Want Permanent Pin Straight Hair For Up To 6 Months? You Can Do A Japanese Straightening At Home! Find Out How Here!!!

I have super long, super thick, and super unmanageable hair. I have referred to my hair as a Tranny, as it never knows what it wants to be. Straight on some strands, wavy on others, and a frizzy mess near the neck.

In order to tame this mess, I would seriously have to dedicate 2 hours of my time, after showering, to blow-dry and then flat iron the hair to a sleek straight look. Otherwise it would just air-dry to a disgusting puffed out Afro.

I began looking into the process of getting a Brazilian Blow out, but kept finding that the results would not be that pin straight sleek look I oh-so badly wanted.

I then discovered Japanese Thermals, which I learned could cost me nearly my entire months wages. Screw that.

I decided then to start looking into this process on my own, to find the serums I would need to do this exact over the top expensive treatment at home.

This was how I discovered  LISCIO Crystal Cream Straighteners & Neutralizer. It comes in different forms, for different hair types. You have mild for hair that is damaged, normal for normal hair, and strong for hair that would be more resilient to the treatment. 


I did not want to damage my hair in this process, so I opted for normal- even though my hair is far from normal. 


The cream came in 2 separate pouches. One pouch is your straightening cream, and the other is your neutralizer. 


You could simply go about the process using just these 2 products, but if you are worried about damages that your hair might suffer, you can also pick up a container of Milbon Straight Liscio Protection Hair Treatment. 


-What this cream does is protect the hair during the process of straightening it. 

Now before plopping all of this stuff into your locks, you will need to follow these steps in order to achieve the perfect pin straight hair you have always dreamed of. 


Things you will need:

You will need  LISCIO Crystal Cream Straighteners & Neutralizer 





Next, to protect the hair you will need Milbon Straight Liscio Protection Hair Treatment





The next thing you will want is a dye brush. Using these allows you to more easily apply the serum to each section of hair. 




Next you need a Sulfate free and Sodium Chloride free shampoo. I used Organix, as all of their shampoos are sulfate free, however you can use any brand you want. 


You will also need 2 standard bowls to hold both the straight serum, and the neutralizer.
You will will need a Flat Iron, Blow-dryer, a comb and a brush. 

- A friend to help apply the serum to your hair. You will have a very difficult time doing this alone. You will need someone you trust to help you apply the serums. I had done the straightening process on my mother, and it worked beautifully. I now needed her to help me apply mine. 

 Now What?!!?!?!?!?!?!

Step1

Your very first step is to set up your work station. I chose my kitchen table, next to an open window to keep my area well ventilated from the scent of the serums. I set up my 2 bowls, and poured in some straight cream into one bowl, and the neutralizer into the other bowl. 

I left the neutralizer away from my work area to ensure I used the right serum on my hair first. 

Step 2 

Before doing anything with my straight cream/neutralizer. I had to take a shower using only shampoo. I used Organix Shampoo. 

After rinsing my hair, I towel dried it to a damp finish. 

Step 3

Next I began the process of brushing my hair, and separating sections in order to make application easier. You will do your hair bit by bit in small sections ensuring that each strand is covered in the straightening serum. 

The serum smells really bad, so make sure your window is open. 

Step 4

Once the serum is in your hair, let it process from 5-15 minutes. Make sure to keep combing the hair straight while it processes.

Step 5

Once you have allowed the serum to process, you can then rinse it out. 

Do not use any shampoo or conditioner. You must rinse this serum out for a full 15 minutes, you want to make sure it is all out for the best results. 

Step 6

Once the serum has been rinsed you can now blow-dry your hair. Your hair will not be pin straight yet. 

Step 7

After blow-drying your hair dry, you will now use your flat iron to completely straighten it. 

Step 8

After your hair is completely straightened, you will now apply the neutralizer in the same exact manner you applied the serum. Use a clean dye brush to apply the neutralizer serum. 

Step 9

Wait for 5 minutes after you have applied the neutralizer, and then rinse it out. 

Do not use any shampoo or conditioner. 

Step 10

To see the results of your straightening treatment you can blow-dry your hair. The results should be pin straight perfection in each strand. 

Tips

-To ensure the health of your hair after the treatment you can apply some more of your Protection Hair Treatment. 

For the next 3 days do not shower. Try not to wear hair in a ponytail or tuck behind ears as it could lead to a permanent kink. If you see any kinking run a flat iron through it till it is straight again.

When you shower, use your sulfate free shampoo, and sulfate free conditioner to prolong the life of your straight hair. 

*Actual Time on Long Frizzy Hair

Process time total was about 3 hours from start to finish.

 

Review of Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy, 14 Day Smoothing Treatment

I liked Organix 30 day Brazilian straightening system a lot. Although it did not leave my hair pin straight as it did for others ( I have thick, unruly, curly and wavy hair), I still like the fact that my hair was left feeling smoother, and that it dried a lot faster, and cut styling time literally right in half.

When I came across a small spray bottle in the same family of products called, Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy, 14 Day Smoothing Treatment, I went ahead and coughed up the $8.00 and hoped that it would work.

I had tried a straightening spray by Nexxus, and I liked the results, but they were not long lived. As soon as I showered and let my hair dry it would be back to the same kink, and the promise that it would straighten the hair more and more with each use was not entirely my result.

When it came to Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy, 14 Day Smoothing Treatment, the promise was that it would cut blow drying time by 75%, and eliminate up to 95% of frizz. I knew keratin products already, so I knew that the dry time would be cut by the 75% promise. The one thing I was curious about was the elimination of frizz. 95% is pretty high in promises, so I was skeptical.

My Use:

I followed the directions as stated, and allowed my hair to dry up to 80%. Next you are to apply the spray in sections, which I did as best I could.

