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GUD Vanilla Flame Natural Nourishing Shampoo
I’m a sucker for in-store displays and the last time I was at Wal-Green’s they had this GUD Vanilla Flame Natural Nourishing Shampoo set on the counter near the cash register so I picked it up. It seemed interesting and the packaging said it was from Burt’s Bees so I figured that was a plus. Unfortunately this was one of those last minute buys I wish I had passed on. It retails for $6.99 but that week it was on sale for 20% off. It’s marketed as an all-natural, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals free.
The shampoo is supposed to have a “luscious foaminess” while being nourishing for your hair. This stuff did not get foamy for me and my hair felt extra dry after rinsing it out. The smell was pretty bland as well. I usually love vanilla scents but this fell flat for me. The only thing that saved me was using my Macadamia Natural Oil Repair Masque
I’m not sure how many others have seen this line in the drugstore and I couldn’t find any other reviews so I thought I would throw this up really quick. I definitely don’t think this would ever be worth 7 bucks and I think you are mostly paying for the gimmick of an all-natural product. Skip this and buy a shampoo you know you’ll like!
Rimmel VolumeFlash Scandaleyes Mascara
This Rimmel VolumeFlash Scandaleyes Mascara is my new favorite volumizing drugstore mascara. It’s oversized brush reminds me of Covergirl’s LastBlast mascara’s wand but is a non-plastic version of it. This mascara is a little clumpy and thick but I love that when I’m wearing a dramatic smokey eye or just want eyelashes that pop. It’s a very intense black and I like using it to top my Maybelline’s Illegal Length Mascara.
Out of all the Rimmel Mascara’s I have tried this one is definitely my favorite. I spent around 6 bucks on it and grabbed it at my local CVS.
Things To Know:
1. This is a very thick formula. It isn’t super wet but it is not a dry formula either. Somewhere in the middle.
2. I like to use 2-3 coats and do NOT let it dry between coats. I find it looks best when first apply one coat of a lengthening mascara.
3. I think this looks best with a smokey eye or evening look. It’s a little clumpy for an everyday mascara.
4. I did notice a little smudging when I wore this on my lower lash line
5. This will give you noticeably thicker and darker lashes
I would definitely suggest this for anyone who likes a bold eyelash look and doesn’t mind a thicker clumpier formula.
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Posted by Holly | 2 Comments
Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Mascara
So I finally got my hands on Maybelline’s newest mascara the Illegal Length Fiber Extension formula. I picked the shade blackest black and I think I paid about $7.99 for it. I’ve been using it for about 2 weeks now and I’m actually really impressed with the formula. Personally, I wasn’t very wowed with L’oreal’s Voluminous False Lash Mascara which also was touted as a fiber mascara. However, I am loving Maybelline’s version.
The wand is fairly skinny and tapers at the tip. I find it does a really nice job separating my lashes and doesn’t get messy or clumpy when you pull it out of the tube.
The formula for this isn’t too dry or wet but a nice medium consistency and it does add a lot of length to my lashes without any clumping. While I usually favor mascara’s that focus more on volume and thickness I find I really like the look I get with this particular lengthening formula.
Things You Need To Know:
1. This is a true fiber mascara and claims to be able to build up to 4 mm of measurable extension to each lash. I think it does a very good job at living up to that claim.
2. I found this worked best if I did NOT let the mascara dry between coats
3. I usually apply 2-3 coats for the most dramatic look
4. I did not notice any smudging or flaking throughout the day
If you’ve been eyeing this and wondering whether or not to pick it up I would definitely say go for it! It gives you a great everyday mascara look and if I add a coat of my favorite volumizing mascara on top I get a great dramatic evening look.
My Holy Grail Miracle Best Hair Product I’ve Ever Found- Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Hair Masque
Anyone who watches youtube beauty channels or follows popular beauty blogs has probably had a few experiences where they spent big money on a product that was raved about online only to try it out at home and be more than a little disappointed. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Hair Masque was one of those products I felt would be mostly hype with little results. I’ve read and watched tons of glowing reviews but never wanted to shell out the 30 dollars to buy this product. However, I received a giftcard to Ulta over Christmas so I didn’t feel as guilty about picking this up.
*Cue the the trumpets, flashing lights, applause, drum roll and any other sound that signifies unadulterated joy*
THIS STUFF IS AMAZING.
Just to give you a little background on my hair, it’s super thick, long, color-treated, wavy/curly, frizzy and overall ridiculously damaged from years of styling, straightening, bleaching, redying etc. I just recently stripped the black out of it, bleached my ends, redyed it a chocolate brown and added caramel low lights. I’m also a big believer in teasing, ratting, hair extensions, and trying out new hair styles. Needless to say I’ve always had an extremely hard time finding products that can make my hair soft, shiny and smooth but still hold shape and style.
