Guest Post

Revisiting Old Friends With Herbal Essences Naked Clean and Refresh Shampoo and Conditioner

June 1st, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 7 Comments

As I sit writing this, I’m riding the Amtrak 69 train from NYC toward my hometown of Moriah, New York. I haven’t been home in a while, and it’s my grandmother’s birthday this weekend, so a lot of my cousins who I haven’t seen in a long while are going to be in town.

Making the trip by myself can be tiresome, but the scenery is nice. The Adirondack train runs daily from New York City to Montreal (and vice versa), so it’s a convenient, albeit long, trip (about as long as driving would take with stops to rest).

This week, in the spirit of visiting old friends and family, I also decided to revisit a shampoo I’ve tried before, but not since they updated the packaging and, I assume, reformulated it.

Now it’s called Herbal Essences Naked Clean and Refresh Shampoo ($4.99), but I think it used to be called Herbal Essences Naked Volume when it first came out. I remember being less than thrilled about the original version.

When I tried it back then, I was looking for something affordable that would cleanse my hair well and didn’t contain parabens and all that. The Herbal Essences Naked line was an affordable option.

While the Naked Clean and Refresh line (there’s also a $4.99 conditioner) isn’t marketed as “cleansing,” the combo gets the job done.

My hair is ultra-thin and fine, so experimenting with new shampoos and conditioners is always perilous. I don’t wash my hair often (maybe twice a week), but when I do, I typically alternate between a cleansing shampoo (for when my hair is super greasy or full of dry shampoo) and Clairol Shimmer Lights Conditioning Shampoo, because I’m not about that brassy life. And some days I’ll use a combination of both.

The (new?) formula

Herbal Essences Naked Clean and Refresh Shampoo definitely doesn’t lack in lather potential. If you’re a dime-sized amount user (short hair), you should get a good lather, but it shouldn’t be too much. I use about a quarter-sized amount for my hair and get a lot of nice suds.

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Dior Vernis Polka Dots Colour & Dots Manicure Kits for Summer 2016

June 1st, 2016 by Anna Oh 13 Comments

Right now, I seriously can’t help smiling every time I look down at my nails. 🙂

I’ve had negative time for my nails since starting night classes, but the new Dior Polka Dots Colour & Dots Manicure Kits ($31 each; three limited edition color combos available) remind me what a fun manicure can do to brighten my mood. Every time I’m driving or typing, I feel more put together!

I usually do my own nail painting, and I’ll stick to a few classic colors, rotating every two weeks or so, but I get bored of these same colors real fast. So, with these Polka Dots not only do I get two beautiful shades of the best polish formula (IMO), there are many ways to wear them together — or alone! If you can’t already tell, I’m completely smitten.

dior polka dots manicure — 002 Confettis and 003 Plumetis

As part of the 2016 Dior Summer Milky Dots Collection, each manicure kit comes with two 0.23-oz. bottles and a sexy “Dior” branded dotting tool. The dotting tool has also been a pleasant surprise. Now I can easily draw with my other polishes too.

The color combos — in classic Dior fashion — are elegantly intriguing; my favorite being 002 Confettis. The light orange shade is really doing it for me…and I WILL be using it alone in the near future! I’ve had no issues with the lighter color showing up on the darker color either.

Dior nail polishes have an outstanding formula. They have a medium consistency and apply opaque with two coats using a wide brush. One of them, Junon, is one of the longest lasting polishes in my collection.

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Have You Ever Shaved Your Face?

June 1st, 2016 by Jen Clark 50 Comments

face shaving dermaplaning — Me? Shave my face??

Don’t freak out! But today we’re going to talk about shaving our faces.

Yes, I know that most of us are women, and most people think we shouldn’t shave our faces, but they’re WRONG!

I’m one of those people plagued with a fuzzy face. I’ve got peach fuzz all over my cheeks and jaw.

Most of the time you can’t really tell, but if the sun hits me the right way, I look like I’ve got a full-on blonde beard.

It’s not my favorite look. Plus, makeup clings to it, which makes it even more noticeable.

So, one night while I was perusing the interwebs, I came across an article where this girl was talking about how she shaved her face! Needless to say, I was intrigued… I learned that there’s actually a procedure done at the dermatologist’s office called Dermaplanin, which is literally where they go in with a little razor, just like the one I have, and they shave your face.

Not only does it get rid of the fuzz, but it’s also lightly exfoliating, as it scrapes off the top layer of dead skin.

Oh, and you can do it at home! No need to ring up an expensive dermatology bill. All you need is an inexpensive eyebrow razor, which I get from my local Sally Beauty Supply. A lot of people use the Tinkle Razors from Amazon instead, but I haven’t tried them yet. They’re next on my list.