After brushing the formula though my hair, the immediate result was knot free and smooth feeling hair, which was definitely a plus.

I then allowed the formula to sit for a half hour before bringing the straight iron to it.

The scent of the spray is pretty harsh and chemical, but thankfully after ironing my hair the scent was gone.

Results:

Flat ironing time was cut in half. Normally what would take me an hour now only took 20 minutes. This is a major plus for me, as I have very long thick hair, and being free of such a hair regime is really nice.

Besides that though, I noticed my hair felt tons smoother, silkier, and it looked shinier. I had used the 30 day treatment before and I actually liked the results of the spray treatment way more than the serum lotion.

Results After 1st Shower:

Now the results the first time were great, but what I was curious about was how the hair would hold up after the next shower.

My hair still produced frizz, but not as much as usual when air drying. My hair also dried a heck of a lot faster when blow drying. However the frizz and puff was still present, but cut in half by at least 50% less puffiness, which in turn made ironing the hair straight take up even less time.

Will Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy, 14 Day Smoothing Treatment, leave your hair pin straight after using it? No, but if you want to cut your style time by a landslide, then definitely go for this one. The benefits are not just smoother hair, you get shinier hair, hair that is easier to style, and hair that looks and feels healthier.

For me, I won't ever be without this one.

Review of Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes

When it comes to makeup facial cleansing wipes, I have always leaned more towards picking up my usual, which is age defying formulas by Olay. However, with Christmas right around the corner, I had to cut some of my excessive spending out, and focus on others instead of myself. At least for now anyway.

I came across Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes for around $5.00 for a pack of 25. Although they did not include the same age defying promises that my normal brand did, it seemed better than spending an extra $3.00 for wipes.

The Package:

Like most facial/makeup wipes, Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes, comes in the same annoying package that any other brand would. It's a cheap plastic bag, with a sticky seal on the top, that will seal back up if you just press it back down. The problem with this though, is that eventually the seal looses the stickiness, in turn drying out the rest of the wipes. Thankfully not to the point of non-use though.

Besides that issue though, these particular wipes are sold in a very generic white package, with a white and purple logo on the seal. I, like most women shop according to appearance, and I have to say, these are about as generic looking as Walmart's Equate brand.

How Do They Work? Do They Work Well?

I am heavy on the makeup. I use a ton of eye liner, and a bunch of eyeshadow foundation and long lasting lipstick.

When it came to Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes, I was happy with the size of the wipe, which is just enough to remove everything with barely any effort. A few swipes to my eyes and the eyeliner and eyes shadow are gone, the rest of the wipe I used to clear my skin of foundation and powder.

After fully cleaning my face of all makeup residue, I was happy with the results. My skin felt clean, fresh, and lightly scented with a nice fresh clean tone. There was no residue left behind, nor did anything feel oily on my skin.

Overall:

They work, and they work well. 1 wipe is all you need to clean your entire face of makeup, and that is coming from someone who wears a lot of it. No residue, a pleasing and non-irritating scent, and no breakout to report of.

I really like them; now if they could just match Olay, and add in something beneficial to keeping skin wrinkle free, then they would have been perfect.

Lisa Wins Over Allison in America's Next Top Model All Stars!?

Right now I logged onto my PC at 1am to pretty much rant about the season finale, and not to mention very last America's Next Top Model Cycle I will ever be watching.

I do not know what Tyra Banks was thinking when she crowned Lisa the winner over Allison. Perhaps she forgot that this was America's Next Top Model, and she confused her show for a cast member search for Jersey Shore. Whatever the case, I was pretty appalled at the final decision.

What's worse than that though was the fact that a rumor began circulating online that Angelea was disqualified because she leaked information about the shows finale on Facebook before it aired, thus voiding her contract. The gross factor in that though, was not the fact that she voided her contract, but the fact that allegedly she would have been crowned the winner.

Had Angelea won, I would have began a petition against the show. The girl should not have even been in the final 3. Granted I love her personality, she in no way, shape or form was top model material.

Then we have Allison who seemed to take home the top photo for quite a few consecutive weeks, followed by random top photos throughout the competition. How Lisa managed to go-go dance her way into the final win, is still mind numbing to me, and upsetting.

At any rate, Lisa wins, love it or hate it, I just cannot see how the judges thought she deserved it.

Where to Buy Clothes like Victoria & Jade on Victorious

I cannot even lie, the teen show on Nickelodeon, Victorious, is not one of my newer favorite shows. I have always had a warm spot in my heart for teen/high-school TV shows like this. I guess it was due to my love for shows like Saved By The Bell, and 90210, back in the 90's.

However I even knew back in the 90's that the clothing my favorite characters wore were hideous. When it comes to the clothing styles I see on Victorious though, I find myself pondering where the main characters get some of these outfits! Victoria in particular may have very well started the open shoulder tee-shirt/layering trend, and I have to say I love it! It is flattering on just about every body type, and makes larger hips look thinner. Go figure!

Then you pop Jade into the mix, with her ripped up, chain/zipper emo look; which although may a be a bit much for me, I still like it, and have found myself wondering where I could get clothes that matched some of Jade and Victoria's style.

Finding clothes to match Victoria and Jade though was not easy. I figured it would be though, and boy was I wrong. Figuring out what to call their style was difficult for me, as I am not up to teen lingo. However I knew I wanted shoulder tee's, which seem to be what Victorious characters wear in every episode.

My first search took me to Ebay, and I seriously suggest anyone who is looking for longer shirts to layer to check out some styles available on there.

