Lancôme 'Hypnôse Doll Lashes' Mascara

I have been wanting to try Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara for months, and Christmas (and being able to get a free gift at purchase) gave me my chance! I wasn't quite sure what "Doll Lashes" meant exactly. Dolls have long lashes? Separated lashes? Fringey lashes? I wasn't sure. According to Lancome, the secret behind the amazing definition lies in the mascara wand, and I guess "Doll Lashes" are shiny, defined, and fringey.

The secret behind this amazing result? A new, unique, cone-shaped brush with nylon bristles provides an extremely smooth and clean application, precisely defining even your hard-to-reach corner and lower lashes. Combined with the exclusively developed FiberShine™ formula, it sculpts, curls and loads each lash for the ultimate shiny lash fringe. Lift and thicken every single lash without weighing it down. Push up your lashes for your most flirty, wide-open eye look with a clump-free finish.

This mascara is not cheap, it retails for about $25, but it has that level of amazing formula and wand that makes it worth it. This mascara did not take weeks for me to get the formula to a less drippy, workable level that it usually takes me to get to with drugstore brands; it was immediately workable, and the sleek packaging made it seem worth the price. I really like Doll Lashes. I admit that I still use it with my L'Oreal False Fiber Lashes Mascara, but it works perfectly with it; leaving my lashes long and defined and clump free. Love! I will buy this formula again (if I have the money!).

Bottom Line- If you have a spare $25, this mascara will leave your lashes long, defined and fringy, without a lot of mess. You may want to use it with another mascara formula that deposits fibers on your lashes, or adds volume, but it is a great mascara to use for that fringey finishing touch.

Where to buy- Most department stores, like Nordstrom.

Lashing Out- Andrea Perma Lash Starter Kit False Lashes

I have to admit that I have fallen prey to the recent false lashes craze. I didn't realize just how many stars, both real and of the Jersey Shore variety, have false lashes added regularly. Lash boutiques have recently popped up all over Dallas, offering to give you the long and luscious lashes of your dreams for about one hour wait time, for up to $200 for a set!

After learning that Kyle Richards of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills puts on her own lashes regularly, I figured that I could also do it myself, and save myself the money.

Kyle Richards puts on her own fake eyelashes. Why can't I? Maybe I should read her book, Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All.

I had heard that individual lashes look the most natural, and are the easiest to apply and care for. You also don't have to put a full set of lashes on. You can just add a couple to the corner of your lash line on each eye, for a fuller look. That sounded pretty easy and right up my alley.

After purchasing the Andrea Perma Lash Starter Kit, I pulled out the mini bottle of lash glue and attempted to add two drops to a piece of foil, just like the instructions suggest. Well, the bottle the glue comes in is tiny, and the glue itself is extremely thick. It would not pour out on its' own, no matter how hard I shook it, tilted it, and left it upside down. Finally, in desperation, I used the tiny lash pliers that came with the kit to scoop out the glue, because they were all I had around me that was small enough to fit inside. Bad idea. Only, one small drop came out this way, and the pliers became stuck with glue. I couldn't get all the glue off, no matter how many times I washed it.

Finally, I figured the pliers were clean enough, and I knew that I better use that one drop of lash glue quickly, because I doubted I would be able to get another drop of the glue out of the bottle. I positioned the small set of lashes in the pliers, dipped them in a small amount of glue, and then attempted to get them to stick to my lash line. Fail. The lashes did not position or stick. I tried again, and again, and again. It is hard to stick the lashes on with the tiny pliers, and it is hard to see if they are next to your lash line or not, before you pull the small lash set off, or move them to where they are not supposed to be. On the fourth try, I was able to get one small set of individual lashes to stick to my eyelashes, and it looked pretty good. One small set down, 5 more to go (I wanted to try 3 sets on each eye). I managed to scoop out a little more glue with a safety pin, and I wanted this next lash set to stick. I stuck the lashes in a big dollop of glue and then attempted to put it a little to the right of my first set, to make a fanned-lash effect. Fail. The lashes I just applied then slide to the right and attached itself to my eyelashes, bonding them and not the lashes together. I now had a semi-permanent clump of my own eyelashes stuck together. What a disaster.

I only tried two times more to add only one small lash set of lashes to my right eye, since I was successful with one small set on my left. After these attempts failed, I gave up, and pulled the only set I was able to apply off.  This was over a week ago, and only today has the eyelash glue come off my bonded eyelashes. I think next time I get the desire for longer, fuller lashes, I will either save up my money to go to a lash boutique, or just continue my search for the perfect mascara.