To use the razor, hold the blade at a 45-degree angle to your skin, and run it lightly down your face…in the direction of the hair growth! Keep working around the areas that need it.

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5 Hair and Skin Care Products I Currently Can’t Live Without

May 31st, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 8 Comments

Best Hair and Skin Care Products — Dove Advanced Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil ($5.99), Ponds Wet Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe ($5.49), Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser ($9.99), KMS California Stay Dry Xtreme Hairspray ($19.50), and Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask ($15.99)

I spent a few lonely days this month keeping myself occupied while my boyfriend was out of the country for work. While he was away, I tested some new products and, of course, I had my cats and friends for company, and not to mention you lovely readers!

I thought it was high time to share some of the hair and skin care products I’ve been absolutely loving lately, so here they are. A lot of these are things I didn’t necessarily expect to like, but now I’m singing their praises.

1. Dove Advanced Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil

When Dove Advanced Regenerative Nourishment Serum-in-Oil ($5.99) caught my eye, I was interested…but I wasn’t convinced I actually needed it. I only wash my thin, often flat hair once or twice a week to avoid excess oil, so adding more oil to my hair wasn’t something I was inclined to do. But it has actually helped.

The pump dispenses the perfect amount for my hair! — One pump dispenses a perfect amount!

Normally I use about one pump, and then I flip my hair upsidedown and massage that through my ends — but only my ends, and maybe to around the middle of the length of my hair, but never to the roots.

That’s been the key to not having the oil increase the oil already atop my head.

My ends do tend to get a little brittle at times, and Dove Advanced Regenerative Nourishment Serum uses a mixture of palm, coconut, sweet almond, and sunflower seed oils. Oddly enough, it actually does leave my ends feeling light and fluffy.

2. KMS California Dry XTreme Hairspray

I don’t have a ride-or-die hairspray, so I usually bounce from brand to brand. KMS wasn’t a brand I’d previously heard of before, but now thanks to KMS California Dry XTreme Hairspray ($19.50) it’s one I will definitely repurchase from.

Dove Advanced Series Regenerative Nourishing Serum-in-Oil and KMS Dry Xtreme hairspray. — Dove Advanced Series Regenerative Nourishing Serum-in-Oil and KMS Dry Xtreme hairspray

This hairspray tames my flyaways and still leaves me able to run my fingers through my hair at the end of the day. Seriously, there’s nothing more annoying than trying to brush your hair or run your fingers through your hair quickly and actually pulling out strands. 🙁

3. Ponds Evening Soothe Cleansing Towelettes

When my boyfriend was out of town, I spent a lot of time with friends, and that often involved being out late. Several of my friends are leaving the city after graduate school, so I took the week to spend time with people I haven’t seen in a while. Getting back to my apartment at 2 a.m., though, didn’t leave a lot of time for skin cleansing.

Front and center, Ponds Evening Soothe Cleansing Towelettes — Front and center: Ponds Evening Soothe Cleansing Towelettes

I mentioned liking the original scent Ponds cleansing towelettes in my post about wearing makeup at the gym, and the Evening Soothe ones ($5.49) are just as great when your skin needs a quick cleansing.

Like the regular ones, they aren’t the best at taking off my makeup, but as far as getting off that grimy feeling from the subway and the city in general, they’re top notch.

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The Disney Minnie Beauty By Sephora Collection: Gorgeous Gold and Black Packaging Makes Minnie a Luxe Lass

May 31st, 2016 by Adia Goss 13 Comments

I’m not even a huge Minnie fan!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Disneyland, and the Disney movies from the early 1990s are seriously a part of my soul, but I’ve just never been one to collect Disney paraphernalia.

My goodness, though, the limited edition Disney Minnie Beauty By Sephora Collection is blowing me away. Now I want to start hoarding all things Minnie.

I’ve been playing with the Minnie’s World in Color Eyeshadow Palette ($45), Minnie’s Black & White Felt Eyeliner Duo ($20), Reflection of Minnie Compact Mirror ($26), Brush up on Glamour – Minnie’s Beauty Tools ($58), Minnie’s Inner Glow Luminizing Blush ($22) and the Perfect Red Lipstick ($15) this month, and I have to say that I’ve been so impressed, both with the quality of the products and, of course, the super cute packaging.

Minnie’s World in Color Eyeshadow Palette comes in a sturdy black clutch with gold polka dots, and both the mirror and the eyeshadows are removable, making the clutch totally usable!