Search terms you will want to look up on Ebay:

-Punk Tee
-Punk shirt
-Rock Tee
-Rock Shirt
-Long sweater
-Bat Wing Shirt
-Bat wing sweater
-Over shoulder tee or shirt
-Shoulder tee or shirt
-Hole shirt
-Star shirt
-Over-sized Tee or Shirt
-Chain shirt
-Zipper shirt
-Patch shirt
-Leggings
-Zombie leggings
-Mummy leggings
-Star leggings
-Double shirt or tee
-Layer shirt

Basically you need to search things in a broad way, as you cannot just stick to searching for clothes like Victorious. You will end up with shirts with her face on it instead.

Other really neat websites besides just Ebay include TooFastOnline, or Hot Topic, which sell an array of very neat over the shoulder tee's like Victoria wears, only with a more monster-ish vibe, like Jade would wear. It's like a mix of both girls, and the clothes are adorable.

Anyhow, with an idea of what to search for, you can spend hours figuring out what you want. The next thing, after buying your shirts and pants is deciding how to go about layering your shirts.

I like using a black plain undershirt, and wearing a semi- but not too baggy tee-shirt over it. This gives me the look I want, a layered look.

Bat wing tee-shirts and sweaters can be layers underneath as well, with any color you see fitting.

Layering long sleeved shirts with short sleeves is all the rage right now, as well as simple over the shoulder tee's with fun graphics, or zippers and patches to really dress up the look. Many shirts will come with them sewn in. If you find them to be too pricey, you could easily add your own to basic women's shirts. Get creative, it's fun, and easy, and even if you mess up, it's still stylish.

When it comes to pants, leggings are very in this season, as well as tight jeans with a small flare. Victorious is legendary for the slim jean, and black leggings.

Black leggings will match anything, but for those more daring they have an array of cool leggings with designs from skulls to hearts. The choice is yours. A pair of leggings, paired up with layered tee's is really all you need to get Victoria's look on Victorious. Long necklaces and larger rings to dress up the look, and you are done.

Blonde or Ronald Red? L'Oreal - Feria-#110 Starlet (Very Light Beige Blonde)

I have had hair disasters in my lifetime more times than I can count, and I knew that going from black into blonde would be a long and slow process. I was just a few steps away from achieving that perfect platinum, but ended up with Chucky and Ronald McDonald red instead. Bright, brassy, and horrendous.

I should have just used another kit of Frost and Glow to get the red out! I knew that, yet stupid me, I came across a box of dye that looked like it would get me that blonde color I was looking for even faster, and better. It promised to get those red lights out. I went ahead and $10.99 later and my hair is exactly the same red color only drier! Yay! Thank you L'Oreal - Feria-#110 Starlet (Very Light Beige Blonde)!!!!

Basically it did nothing but dry my hair out. I performed the strand test using some of the dye to see what would happen, because I worried about my red lights turning pink. I left it on one strand for 20 minutes and the shade did not change at all.

I figured maybe it was not working because I did not have enough solution in it, and that maybe it only would change with the hair piled on my head. Usually blonde bleaching dyes need to be piled on the top of the head, wrapped in a bag, and this heat process begins, once the heat is felt the color begins to quickly lighten.

So naturally, I added the rest of the dye, piled it up on my head, and placed a plastic bag over it. I felt some heat creation so I assumed it was working.

I let the dye sit for 20 minutes, and checked underneath the bag for color changes. I saw absolutely nothing, nothing but the same ugly red hair it had been since my last screw up.

I washed it out and used the included tube of conditioning cream hoping my hair would not dry out to Brillo.

Sadly that was what it did. It left my hair dry, brittle, and the color was absolutely unchanged. Nothing, money thrown down the drain, and more money to throw into products to attempt to bring my hair back to life. I have no idea why it did not take, nor lighten the hair even a few shades.

Overall:

For me L'Oreal - Feria-#110 Starlet (Very Light Beige Blonde) was a waste of money and a hair disaster. If you are looking to lighten your hair buy a box of frost and glow, and get the results you are actually looking for. All this one does is wreck the hair.

Review of New CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation in 330

I absolutely love being a member of BzzAgent, and love being able to try out products and then give my opinion to others based on my own experiences using the product. My most recent campaign was CoverGirl NatureLuxe, and up on the chopping block today is CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation in 330.

The Color 330 is Chamois, and through the squeeze tube the color looked way to light for my normally semi tan skin tone. I was disappointed at how off it looked, but once I opened the foundation tube up, and squeezed some of it out onto my finger, I saw that it was actually darker than what showed in the small window on the outside of the tube.

Although it had a slight tannish coloring to it, it was still 3 or 4 shades too light for my liking. However I went ahead and tried it anyway to see how well it would work at hiding imperfections such as red acne marks or discolorations. If it was able to hide my flaws, I would use it as a base. If not, I would go out and try another shade...that is, if I liked how this felt on my skin, and how well it lasted and held up.

Flaw Eraser?

I have to say, I was impressed with the foundation and how well it spread evenly on my skin. It did not feel as silky as Estee Lauder's foundations though, which really do feel like silk on the skin. However considering the price difference between this and Estee Lauder, CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation was holding up really well, and I liked how it felt. Light, weightless, and it did manage to hide redness and discolorations.
I use it as an under base now to my darker foundations, as CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation hides my flaws better than my high end brands.

If you have a red pimple, or skin discolorations normally, then this foundation will definitely hide it.

But, Does It Last?

When I find a foundation I like, I stick with it and I more than likely will always have a tube of NatureLuxe Foundation on me due to how well it hides problem areas on my skin. If this foundation held all day I would buy it regularly, if not...it'd land a spot in the makeup junk draw.

I have semi oily skin, and when you have oily skin foundation tends to smudge around or fade faster. CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation however stood put, and I did not have any foundation streaks or clumping, and it hid my problem areas all day long. Win!

I use it underneath my other darker shaded foundation, and it managed to stay put, all the while keeping imperfections hidden.