Bottom Line- Not worth the hassle. Unless you have a lot of free time, or a patient friend to help add the lashes for you, don't even try it.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Walgreens.com.

Christmas Kissed Cheeks- L'Oreal- The One Sweep in Poppy

I wasn't a big fan of the L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow when I tried it. The color blurred together to make one color, and I looked nothing like the model in the ads, with defined eyeshadow in multiple colors after one sweep of shadow. I actually love L'Oreal The One Sweep Blush in Poppy. It gives my light skin a fresh, believable pop of fresh, pink color, like my cheeks have just been pinched, or I have just been outside in the cold. I love this color for my lighter- winter skin. This color is so natural looking that my attempt to show the color blended in perfectly with my skin color and did not come through on my camera when I attempted to take a picture of it for this blog.

To be honest, I don't see how The One Sweep Blush "contours" my face as it claims. On the label it is called a "Sculpting Blush Duo". The brown color in the duo seems to blend in with the fresh pink to produce a believable blush shade. It actually looks a lot scarier in the compact than it is on the skin. The brown shade looks very bronzy and the pink looks very pink (the pink is a lot brighter than it appears in this picture). I was afraid that after I applied this blush, I would look like a tan clown. Instead, as I mentioned earlier, the two colors blend together well on the skin to produce a very believable pink cheek color.

If this blush is sculpting my face, I don't see it. If you want to see a more sculpted look, I would suggest using the two colors separately to contour your face, rather than blending them together. Also, I had to skip the brush included in the compact for my own blush brush, as it was small and awkward to use, and did not collect enough color (if the brush was bigger, it might have made it easier to see a contouring effect, but then again, it would not fit in the compact). As someone who is a little "heavy handed" with make-up, I find that I can apply and apply this blush, without looking overly made-up. I love it, and I will definitely purchase it again!

Other Available Colors-

Poppy- Fresh pink for fair/light skin.
Flush- Darker pink shade for medium skin.
Posh- Subtle pink shade for light/medium skin.
Nectar/Peach- Subtle peach shade for light/medium skin.


Bottom Line- Great color, very believable, not sure if it sculpts the face as it claims, but it is a great product anyways.

Where to purchase- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.

Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara

Ok, I know that if I use Rimmel Volume Accelerator mascara, my eyelashes are not going to look like Zooey Deschanel, but I am a mascara junkie, and I can't pass up trying a new one! So, here I am again, trying out a new one...Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara.

According to Rimmel, this is the "First mascara formulated with an Advanced Volume Boosting Complex. Instantly lashes appear up to 10x fuller" I looked all over the internet, and I could not find out why? Does this mascara have Procapil in it like the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara? I still don't know for sure..

The brush is not plastic (yay!), and it is easy to work with, catching every lash. The brush is a little big, but I love that it has tons of fibers in the lash brush. For the first couple of weeks, there was too much product in the tube and the formula was a little watery. I found that it was very messy and hard to work with. My mascara ended up all over my brow bone. I almost gave up on it and threw it away. Now, after a few weeks, the formula has dried a little and is working great, and my eyelashes look thicker and longer. I am glad I gave this mascara a chance!

 I find that the best way to use this mascara is in conjunction with L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara, that adds tiner fibers to every lash to make them look longer. So, in the end, while using both products, I have both longer, thicker and more conditioned lashes. What could be wrong with that?

Be sure to check in on my next post, where I try adding false eyelashes at home...My obsession with fuller, longer lashes continues...

Bottom Line- My lashes do look thicker. The formula was a little messy at first, but worked well in a couple of weeks. In my opinion, this formula works best with L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara, to get the longest, thickest lashes possible!

Where to buy- Your local drugstore, or http://www.rimmel.com/

Emi-Jay Hair Ties- Chic, Comfortable, Hair Ties that Benefit Locks of Love

Jennifer Aniston with her Emi-Jay hair tie in Black Pearl.

I am tired of my Goodie black hair elastics that add no color or dazzle to my ponytails or up-do, and end up giving me a head ache.  Where is the color? The comfort? Expressing yourself through your ponytail?