There are 20 eyeshadows of varying sizes, and I like the arrangement, like how the middle of the palette has the larger sized eyeshadows in more neutral colors, while the outer rows have smaller sizes for the bolder colors.

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With Their Sunforgettable Sunscreens and Lip Shines, Colorescience Makes SPF Stand for “Sublime Protection Factor”

May 31st, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 13 Comments

Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush on Sunscreen and Lip Shine — Wearing Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush on Sunscreen in Fair ($57) and Lip Shine in Coral ($29)

The steamy summer months can be hard on makeup lovers. Those of us who live in warmer climates may be more adept at making our makeup widthstand the sweltering heat and summer sun, but given that I live in a very cold climate (Wisconsin), I’m not always ready for the onslaught of “glow” (*cough* sweat *cough*) that often compromises the longevity of my makeup.

More importantly, sun protection is a must, and to be honest, as far as this pale-skinned girl is concerned, sun block is always a must (rain or shine, blizzard or heat wave). And it’s important every day, too, and not just on days at the beach or afternoons at the park.

Colorescience calls itself a premium “all-in-one” suncare company, and they’ve combined makeup sun protection, makeup powdering and on-the-go summer life in one convenient package. The brand’s Sunforgettable range is something you’ll definitely want in your beach bag!

Available in four matte shades and one shimmer, Sunforgettable Brush on Sunscreen (broad spectrum SPF 30 or 50) is perfect for sun-conscious on-the-go ladies.

Remove the cap and twist to reveal a brush pre-loaded with powder mineral sunscreen tailored to your complexion.

Fair has become my faithful companion. It’s easy to blend and chemical free. I dust the sunscreen on as a setting powder, and throw the tube in my purse when I leave the house. Rather than reaching for a blotting powder or paper mid-day, I just reapply Sunforgettable Brush on Sunscreen to ensure that I’ve re-upped my sun protection.

The SPF 30 version, which retails for $57 a tube, includes 11.8% zinc oxide, 21% titanium dioxide, iron oxides and calcified red algae.
The SPF 50 version, which retails for $64 a tube, includes 24.1% zinc oxide, 23.9% titanium dioxide, iron oxides and calcified red algae.

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What I’ve Been Using to Rehabilitate My Nails After Quitting Gel Manicures

May 30th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 14 Comments

help nails gel manicures — Clockwise from the top: Lauren B Beauty Polishing Handscrub ($20, 2 oz.), SpaNature Hand and Body Lotion ($11.55, 28 oz.), Ciate London Mini Nail Treatment in Knight in Shining Armour and Nail Gym ($10.50, 0.17 oz.), and Nail Magic Hardener and Conditioner ($6.50, 0.25 oz.)

As some of you might remember, not too long ago, I wrote a short piece about trying to quit gel manicures. Well, shortly after, I did it! I took them off myself at home…and it was terrible, and I don’t mean terrible in terms of how my nails were feeling before I took them off. I mean terrible in terms of “My nails actually hurt for several days afterward, and it has taken over a month for them to show any visible signs of improvement.”

To recap, here’s a (rather bad, admittedly) photo of what my nails looked like immediately after I removed my gels about a month ago.

Be warned, it isn’t pretty.

Since that fateful night, I’ve tried to take good care of my nails to help them recover. I was in Sally Beauty Supply just after removing the gels and asked an employee to recommend a product to rehab nails after removing gels, and she recommended Nail Magic Hardener and Conditioner.

She told me to use it for two full weeks with nothing else on my nails, and then after that to keep using it as a base coat, which I’ve done.

After the initial two weeks, my nails weren’t feeling all that much better, so I also added some other products to my gel manicure repair arsenal, including these mini treatments from Ciate London below…

help nails gel manicure — Ciate London Knight in Shining Armour (left), Ciate London Nail Gym (right), and Nail Magic Hardener and Conditioner (top)

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Which Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Lipstick Is Right for You?

May 30th, 2016 by Anna Oh 13 Comments

Never shy of a great matte lip, I leaped on these new $22 Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Lipsticks the first chance I got.

Too Faced recommends warming them up against your lips before applying them, and I positively agree with them on that. Amazingly enough, the initially dry texture, doesn’t actually dry your actual lips. In fact, my favorite thing about the formula is how little product actually sits on your lips. The texture’s very thin and comfortable.

Too Faced introduced 10 shades of La Matte Color Drenched Lipstick, and here are pics and swatches!

The new Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Lipsticks: Swatches

too faced la matte when in doubt — When In Doubt

When In Doubt is described as a matte cool beige, and it has a lovely subtle pink tinge to it.

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