So yes, it does last, and it holds up just as well as a $30 high end brand of foundation. Win!

I have been using CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation for about a week now, and have yet to have any issues with it reacting poorly with my skin. Basically, no breakouts. Win!
Overall:

If you are looking for a low cost foundation that will last just as well as a high end cosmetic brand, then definitely go ahead with CoverGirl NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation. It hides imperfections, leaving you with flawless near airbrushed looking skin, with a lightweight natural feel.

Fix Your Damaged Hair With DermOrganic Argan Oil Hair Masque

This past month I had some hair coloring mishaps. I was a glutton for punishment, and I ended up with ugly red hair, I had to fix it, dye it again, fix it again, and as a result, and too much stress on my hair, it finally began to take a toll. My hair become dull, extremely dry and very brittle. Spit ends galore. I am sure many of you out there have gone through the same embarrassing ordeal.

Stop crying about your dry ugly hair though, because DermOrganic Argan Oil Hair Masque can fix it, and bring it back to life rather quickly. No need to rush out and chop off our locks ladies!

I came across it while seeking out high end hair repair products, as some lower priced brands were just not helping me enough. The Masque was a bit pricey at $15.99 for a pump bottle featuring 8 ounces of formula.

It had a bunch of promises though, and for what it promised, $15.99 seemed like nothing. Heck, I spent more money on hair dyes that ruined my hair.

DermOrganic Argan Oil Hair Masque promised to repair damaged hair and restore it back into a smooth healthy strand. You can use it daily as a quick rinse conditioner, or you can use it twice a week on damp hair for an ultra deep conditioning treatment.

I have been using it for a week now, and I see results that simply astonished me. The formula not only helped restore my hair in a short amount of time, but it actually looks and feels better than before I managed to ruin my hair.
Fragrance:

The scent is also fantastic. It has such a luxurious clean and musk like scent that makes it feel like you are getting a full effect salon experience. This scent also lasts, especially after using it as a deep conditioning treatment.

Recommendation:

If you are looking for a quick and easy remedy to damaged hair, and I mean even severely damaged hair, then definitely get this one. You will not be disappointed.

I am glad I decided to give this one a try, without it I believe I would have experience a lot of breakage, and split ends had I not gotten right on it and began to use this stuff when my hair first began to show signs of severe damage and dryness.

Review of Ed Hardy, Hearts and Daggers, Perfume for Women

The last time I bought a perfume gift set at my local Macy's, I was happy to see that they had added 2 brand new perfume sample viles into my shopping bag to try out as testers.

I never really like the free tester samples they have given to me in the past, but for once they got it right, and added a glass sample vile of Ed Hardy, Hearts and Daggers.

Not being a huge fan of the tattoo print guru, I figured I wouldn't like it, but I naturally went ahead and tried it anyway. I mean hello, it was free. I had no idea that after spraying it for the first time, that the following week I'd be returning to Macy's to purchase the full scale bottle of the perfume. I was won over in just seconds with this gem.

The Bottle:

The bottle that Hearts & Daggers comes in is very juvenile, and fun, but their style has never been anything I am into. It almost makes the perfume seem cheap, generic, and low quality due to the bold nature of the tattoo graphic infested bottle.

The Scent:

At first Ed Hardy's Hearts & Daggers smells like pure fruity sweetness. This scent however has been overdone some many times in the past by other perfume companies. However Hearts & Daggers begins to fade off into this odd little mixture of recognizable fruits that stand out on their own. The scent of citrusy grapefruit was what was most obvious to me at first, and a light but enjoyable undertone of sweet apples. It has other fragrances of florals that I was also able to pick up as the scent begins to settle in.

For me, Hearts and Daggers was a perfect mello mix of fruits and flowers, and the scent just reminded me of the warmer months that would soon be ahead.

The Last:

So it was obvious I was in love with the scent, but many perfume's that smell like flowers and fruit tend to not last long at all, and I worried that Ed Hardy Hearts & Daggers would have the same problem.

Thankfully the scent sticks, and it sticks for quite awhile. I was able to detect the sweeter notes of the fragrance for about a half day till finally I could no longer smell it.

Overall:

I'm in love with this one, it can be worn for any occasion, and it lasts so you do not have to really worry about carrying the bottle around with you for touch-ups.


If you already know you love fruity fragrances, you will especially find love for Ed Hardy's Hearts & Daggers.

Review of Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub

Whenever I run low on facial cleansers, or facial scrubs, I hunt out the latest and newest products considering the fact that I have used just about every single cleanser on the market. Clean & Clear Morning Burst

has always been a favorite of mine, as their products seem to not just clean my skin, but also exfoliate the skin really well taking care of the dirt and grime that other cleansers without beads cannot touch.

When I spotted Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub, I was hesitant to try it, because skin brighteners in the past actually robbed me of my fake tan that I work on continuously to keep my skin looking a few shades darker. I hoped that this cleanser didn't yank my color.

Due to the fact that it was new though, and featured ingredients of caffeine, lemon and papaya, I was intrigued. I popped the top up and took a sniff to see what it smelled like. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub, has a nice scent, a wake you up and go scent. To me it smelled like lemonade, and I liked it.

The beads are clearly visible in the yellow cleanser, and like past Morning Burst cleansers, these beads are what tackle exfoliating the skin really well, removing all dirt, oils, and grime.

The formula has a shimmery effect to it as well, and this mostly worried me because I didn't want this shimmer to stick to my skin and make me look shiny. I battle shiny skin consistently, and if this one added to the issue I'd be throwing it right in the trash. Besides that, I also worried about this shimmery effect causing breakouts, as mys kin tends to punish me if I slap on something it does not agree with.