Well, two young teens from California found it with their Emi-Jay Hair Tie collection. These hair ties and headbands are adored by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Courtney Cox, Demi Lovato and Oprah, to name a few, and a portion of each purchase is donated to Locks of Love. They are also colorful, stylish and comfortable, and can be worn all day without hurting your head. They also HOLD your hair tightly if needed, and are less likely to make dents in it like regular elastics do. I purchased a white, red, blue and pink hair tie when I visited my hair stylist, the fabulous, Melissa Del Castillo at Salon Pompeo. If you live in Dallas, you can purchase a hair tie for $2.50, or headband for $8.50 by visiting the salon. Outside of Dallas, you can visit the Emi-Jay website at http://www.emi-jay.com/, and buy Emi-Jay hair ties for around $12.00 per pack.

The Winter Hair Tie Collection, with Cocoa Brown, Red, Tan, Blue and Eggplant Hair Ties. $12.00 at Emi-Jay.Com

Bottom Line- These hair ties are amazing and for a good cause!

Where to buy- Emi-Jay.com

Throw Out Those Strips! Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste

Kind of a funny story- a co-worker stopped by my desk to ask about my friend, Stephanie, a salesperson at our company, whose picture is on my desk. The co-worker asked me, "Did Stephanie whiten her teeth? I saw her a couple of weeks ago and they are so white! They are gorgeous!" My co-worker certainly had a lot of excitement over Stephanie's teeth.

After a call to Stephanie, I found out that she is using Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste, Fluoride, Anti-Cavity, Radiant Mint. She had not whitened her teeth at a dentists office, as my coworker thought, she was just using a toothpaste! This may sound pretty hard to believe, but I had also seen a commercial that stated that Crest 3D White Toothpaste is the first toothpaste to ever be included in the Marie Claire Beauty Awards as a product you can't live without, so I was definitely intrigued.

My teeth have been looking a little dull lately, so after telling my coworker what Stephanie uses, I high-tailed it to my local CVS at lunch time, and I purchased my own tube of Crest 3D White. I have to say, my teeth looked quite a bit whiter after only two uses, noticeably so. Now, after a week, I may not be to "dentist office white" , but it definitely looks like I used whitening strips! The box says that 80% of stains can be removed in two weeks, but I saw quick results in only a couple of days! Plus, I thought that the toothpaste might have less breath freshening abilities with all of its' whitening ability, but this hasn't been the case. After using the toothpaste, my breath actually seems very fresh, as fresh as it would with a normal toothpaste, maybe even more so. Plus, the toothpaste is around $5, and my teeth are whiter. Thanks, Stephanie!

Bottom Line- Great deal, amazing product! Works quickly, effectively, contains fluoride, and makes your breath smell minty fresh.

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.com.

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder-YES!

I have to admit, today was the first day in a long time when I actually sat in my car, checked out my after-work make-up in the car mirror and wasn't horrified. My make-up was all in place, looked fresh, and it wasn't running down my face...My concealer also didn't need a touch up for my skin discolorations. I have to actually thank a new powder for this miraculous change (or maybe it is the cooler TX weather?) at any rate...the powder to thank is...

                           L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder!

According to L'Oreal, L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder:

*Introduces 16 hours of flawless - versatile coverage
*Unique powder is formulated with high resistance pigments that help defy heat and humidity so you stay shine-free all day
*Ultra fine powders blend comfortably with skin - so the look is natural - seamless and never heavy or dry *Coverage you control - form sheer to full
 *Use dry for soft - buildable coverage or dampen the sponge and use wet for more foundation-like coverage
*Silky press

I use the powder throughout the day to control shine on my oily skin. I do not use the puff it came with (which is more like a foundation sponge), I switched it out for a more standard powder puff by Total Beauty.

The powder formula is a little bit thicker than I am used to, but it has great coverage, and from what I can tell, it really stays. The powder is also soft and silky. I would say that the weight of the powder is in the medium coverage and weight range on the skin.

Now, I can't say if it for sure lasts 16 hours, as I made about three light touch ups during the day. But, as I mentioned earlier, I almost never go to the car with make-up equal to the way I left in the morning, and today I actually did. This kind of coverage and oil control never happens with my oily skin! I am super impressed! Now, let's see if this powder can handle a TX Summer!

Bottom Line- Appears to live up to it's name! A silky powder with long-wearing coverage. Great for oily skin.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.com

Maybelline's New Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara- Big Dissapointment!

Let me start by saying that I have never been a fan of Maybelline Great Lash (although I do love Maybelline's Volume Express Mascara Line a lot! It was my favorite prior to Revlon's Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara), and I have always wondered why it wins numerous beauty awards every year. The brush is kind of thin to me, and it doesn't do much for my fine, somewhat long lashes.

