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.