My Use:

The first time using Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub was a nice experience. It definitely zaps you awake with its delicious citrus scent, and the exfoliating beads definitely tackle dirt and oils left on the skin. Once rinsed, my skin was left feeling beyond soft, very clean, and fresher. Thus the name, Morning Burst.

Overall:

 I have been using Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub for about a week now, and love the results. I had no break outs, my tan remained, and my skin just looks and feels more alive in the early
morning hours. The cleanser also did not add any shine to my skin, so that was a major plus.

I will likely use this one again once the cleanser runs out, unless of course Clean & Clear releases something new. Perhaps a mint zing for Morning Burst would be nice for the upcoming hotter summer months!

Will It Whiten Teeth? Luster White 7 Toothpaste - Power White Formula

About 2 months ago I fell in love with Colgate Pro Clinical, as it managed to whiten my teeth just as well as expensive white strips. When coming to the near end of the tube I figured I would just go out and buy another one. Unfortunately 2 stores later I came up empty handed, and began to wonder if I made the entire thing up. No! It exists, but apparently it works so well, the supply is lower than the demand.

With the tube nearing its end, I knew I needed to buy something, so I went with Luster White 7 Toothpaste - Power White Formula, and honestly I bought it solely based on the product package and appearance. It looked fancy, looked like something that would work, and it was a bit more pricey than the standard tubes of toothpaste. Classy packaging, higher price tag- oh yeah! I had a hunch this would work well.

Sadly it appears that I spent the top dollar on nothing more than a fancy package, and a small tube of toothpaste.

You see the package here is fancy, and unlike any other you will find down the toothpaste isle. Luster White 7 Toothpaste - Power White Formula comes in a plastic package, with a small tube of toothpaste residing within. It looks cool, but it's mostly shelf eye candy.

The Texture and Taste:

The texture of Luster White 7 Toothpaste - Power White Formula, is very different from standard pastes. This one is a smooth silkier like texture, that actually feels more like I was brushing my teeth with mint medicated flavored lotion.

It's not a horrid experience, but it does not really leave your breath or teeth feeling all that clean.

Did It Whiten?

Nope. I have been using it 2 times a day for over 2 weeks now, and I am actually noticing the teeth getting less white compared to when I first began using the toothpaste. So instead of getting whiter, I actually regressed back into a shade or 2 less.

Overall:

This stuff is a gimmick. The packaging is nice, the price is steep, and hopefully you do not get fooled into thinking that the nice package and higher price makes for a better product, because it doesn't.
Skip this one and try to find Colgate Pro Clinical, which actually works really, really well at getting your teeth 2 or 3 shades whiter in very little time.

Review of L'Oreal Infallible, Forever Fuschia (138) Lipstick

For years I stopped buying lipstick because no matter how much it promises to stay put and last all day, it never did. Constant reapplication got tedious, and annoying, so I stopped wearing lipstick all together.

However fast forward a few years and every single cosmetic company managed to get their promise right, with long lasting, ultra rich color, and lightweight feel and texture.

Due to this recent explosion in lipstick perfection, I am on a lipstick kick again, and loving every single new find. My most recent one goes to L'Oreal Infallible, Forever Fuschia (138) Lipstick. When I spotted this one, I had no clue what to expect. On the outside of the tube it showed a metallic red color on its upper cap, but looking in, the color seemed to be a more purple pink, I knew no matter what it delivered as far as color went, and that was the fact that the color seemed to be bright and rich, and I could only hope this color would look as bright and rich on my lips, as it did resting inside it's clear capsule.

The Color:

Thankfully the rich color is as rich on lips as it is in the tube. It is deep, and definitely a beautiful fuschia color, with a nice metallic glimmer that causes the color to pop and shine. All in all, it's a beautiful color, but if you have light pale skin, this one may be a bit much for you as it is extremely deep and rich in color. For those with darker skin, or nice light tans this color would simply look stunning on you.

The Texture:

L'Oreal Infallible, Forever Fuschia (138) Lipstick has a silky moisturizing texture that goes away as the day wears on. There is nothing uncomfortable, or sticky or even slightly greasy. It feels natural, and once the texture dries, and the color really sets in, you will not even feel the silky feeling anymore.

The Last:

This is what makes or breaks a lipstick, and that is it's ability to last for a long time. Well ladies, rest assured, L'Oreal Infallible, Forever Fuschia (138) Lipstick has a long last to it, and one quick swipe on the lips in the morning, and you can expect to see the color lasting long and strong throughout the day. Not only that, it does not transfer to cups if you happened to drink anything in the duration of the day.

The last is spectacular, and it's a true winner in my opinion.

Overall:

L'Oreal Infallible, Forever Fuschia (138) Lipstick, delivers super long last in color, it is a bright rich color, and it looks great. I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking to boost up their cosmetic collection with some new bright rich and bold colors.

Review of CoverGirl, Lip Perfection in Enchantress #365

I haven't used CoverGirl products in quite some time, especially when it comes to their lipstick. In the past they have been nothing but a disappointment with either faded light colors delivered, when in the tube it

looked bright and bold, or no last at all. I never liked them, and figured I would just ignore them as so many other competitor cosmetic companies seem to have a one up, or even two up on them.

However a few days ago I spotted some new items by them that I just had to stop and look at. They had a new shelf of lipstick called CoverGirl Lip Perfection, and one color stood out the most, a beautiful retro near neon colored pink. Sadly I couldn't see through the tube to see what the actual color was, however I popped the lid off, and there it was, that same beautiful cloudy milky neon like pink.

This particular color is Enchantress #365.

I was worried about buying it though, because if this lipstick was anything like their older ones, it would look great in the tube and too light and faded out in color on the lips.