That being said, I was excited to try Maybelline's new Great Lash Lots of Lashes, with the new Christmas tree shaped plastic brush...Although I am not crazy about plastic mascara brushes (i.e. Cover Girl Lash Blast line), I thought the new shape may make a difference. I admit it, I am always excited to try a new mascara.  As the name implies, who wouldn't want lots of lashes???

Well, grab your lashes this wand does. But, after three coats, this mascara makes my long but fine lashes look spidery and covered with mascara, and two coats just didn't seem to thicken my lashes at all. I actually looked like I had less lashes, as the ones I have ended up clumped together. This is not a mascara to "Plump" fine lashes, as it claims. The way the brush works along with the mascara formula would probably work best for people with already thick lashes that just need them defined or lengthened. After one use, I tossed this mascara in my purse to be used in case of emergency. I am back to my Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping with the standard nylon brush with multiple finely spaced bristles, (which, by the way, has seemed to make my fine lashes grow and seem like they are thicker after 3 months of use. I love it!).

Bottom Line- Skip this mascara unless you are already blessed with thick lashes. Try Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping, or Maybelline's The Colossol Volume Express or Volume Express Falsies mascara instead.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Target online.

Right Now I Am Also Loving...

Furry Leg Warmers!

I have been wanting to buy some furry boots for this Fall/Winter, but living in TX, considering that we have about 2 months of actual cold weather, it isn't the smartest thing for my pocket book to spend money on boots I will not wear more than a couple of times. Lucky me! I ran across the Furry Leg Warmers below while shopping on Ebay. You can pair these furry leg warmers with both pumps and boots, turning almost any shoe in your closet in to furry footwear! On most sites, these toppers are about $30, but if you visit Ebay, you can find most pairs for around $10. I can't wait to purchase my own pair!

Where to Buy- http://www.ebay.com/

Right Now I am Loving...

Vestique.com!!!

This adorable online shop features adorable game-day fashions, inexpensive jewelry, and tops and dresses that money-conscious fashionistas will love! The site was started by two college friends, Caroline and Morgan, who were disappointed in the fashions in their local boutiques, and decided to start their own online website to share the fashions they love. Now those fashions can be ordered online and shipped straight to you, at amazingly inexpensive prices!

Here are some of my picks from http://www.vestique.com/:

I am just blown away by the prices! There are so many amazing tops, dresses, accessories and jewelry pieces that I could not include them all!

To purchase any of these items, go to http://www.vestique.com/. You can also like Vestique on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Happy shopping!

Like The Cleanse, But Not So Much The Burn! Jillian Michael's Cleanse and Burn

Being over 30 sucks. Your metabolism seems to slow down BIG TIME, and those last few pounds that used to just fall off in your 20's seem to stick endlessly. Weeks of fad diets, eating right, excersizing, etc. etc, seem to do nothing to bring you closer to your weight loss goals. Needless to say, lately I have felt desperate for something to work, something to do ANYTHING, to show me that my weight loss efforts are not in vain, and that brought me to the diet aisle of my local drugstore, and to a big choice. Who do I trust? Kim Kardashian for Slim Quick, or Jillian Michaels, supporting her an array of her own brand of weight loss products? Well, I chose the former, selecting Michaels' Cleanse and Burn, a two-week program designed to cleanse your body of toxins, and then help burn the fat away.

The packaging promises to do the job with all natural products, with the first week consisting of a natural cleanse without side effects, while the second week replenishes your body with a probiotic supplement and then Michaels' Fat Burner tablets (also sold separately), taken twice a day, are formulated to help "Promote Preferential Loss of Fat Mass", "Encourage Lipolyisis (release of fat from mature cells)", and "Inhibit Activity of Phosphodiesterase (it doesn't say what this is exactly). How does it do this? From reading the back of the label, the fat loss is encouraged by types of Orange, Guarana, Alpha Lipoic Acid and White Willow bark extract.

The first week cleanse did its' job. Two tablets taken twice a day was easy enough. Consisting of Irish Moss, Ginger, Dandelion, Buckthorn, Butternut, Garlic, Uva Ursi, Yarro and Chinese Rhubarb, I did find myself going to the bathroom (both number one and number two) a couple times daily, which is quite a bit more than I usually do, but it wasn't unpleasant or over the top, and I never felt uncomfortable or embarassed during the cleanse. Honestly, the cleanse made me feel great, and THINNER. I lost about 5 pds, and this may have been a large majority of water weight, but my stomach has not felt so thin and flat since my 20's. I felt more confident, more excited about losing weight, and less hungry. I was so excited that this product may do exactly what it promised, that I couldn't wait until Week #2. (Please note that online reviews show that some users did not experience a cleansing effect from this product, and several mention feeling constipated).