That’s where this hair masque comes in, after one use of this conditioner my hair felt like a new texture. It was softer, less frizzy and had a really beautiful natural shine. Now that I have been using it for over a month I feel like my hair has much more natural volume, holds curl longer and is smoother and shinier. This is not an exaggeration or hype, this stuff is just amazing. (Not to mention it smells delicious)
Personally I had never really used a higher end hair masque before this. I have used the Pantene deep-conditioner for medium/thick hair ( It comes in that little square jar and costs about 6 dollars) but there is no comparison. I also use leave-in conditioner and Moroccan oil serums but nothing has made a difference like this product. With other conditioners I always feel like no matter how long I rinse there is always a bit of a heaviness left on my hair but with this product I feel no build-up or residue. My hair is just light and soft but with lots of texture so it will still hold teasing, curls or wave.
Now obviously the one con is that this product is expensive but I will definitely repurchase this over and over again. A little goes a long way too, so I think the 8.5 fl ounces that comes in the jar will last me awhile.
How I Use it:
The first time I used this conditioner I shampooed, squeezed out the excess water and after applying the Masque I left it in my hair overnight. The next morning I rinsed it out and styled as usual. However my regular routine with this stuff is to apply it after I shampoo and then leave it on between 5-7 minutes. I just go ahead and do the rest of my shower stuff, shave my legs, wash my face etc. Since I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week I actually use this every wash and it has replaced my normal conditioner. As an FYI the jar recommends using it only 2 times a week.
Things To Know:
-You can try out a sample of this stuff at Ulta. They sell little packets of it for around 4 dollars.
- I’ve recommended this to my mom, her co-workers, my best friend and my sisters 
- I still use a leave-in conditioner after I use this stuff, usually my Its a 10 or Hask Placenta Leave-In Conditoner ( Click the highlighted links for reviews on those products)
- I’ve seen this sold on amazon.com for around 13 dollars but I read a lot of reviews saying it was not the real product so be careful if you buy from those sites!
Let me know if you try this product and have the same great results!
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Posted by Holly | 0 Comments
Rediscovered Favorite: L’oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Foundation
Recently I’ve been going through my makeup trying to reorganize things and I came across the L’oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Foundations that I had purchased this summer. I had purchased two shades 524 Buff Beige and 518 Natural Buff.
My first thoughts when I came across them were:
1. Neither of these shades will match me since I bought them in the summer and
2. I bet this product is all dried up because it’s one of those moussey cream textured foundations.
However I opened both jars to find the foundation to be just as creamy as the day I bought it and surprisingly 518 Natural Buff blended into my skin beautifully!
The texture of this product is very creamy and whipped and I find that it buffs into the skin beautifully. For some reason I originally thought this type of foundation would make my skin look oily or shiny but I find I get a very natural matte finish when I use it. I love the coverage it provides, it literally erases the pores around my nose and inner cheek area and I feel like I have the prettiest flawless skin when I use this. When it comes to acne scarring or hyper-pigmentation I get a fairly decent coverage and I need to apply minimum concealer. It glides over lines and pores without settling and looking cakey.
I’ve been wearing this over my Fusion Beauty Illumfil primer. I chose this primer because I feel like my skin has been looking a little dead due to winter and this adds a very subtle glow to my skin. With this primer I’ve been getting a good 6 hours of wear from this foundation, I think if I used my smashbox primer I’d probably see more extended wear. I haven’t found the need to use a powder to set this which is very rare for me, I almost always use a powder.
The packaging is nice and sturdy. The product comes in a glass jar with a twist off lid. The only con about the jar is it’s a little cumbersome in size and may not be great for storage.
Things To Know:
1. I find this buffs in best with a flat top stipling brush. I have been using my Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush.
2. I have found this foundation gives a beautiful airbrushed finish that still looks natural and glowy but not greasy
3. The texture of this product is very velvety and smooth. It feels much lighter and more natural than a liquid foundation.
4. I think this would work well on all skin-types. I have oily skin and it looks great on me even without a setting powder
5. The lasting power on this would be anywhere between 6-8 hours depending on your primer
6. This product did not dry out in the jar.
7. There are 12 shades to choose from in this line.
Overall I really am loving this foundation, and while it is a little pricey for a drugstore brand, $15.99, I recommend waiting until you can get it for a buy one get one %50 off deal. I definitely rank this in my top 3 drugstore foundations.
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