I hated doing it, but I had to. I applied a tester of it in the store, and immediately fell in love with it. The color was rich! Shocking! CoverGirl never delivers color like this to me, and I was in love. The beautiful cloudy bright pink looked just as fantastic on my lips, as it had in its tube.

I had to have it.

The texture is also surprisingly enjoyable, with a lovely silky creamy feeling that is comforting to drier lips. The texture is not greasy, dry or even the slightest bit uncomfortable.

Last:

They got the color down to a perfection, but the only thing missing here is long last. Granted it stays put for about an hour or so before needing reapplication, it could have lasted longer. Once they manage to get this down, they will have a perfect lipstick line. As of now though, even with the short lived last, I really love this one, and know I will buy it again and again due to the unique retro modern color.

Overall:

CoverGirl finally managed to make a fan of me with this lipstick, and color. I cannot wait to try out other colors in this line, as CoverGirl, Lip Perfection in Enchantress #365 managed to impress me beyond my expectations.

Hair Dye Overdose Damage? Repair it with Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask

I normally wouldn't spend over $20 on hair repair products, but over the past month while attempting to dye red tones out of my hair, into blonde ones, I finally went to far. I call it hair dye overdose, and with 4

color treatments in less than a month, my hair finally began to fight back...with frizz and dry brittle texture. I deserved it, but there was no way I was letting it be. I had to fix it, and I knew spending money on nourishing treatments would be the only way to restore my hair.

When it comes to Fredric Fekkai products, I always ignored them because I was never appealed by their product packages. It looked overpriced, and cheap all in one. However when I came across Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask, and read the promises on the back of the tube, I figured maybe it would be worth trying out. Then I saw the price tag, $21.00. Youch!!! Just as I was about to set it back on the shelf and go over and purchase some Queen Helene, which seemed to be the same gunk in a bottle, I popped the top and smelled it.

I bought it solely based off of the wonderful heavenly musk like fragrance. Heck, if it didn't improve my hair, it sure would leave it smelling like slices of heaven. So $21.00 later, I headed home and went ahead with my first Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask session.

I wet the hair and applied the cream into the hair once it was damp, and no longer dripping. The cream is sort of hard to work with, just like Queen Helene's Cholesterol treatment. It is thick, semi gross feeling, and hard to distribute evenly through the hair.

I used a lot, enough to cover my whole head, and unfortunately this tube was small, and I ended up using nearly half of it for one treatment.

I set a plastic bag over my head, and let the formula do its magic. It says to leave it on for around 20 minutes. I left it on for 30 minutes and then rinsed.

Rinsing was troublesome, as the hair felt very weighed down and greasy. I hoped that I got it out enough, because I did not want my hair to look or feel greasy after I tried to style the hair into a straight look with my straightener.

Results:

In love!!!

I was not expecting Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask, to repair my hair as quickly as it had. The dry feeling was gone, and the formula did not leave my hair greasy or weighed down. The scent unfortunately did not stick around though, but my hair was finally back to a normal manageable condition, shiny, and frizz free.

Recommendation:

 My hair was in really bad condition, burnt looking, and I could not apply any heat tools to it without it crinkling up and looking fried. Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask restored it, and I can now use heat tools again, and my hair looks and feels great.

I used it a second time the very same week, and the results got even better. I'm just glad I decided to take the pricey plunge with this one, because it worked better than expected. To anyone out there looking to quickly restore health back to your over processed locks, definitely give this one a go.

Will Hair Really Lighten Using John Frieda, Sheer Blonde Shampoo?

I have been trying to lighten my hair up into a nice bright blonde, and the battle has been difficult because I was coming from black to blonde, and knew that this long journey to achieving blonde hair again would be

troublesome, and harmful to the health of my hair.

Once I was finally at a lighter shade that I liked well enough, I noticed there was too much red going on in the mix. I wanted to lighten these red tones out without having to put my hair through another harsh treatment of bleach.

I had no idea that there was a shampoo that could lighten hair gradually, and I was using Sun In prior to this discovery by John Frieda. As much as I loved the slow gradual results Sun In was giving me, I hated the scent and the drying feeling. I came across a package kit of John Frieda Sheer Blonde products, which included shampoo, conditioner, and a lightening spray.

It promised to lighten my hair with each shower, and the promises sounded perfect. Nothing harsh, and gradual lightening which would be easier than Sun In. Up on the chopping block today is the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo.

The tube that the shampoo comes in is rather small compared to other shampoo bottles I have used. This one comes in a squeeze tube that resembles a small tube of lotion. Tiny, it will not last too long, considering how long my hair is.

The Scent:

The fragrance in John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo is not all too wonderful. I can actually smell the same fragrance in it that Sun In gives off, and I began to wonder if I just got yanked. Was this stuff nothing more than some Sun In formula added to some shampoo. Clever indeed, but seriously, I spent quite a number of bucks on this set.

Texture and Lather:

The texture of John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo is semi gritty feeling once I began to lather it up in my hair. It's thick too, and working up a lather takes some work because it does not spread to easily at first.

I noticed while working it into a sudsy lather that it was instantly making my hair feel dry.

After washing it out, my hair was left feeling just as dry, and aching for some moisture. I paired it up with the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Conditioner, and my hair slightly had some moisture to it, but it still did not feel all too manageable. I had to add some of my own Nexxus conditioner to make the hair feel softer and silky. It seemed to work well enough,

Results:

Not a shade lighter at all, and I used it as directed, in conjunction with my flat iron and the color still remained the same.

The second time using the products again, I finally saw subtle change. However the red lights just looked more orange.

I'll continue to use it till it is gone, and I hope that my hair gets lighter, and not more orange in color. The problem is, you will need to use some sort of leave in treatment after using this shampoo, as it does dry the hair out.

All in all, this shampoo could work, but if you have red lights or an orange tint to your blonde hair, it will only make it look brighter in reddish tones.