Well, week #2 was a let-down. I had read in reviews that several other people gained their weight back this week, and I did too. Not all of it, but a good 3 pounds. After taking two Fat Burner pills twice a day, and one Probiotic pill per day, I felt bloated again, and I didn't find that the Fat Burner made me feel more energized like it promised. In fact, without drinking a whole glass of water, it actually made me feel nauseous, and the first night I used it, I did not sleep well. I stopped taking the Probiotic after day 3, and I felt better, even though the Fat Burner still made my stomach upset. I have no idea what the Probiotic is designed to do, other than replenish what my body had lost after the cleanse (the package says it "restores your body"), but why did I cleanse all of the junk out of my body in order to put more random products (Bacillus Coagulans, Irish Moss again, Fennel, Fenugreek, and Glactomannan) back in it? During this week, I never felt as good as I did after the cleanse, and honestly, I wish I had stopped after the cleanse and moved on from there, continuing to diet, without taking the Fat Burner and Probiotic pills. I would definitely do the cleanse again, and the $20 I spent was worth it, but in the future, I will definitely throw the rest of the pills out.

Bottom Line- Great cleanse, bad burn. I lost five pds from the cleanse the first week, gained three back during the replenshing and fat burning second week, for a total of two pds lost in two weeks.

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere

Luscious Lashes- Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara

I am a BIG connisseur of mascara, and I am picky about it. I absolutely HATE the new spiky plastic brushes that Cover Girl seems to love. Those darn brushes are in every mascara in their LashBlast line, and started a trend that I hope dies quickly. In my opinion, the plastic brushes don't grab every lash, and they coat the ones they do grab way too much. I am not a fan.

I must admit I was a little wary of trying a new mascara, especially this one, after having tried the Grow Luscious original mascara, and not thinking much of it. But, as a true girly-girl, buying new mascaras every month is a treat to me, so I spluged $10 and purchased the Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara in Blackest Black.

Well....I love this mascara! It coats every lash, leaves them thick and full, and they even look LONGER. This is the exact full, and I must say, LUSCIOUS, mascara look I love. Plus, according to Revlon, this mascara has a "Conditioning formula (that) helps strengthen and plump lashes for up to 200% instantly for maximum volume". Also, the "precision tapered brush grabs every lash, individually, and coats it to plump perfection." Yes, after trying the mascara myself, I must admit, these statements appear to be TRUE!  The brush is the standard nylon kind that, in my opinion, grabs and coats each lash better and more easily than a plastic mascara brush. Also, my lashes definitely look thicker and plumper. LOVE!

Now, don't expect your lashes to multipy magically with this mascara. This is not Latisse. Thankfully, Revlon does not claim to produce multiple lashes with this formula, only to condition and plump the ones you already have, which is the truest and most un-misleading statement I have heard in regards to a mascara in a long time. This is a great mascara!

Bottom Line- Plumps, separates, and fans out lashes gorgeously.

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere.

L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow- Does it work as Designed?

I am always wary of products that promise to take steps out of your beauty routine. Designed for the lazy, does applying eyeshadow really take that long? If your make up routine is organized (I suggest purchasing the Trish McEvoy MakeUp Planner, or a magnetized compact from Mary Kay to help you do this), you can do your eyeshadow in seconds. Even so, being the make-up lover that I am, I still had to give the L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow a try.

L'Oreal One Sweep promises to give you defined eyecolor for your eye shade in both a Natural (lighter shades) and a Playful (darker shades), as well as some neutral kits for all eyes, that promise to do in one sweep, what three sweeps of eyeshadow would normally do. At first look, I guessed that the eyelid-shaped applicator would blend all three colors together to make one shade, rather than three separate and defined shades, but I decided to give it a try anyway, because you never know.

I selected the "Natural for Brown Eyes" shade. Although I am not a "Natural" type of girl, the dark brown lid color, medium brown shade for above the eyelid area, and peachy highlighter seemed like the defining colors I wore daily. As it suggests on the package, I took the eyelid shaped applicator and swept it across the palette in one sweep, and then swept it across my eyelid. (I do admit, it took me a couple of seconds to realize how to position the applicator so that it swept across my eyelid the way it was supposed to. It goes one way for the right eye, the opposite way for the left). The result? One taupe-y brown shade, just like my skin tone, that can barely be seen except for some sparkle. Yes, the "One Sweep" failed to produce three separate shades, and resulted in only one, very neutral shade, that is way too natural for me. Now, I only tried the Natural for Brown Eyes, and maybe I should have realized that Natural meant "No-Make-Up looking", but it sure didn't look like it from the package (see picture above). I have a sneaky suspicion that the other shades, even though they may appear darker than the Natural shade, will also result in a one-color result.  Nice try, but no dice, L'Oreal.

