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.