The 80's Are Back, With a Modern Twist!!! Hot Spring 2011 Fashions

Trends seem to change every single season, while we sat around and had our eyes raped by the hideous male fashion of super tight skinny jeans, we thankfully got to take a final sigh of relief as the long lasting ball crunching trend is finally taking a halt in the 'whats in' department.


Spring is amongst us, it's 2011, and some of you may be wondering what the next big hot fashion trend is. Like last season, bold seems to be in the now.

That's not just focusing on clothing, bold trends this spring 2011 include cosmetics, clothing, and colors.

This season hot must have color include anything neon. Neon is in again ladies!!! Personally I was always a fan of it, but due to the ever changing trends in the fashion industry, my 80's hot pinks and neon greens sat at the back burner in my closet eventually finding a new home in a local thrift store. Now, I wish I had kept them seeing that neon's are springing up everywhere this spring.

Hot neon nail polishes are making a huge comeback, and these neon's have not seen nails since the 80's. It's nice to see an old era trend pop back up into stores, even more nice to see that they are taking off and making a huge splash in culture once again.

Neon pinks are all the rage right now, from nails to tops, and even pretty club dresses, jackets, and sneakers.

Bold bright colors for jeans are also making a comeback, and the most popular colors include teals, reds, pinks, and lilacs. Neon's are more bold in the denim department, but they too will likely take off.

For those of you who do not like neon's, or just cannot find a way to make them work, you can skip it and try out another one of the newest trends, which was also adopted from the 1980's.

This hot trend includes tight leggings, with a nice skirt on top of them. Short shorts can also be worn over leggings, and like in the 80's this trend not only looks good, but it is also perfect for the spring due to the wacky weather of hot and cold. If you get too hot you can simply remove the leggings and wear the skirt alone.

As far as shirts go Tee's with sparky graphics or retro fonts seem to be in the now as well.

When it comes to jewelry, chunky, large and bold has been a top favorite for the past 2 years now, and the trend seems to have been sticking for quite some time now. Silver in particular is in again, where gold used to be the top priority. Silver however is lower priced, and matches wardrobes better than most gold pieces. Unique pieces, handmade one of a kinds are taking over. In fact, most fashion gurus are more into creating their own pieces, than purchasing them.

In the cosmetics department, the trend has stuck for years, and that trend is tan. The tanner the better. However most skin care junkies know that tanning beds and the sun is a no-no, as it will age skin prematurely. Tans in cans, lotions, gels and moisturizers are all the rage, and many companies create such fantastic tans in cans that they look as real as if you had been sprawled out in the sun. AquaTan is a favorite of mine personally.

Overall, trends change. They come, they go, and they come back again with a few new modern tweaks. This spring 2011, all trends we will be seeing will be pulled from the 1980's, with of course a new modern twist. So pull out your denims, drag out your neon colors, and work it.

Review of: Sally Hansen, Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips- Cut It Out

While browsing my local Rite Aid this past weekend I noticed something new and cool looking on the outskirts of the nail polish shelf. They were nail polish strips! Now I had tried just about every nail concept available, from silly decals that peel off in seconds, to ridiculous looking hanging charms, and mini rhinestones that ended up yanking out my hair whenever I ran my fingers through it.

For me, when it comes to Sally Hansen, we have a love/hate relationship. In the past most things by them have either really impressed me, or really let me down. When I spotted these Sally Hansen, Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips, I had to admit, I initially thought they would be a huge disappointment. I mean a strip, that sticks to nails, and stays put for up to 10 days? Yeah right.

Being the beauty junkie I am, and someone who loves trying things before most do, I went ahead and bought them anyway. I figured why not, they would make for a review regardless. I went with #220 Cut It Out, which feature black and white flowers drawn onto the strips. They were pretty, and I knew if they worked well enough it would go really well with just about any outfit. Plus Cut It Out, had a semi retro type of flair to them, one in which I really liked.

The problem I was having with them when deciding on whether or not to buy them was the price. The kit contained only 16 strips, and it cost just as much as it would cost me to go get an airbrush design at a real nail salon. Nearly $10.00. Yup, I could have paid a salon to airbrush some nice neat design for exactly the same price. But God, I hate salons, and hate waiting.

In The Box:

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips are supposedly made of real nail polish, in the box there are 16 adhesives in 8 different sizes. Basically you get 2 of each size. This odd man out number miffed me, because you literately only get 1 use out of this $10.00 purchase. I wish they would have included 24 strips, giving me at least 2 uses.

Besides the 16 strips, in the box you will find a mini nail file which acts as a buffer, and a 2 sides file for rough and light filing. You also get a cuticle stick.

My Use:

Knowing I had no room for mess ups, I hoped that my first time attempting to apply these strips would be flawless. Unfortunately I ended up ripping one strip while applying, which was not such a horrible thing since I was able to use a larger strip on that nail and file and shape the sides from it. So it worked out OK.

You must first have clean dry nails, and you must buff the nails using the included file. This allows for the strip to more easily stay on for a longer period of time. Failing to buff, and apply the strips to clean nails will lessen the life of the sticking agent.

Before applying you will want to chose the right strip that seems to fit the nail you will be working on best. This was simple. Once you decide what strip goes where, you then peel of the protective clear sheet of plastic on the top of the strip, and then peel the strip off of the protective backing and carefully apply it to your nail.

This part is actually very easy, and I was surprised at how perfectly the strip stuck to the nails, and how easy it was to press it into place, and under the cuticle giving it a salon professional finish.

The adhesive strip will hang over the nail. The instructions say to file it off, but I ended up ripping my first strip doing it that way. I found that bending the excessive strip down against the nail, and pressing hard, allowed the strip to rip and peel away with ease, leaving behind a perfect salon quality styled nail.