Bottom Line- Don't waste your money.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Drugstore. Com

Garnier Triple Nutrition Products- Damaged Hair Must Haves!

In place of the EverSleek greasy-hair debacle, I have discovered three really great (although the contain sulfates! LOL!) products. They are Garnier Triple Nutrition shampoo, conditioner and 3 Minute Undo Dryness Reversal treatment.  So, what is the "Triple Nutrition" they speak of? Here is a breakdown:

• Olive oil: Nourishes the inner core
• Avocado oil: Nourishes and softens the middle layer
• Shea oil: Nourishes and smoothes the surface

At any rate, these conditioners do their job, leaving hair shiny, soft, and strong, without being weighed down. Keep in mind that these products are for severely dry and damaged hair. This means that if your hair hasn't been dyed, highlighted, permed, or otherwise chemically treated, you probably don't need it.

Bottom Line- Great shampoo, inexpensive conditioner, and weekly treatment.

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere or amazon.com

L'Oreal EverSleek Shampoo and Conditioner- I Still Love Sulfates

I must admit, I have frequently watched the sulfate-free Wen shampoo/conditioner infomercial with owner Chaz Dean for a couple years now, and continue to watch it every time it comes on during the weekends. I have become more obsessed since Chaz Dean has started appearing on the Bravo show Flipping Out, as one of  Jeff Lewis's friends and customers. His affection for a homeless person (refusing to move their make-shift home from the side of his salon even though customers complained), won my heart even more than his shaggy-mullet hairdo. But, I digress...Love Chaz as I do, Wen products are not cheap. According to the Wen website, sulfates, although they are the ingredient that cause soaps to "lather", can strip your hair and scalp of essential oils. Hair products that are devoid of sulfates supposedly leave your hair healthier and shinier, and if you choose to color your hair, your haircolor will last longer. Even so, sulfates are in almost every shampoo and soap on the market and have been for decades. Crystal Gayle, that 70's and 80's icon who sang "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue" had hair almost down to her feet, and she had sulfates in her shampoo! Anyways...Wen shampoo/conditioner can run anywhere from between $29.95 and up. Spending that much on shampoo just seems ridiculous to me. My one hair-splurge are my highlights every 6 weeks, and that breaks the bank on its' own.

Crystal Gayle Had Sulfates in Her Shampoo

Imagine my delight when a couple of years back, Loreal introduced their own inexpensive, non-infomercial, sulfate-free line, called EverPure. I tried it, and have to admit that the shampoo and conditioner was way too heavy for my dry, but fine hair. My hair felt weighed down, and the hard-to-reach hair areas closest to my neck seemed coated in product. I used the rest of this shampoo and conditioner on and off few months, only when I knew I was not going anywhere special, in case my hair turned out super greasy.

Despite my trial-and-error with EverPure, I am a sucker for a good Eva Longoria ad, and I decided to try my luck again with Loreal's new shampoo for severely dry and damaged hair, called EverSleek. Like Ever Pure, EverSleek has no sulfates, but it is designed to be even more gentle and nourishing for people that have chemically altered hair.

Unfortunately, my experience with EverSleek has been pretty much the same as the EverPure experience. I have had days where my hair looked great after using it. My hair was super soft and manageable, and really healthy looking.  However; on other days, my hair was greasy, flat, and seemed coated with oil. I don't know if I am not washing my hair clean enough to use this shampoo and conditioner combo or not, but I am not doing anything different from what I do normally when I wash my hair, and why should I? I will not be re-purchasing this product. EverSleek is like a box of chocolates, I never know what I am going to get grease-wise, and that is just not good enough for me.  I will happily stick with my shampoos and conditoners that contain sulfates. Who wants to wash their hair and have it not feel clean? Even after doing research online, I was not able to find any specific reserach proving that sulfates are proven to be harmful to hair.

Bottom Line- I like sulfates. I want my hair to lather, and a little bit of stripping suits me just fine. Let me know if you have used this product and have experienced similar or better results.

Where to purchase- Drugstores everywhere, or amazon.com

Polyvore.com- Mix and match your own fashion pieces to create your own style!




