quite a bit.  Finding the right brush is no longer an issue.  I've found the miracle brush: The tangle teezer has become my do-it-all hair brush.  It is gentle, yet gets the job done.  I can use it on dry or wet hair and it always works wonders.  I will never use another brush ever again.  

There you have it! Some of my favorite hair care products that help me keep my hair healthy. 

Hope you all enjoyed :)