After applying the first strip I was in awe at how simple, and beautiful it looked, as if a professional had done it.

All in all, applying the strips took me about 20 minutes, and the finish was flawless. I loved them!!! Now I worried about how long they would stay on before signs of lifting or peeling occurred.

Last:

I am at day 6 now, and there are absolutely no signs of peeling, lifting or wearing. I believe that the life of these strips will be even longer than 10 days. I expect longer results due to the fact that I applied a topcoat of clear nail polish on top of the strips, to ensure the sides do not lift up. I recommend doing the same if you want the strips to stay put longer.

Overall:

These strips are totally awesome, totally fun, and beyond beautiful, and best of all, the results last! I am going out to find another box with a different style sometime today.

UPDATE----- Do not open both air sealed packs at one time... the leftover strips will dry out!!!!

Oily Skin Fix? Review of Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser

When I spotted Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser on a shelf at my local Rite Aid, I picked it up and bought it on a whim, as I so often do. I tend to try and scoop up every oil controlling or shine reducing cleanser and moisturizer whenever I happen to see one.

While many work really well, others fail to impress me. My all time favorite has got to be LaMer, oil controlling tonic, but they ask for such a pretty price for their wondrous product.

Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser was right there, I did not have to wait for it to come in the mail, and I did not really worry about the price. It was just under $7.00, and I figured, yeah it's a little up there in price, but if it works, it would be well worth it. If not, I could always just bring it back for a refund.

With summer months approaching, I worry most about shine and oil, as my skin tends to be harder to control when it comes to excessive oil and shine when the weather is hotter and more humid.

Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser comes in a standard stand up squeeze tube, and its dull pastel purple color actually allows it to stick out on shelves among the competitors whom use bright scream at you, look at me colors and logos. The simplicity of it actually allowed it to stand out. Hmm, Clean & Clear is doing something right!

My Use:

I planned on using this one in the morning before applying my makeup. I liked the idea of it promising to control shine all day long, and I hoped it would work, because I hate having to blot and powder my forehead every other hour due to it shining so disgustingly.

The cleanser is not really all that cleansing. Its texture is that of lotion, and my skin did not at all feel all too clean after using it. It has a nice fresh scent, and there is nothing chemical or gross about it, so that was a plus. I just really wished it contained some micro-beads to give my skin a deeper clean feeling.

Afterward, I applied my makeup as I usually would, and decided to not check my skin till noon to see how well the cleanser worked at keeping my skin flawlessly shine free.

Results:

So by noon, there was some shine, but it was actually not a bad shine, it was more like a glowing kind, where my skin had a perfect balance of healthy glow, and shine control. An hour later I had to blot with some powder to rid my skin of shine, but to be honest, this cleanser worked really good compared to others that contain the same promise, and deliver nothing but shine.

When it came to Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser I was happy with what I saw for as long as I saw it. Most cleansers and shine free moisturizers do not last till noon and beyond, and this one actually did.

It will not keep shine away all day long as it states, but it will keep your skin looking shine free and healthy for about half the day, and heck, that's not too bad for the price I paid.

Recommended:

Yes. I have very shiny skin normally, and the fact that this cleanser was capable of keeping shine at bay for as long as it did, makes me happy enough to recommend it to anyone who cannot stand the sight of shiny, or oily skin.

Review of Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color in Lasting Lilac (085)

Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color has won me over with a long lasting all day promise, and comfortable, non-drying formula that did exactly as it said it would. At first I was a skeptic, but after one use, I was a fan and immediately I went out seeking other shades. Unfortunately this lip color is so popular, and so sought after at this time, that acquiring, or finding colors is actually difficult!

I came across Lasting Lilac (085) tonight at my local Target, and knowing how well the previous colors I had used worked, I was convinced that this one would work just as well. The difference however between this one, and the other pink shade I picked up, was that Lasting Lilac has a beautiful shade of both pink and purple, which has a shimmer effect to it, instead of a plain matte finish. It's almost like a holographic illusion when you look at it through the package. It's a neat effect of 2 colors merging and working against one another to create this 2 shade illusion. It's neat to say the least.

The last Maybelline SuperStay 24 color I had used that had a shimmering effect to it, did not work quite as well as the one without a shimmer to it. I figured I would give Lasting Lilac a try though due to how beautiful it looked in the see through tube.

My Use:

To use Lasting Lilac, and any Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color, you first have to make sure your lips are clean and dry.

Next you apply the lip color by unscrewing it from the dual tube. You want to be quick and precise while applying the color, because if you mess up, you could end up staining your lip. One swipe is enough to cover your lips, if you use too much it may clump, so use one swipe, and press your lips together to distribute the color to your top lip evenly.

Next you just allow the color to dry. It states to allow it to dry for up to 2 minutes for proper wear and last.

After your color has dried, you then pop off the clear balm located on the other side of the dual tube. Apply a coating of that to add moisture to the lips, and wallah, you are done.

It works effortlessly.

Your lip color will stay put through eating, drinking, blotting, etc. I even add other lip colors on top of these SuperStay colors to create my own unique blends.


When it comes to Lasting Lilac, I have to say that I was pretty disappointed in the outcome. In the tube I saw a beautiful pink/purple shimmer, yet on my lips what was delivered was a pale, near nude pink coloring.
There was no shade o lilac, the pink hue vanished, and the shimmer simply absorbed into nothingness.

What you are left with is a bland color that nearly resembles your actual lip color. A major disappointment.

Overall:

Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color in Lasting Lilac is the first I have encountered that is actually being re-packaged and returned.

I will avoid the SuperStay 24 Lip Colors with a metallic shimmer effect to it from here on out, as they tend to be the ones that disappoint me the most. The color is just too weak.