I created the following look on Polyvore.com! A great place to mix and match styles and have fun with fashion! These items are a little pricey, but I think the idea is to create a style you love and keep your eyes open for similar styles at lower prices! Visit polyvore.com to create your own "set" It is like the old 70's toy,the iconic Fashion Plates, but for adults! I am addicted!

 

Stripes by Megan featuring a cashmere shawl

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania short top
$291 - farfetch.com

Victoria Beckham jeans

Yves Saint Laurent flat shoes
$485 - net-a-porter.com

South sea pearl earrings
$30 - witchery.com.au

Michael Kors cashmere shawl
$395 - net-a-porter.com

Rolling for No Sleep- Garnier Skin-Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller

I will admit...The Garnier Skin-Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller has not made a significant difference in my horrendously dark circles, and I have used it for over 3 months, but it is a nice concept. My dark circles do look slightly lighter, but not enough for me to stop wearing concealer.

According to the ads: "Instantly roll away dark circles. Caffeine Gel + Rollerball energizes and stimulates microcirculation. Lemon Essence brightens. Tinted mineral pigments instantly corrects dark circles."

The product also contains Vitamin B5.

Well, like I said, this product did not work any miracles, but the rollerball is nice and cool in the morning when I am tired, and the concealing pigments are better at concealing than I would have thought (I do still need to use additional concealer in addition to this one. But my dark circles are mah-juh). I would not rely soley on this product to nourish the eye area or to do any significant damage to your dark circles on its' own, but in addition to another product, this eye-roller is a refreshingly cool, pretty heavy duty concealer.

Bottom Line- Don't expect miracles from the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller. Use this product in addition to another anti-wrinkle, anti-dark circle eye cream. An additional dab of your normal concealer may be needed if your dark circles are heavy. This is a nice product for the money. The rollerball cools and feels nice on tired eyes, and the tinted pigments in the concealer work well.

Where to purchase-  $12.99 at Your local drugstore, or Ulta.com

Feathered Fancy- Inexpensive and Trendy Feather Earrings

Love the new feather trend, but not sure if you want to make the commitment to feathered hair extensions? Feathered earrings are a great way to be a part of the trend without paying a lot of money or putting something in your hair that you feel uncomfortable wearing to the office.  See below for some inexpensive, trendy and fun ways to give it the bird!



Black Feather and Beaded Earrings, Bonanza, $6.99



Long Tribal Feather Earrings, from Etsy, $34.00 (only 1 available)

Love, love, love these- must have! White feather and crystal earrings 11.99, on ebay (6 available)

Classic Hackle with Guinea Spots $20.00 from ebay

Love these!!! Silver Peacock Disc Earrings, The Fashionaholic , $20.00

Olay Massaging Body Bar in Silk Whimsy- Olay, Olay, Olay!

Being the girly-girl that I am, when I saw the new ads for Olay's new Massaging Body Bar (along with those scratch n' sniff strips attached in the ad. Genius!) I had to try it! After re-smelling the bars in the store, it was a tough decision between the "romantic Silk Whimsy, and exotic Luscious Embrace", but I decided on the rosy, feminine, Silk Whimsy. The "refreshing Purely Pristine" was too cucumbery for me. Personally, I do not want to smell like a salad.

According to olay.com, Silk Whimsy is "Deeply romantic, with rose scent touched by notes of citrus, melon, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla." The bar is also loaded with glycerin, softening almond oil, and bits of rose, that make the soap much more organic and home made looking than I expected. As advertised, the bar comes with lovely massaging bumps molded in to the soap, but after a few washes, they were long gone. This soap is also not for the thrifty. My current bar of Silk Whimsy is almost out after a week and a half, while the small piece of month-old Dove I had left is still intact; after being tossed aside for the Silk Whimsy.

The bar is very softening, and I found it to be more moisturizing than my usual Dove Extra Moisturizing formula body bar.  In the summer, what could be better than to drench your sun-parched skin in extra moisture?The Silk Whimsy also smells divine, and I really look forward to washing with it, even if it is just to smell my skin afterwards. I do have to admit that using this bar was almost like washing with butter, with the soap melting in to my skin with each use, and also washing down the drain just as quickly. But for around $5 for a four-pack of  massaging soap bars, can anyone really complain?

Bottom Line- Great soap for guest-rooms, or for people who like to replace their soap often. Very softening, smells great, and gorgeous to look at. Don't expect the massaging bumps to last more than a couple of washes.

Where to purchase- At your local grocery store, or Amazon.com.

Amazing Inexpensive Custom Beaded Jewelry- Caroline's Designs

Me in my Caroline Designs Cross Necklace, picture by Shayla Jiles Photography.

Caroline Gonzalez makes the most amazing necklaces by hand, for much less than you would expect. Almost all necklaces are $40 and under and come with a set of matching earrings. Caroline will even make small tweaks here and there, to help you design the perfect necklace for your taste. I have the white cross necklace below, and I am ordering an additional necklace in black. Order from Caroline soon, before some boutique picks her up and her gorgeous designs cost twice as much!

For more information and for prices on individual items, visit http://www.carolinegdesigns.com/index.html Make sure to tell Caroline that you heard about her from Megan, and Girly-Girl in Big D.

Here is just a sample of some of her designs. They are even more beautiful in person. For even more amazing jewelry, visit her website link above.

TreSemme Thermal Heat Tamer Spray- Spray Away Poofiness and Frizz!

I love this spray! All you have to do is lightly mist your wet hair before you blowdry, and it will make your hair super soft and manageable and protect your hair from heat styling products! If I use this product, I need less styling time and need to use less serum to flatten my wavy, frizzy, unruly locks! It is more than worth the $4 it costs at your local drugstore. BUY IT!!!

Where to Buy- Your local drugstore, or Amazon.com.

Love Your Freckles, Hate Your Sunspots!

Last summer, while on a beach vacation, I was absolutely horrified when two sunspots I had been trying to fade re-appeared after only one sun-soaked day without re-applying SPF. Call it the curse of the Irish, English, whatever...freckley, moley skin is my birthright. I used to hate my freckles and cover them up with spackle until an ex-boyfriend told me he actually loved them. I still wear foundation, but only on the areas that need it, and I avoid my nose and cheeks where my freckles are the most prominent. I now find great joy in letting the real me shine through, freckles, splotches and all. I love them!

Recently a dermotologist told me I had "chocolate chipping" around my hairline...or freckle-like discoloration that results in tiny blotches on your skin. It sure sounded like something horrible that anyone would want to get rid of, and they promised me $300 a piece for multiple laser sessions to do just that. You know what? I told them to shove it. I like my "chocolate chips". I love that my skin has different colors and shades to it. I look at my  freckles and splotches as tiny kisses of summers past and memories of happy times. Anyone who thinks freckles aren't hot need only look at two Victorias Secret Models, Marissa Miller and Erin Heatherton. I also think actress Rashida Jones has the cutest freckles EVER!


Victoria's Secret model Marisa Miller Sans Make-Up, with another freckle-faced model




Victoria's Secret Model Erin Heatherton



Actress Rashida Jones



Now, sun spots are an entirely different thing. Those weirdly shaped dark blotches, about the size of an eraser head, make me want to rip my hair out. They don't look cute, they aren't hot, and they are almost impossible to cover up. How do you prevent them? Never, ever go in the sun. If you don't have anyone in your entire family history who is from the British Isles, or if you are Italian, Mediterranean, Indian or Black, you have a slightly less of a chance of developing them, but the chance is still there; and once you get them, they are almost impossible to get rid of. Even if you manage to fade your sunspots in the Winter months, even one day in the sun can make them come right back.

An extremely large sunspot. YIKES!

To help fight and cover your sunspots, you need the following beauty weapons in your aresenal:

1. Sunscreen of 30 and above- One to try, Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Powder Sunscreen for Oily Skin
2. Skin Cream/Serum with Vitamin C- One to try, Serious Skin Care Precious C, Serious Skin Care C Morning Magic, Garnier Anti-Sun Damage
3. Hydroquinone Lightening Cream- One to try- Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream (For a higher level of hydroquinone, see your dermotologist)
4. Cleanser with Vitamin C, Soy, or Licorice- One to try Serious Skin Care C-Clean, Aveeno Positively Radiant
5. Concealer with Strong Coverage (DON'T COVER YOUR FRECKLES!)- One to try Maybelline Superstay Concealer; Dermablend Smooth Indulgence

These products may help you manage your sunspots, but will not make them disappear. If you are interested in laser treatments, keep in mind that they are costly and that many spots will re-appear if your skin is not properly protected. Check the internet for licensed laser treatment centers in your area. As always, make sure that any treatment that you have administered is safe and in the hands of a licensed professional.

Maybe an easier and safer route to go is just to let your skin be your skin (love the freckles, but cover the sunspots)? This girly-girl says yes!