My Routine: Oils I Love

I’ve mentioned several times that I use oils, as a part of my hair regime. I love oils, and highly recommend them, if you have dry hair, or scalp issues.  I thought it might be helpful if I told you ladies what oils I use, what benefits I notice from them, and how I use them. So here goes…

Review: Vanish Color Remover

I'll be the first to admit, I change my hair color like some women change their handbag. It's a lot, probably every 2-3 months. Now I'm talking about actually changing the color, not doing root touch-ups. My hair has been more colors than I can count, and the only color I can honestly think of that it's never been is black. Most of the time if I'm going from dark to light I'd just bleach and start over. As you can imagine, this takes quite a toll on my hair, and it's certainly been healthier. So a couple months ago I ran across a product called Vanish Color Remover. It has literally changed my hair-coloring life!

Review: L'Oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner

If you’ve read any of my posts about hair in the last 2 years, you probably know I don’t do sulfates. My hair + sulfates= utterly craptastic hair days. I’d been seeing the new L’Oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner all over the place; drugstores, supermarkets, blogs, message boards, etc. I passed it on many of my excursions, I kept telling myself, You don’t need it, you have enough hair stuff. You’ve run out of room, use other stuff up before you buy anything. Of course, being the product junkie that I am, I caved and bought it.

Review: Wen Winter Vanilla Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Spa-like shower experience? Check. Delicious smell? Check. Cleans effectively without stripping my hair? Check. Conditions my hair, leaving it soft and moisturized? Check. The newest addition to the Wen Cleansing Conditioner lineup, Winter Vanilla Mint is my absolute favorite Wen product to date.

Review: DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam

Hey ladies! It's that time again, my favorite time I might add, review time. Today's lovely concotion? The newest styler from the folks at DevaCurl; Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam. So let's get right to it!

Normally when I'm at the drugstore, or wherever and I'm checking out the hair products aisle, I just avoid mousse/foam products altogether. I never seem to get the hold I need or want and my hair always feels dry afterwards. So in short, usually mousse/foaming stylers are a total failure.

This is not the case with DevaCurl FFVF!

Review: Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin Cleansing Conditioner

It’s that time again, review time! As you all probably know by now, I gave up sulfates long ago, they’re drying and damaging and just aren’t very good for your hair. The very first product I ever used that was sulfate-free was Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, and since then have used several of the other Wen cleansers. I’ve liked everyone I’ve tried, and the newest addition is no exception; Fall Ginger Pumpkin. 

Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin is similar to the other Wen Cleansing Conditioners, but also completely different. It’s got the same amount of slip, which is great for detangling, and it gets foamy/frothy just like the others. But the things I noticed that really set Fall Ginger Pumpkin apart were how much more moisturizing it is, and how much creamier it’s consistency is. Sweet Almond Mint, Lavender, and Pomegranate are white in color and very thick, more of a balm than cream. Fall Ginger Pumpkin on the other hand is very, very creamy and rich. 

Wen Pomegranate on left, Fall Ginger Pumpkin on right. See the difference?

Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin has been great for counteracting the dryness that Fall brings out in my hair. My hair is dry year-round, but cold weather brings out Sahara qualities like nothing else. 

I'm sure you can guess from the name Fall Ginger Pumpkin, as to what the smell is like. I thought it'd smell more like food or something, but it really doesn't. I don't know that I can actually describe the scent, it doesn't remind me of any Pumpkin scents I've ever smelled, so I'm guessing it's strong on the Ginger. It's sort of a spicy smell, which I like. However, I can guarantee that because it's a strong enough scent, it's something you'll either love or hate.

So ladies, Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin has been another hit for me, I love how moisturizing it is, but I'm a little sad that it's limited edition. If you've tried it, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought!

If you want more info on Wen check out Chaz Dean.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned were sent to me for review consideration. The opinions are 100% my own.

Review: Hard Candy Lash Ink- 4 Day Lash Stain

Hey ladies! It’s review time again, and today we’re talking about Hard Candy Lash Ink- 4 Day Lash Stain. I should note that I bought it months ago, before I found the Roux Lash and Brow Tint. I also had unfortunately not done my research on it beforehand. On to the nitty-gritty…

Hard Candy Says:
Mascara that won’t quit until you do. Flatter your flutter for 4 days straight! Hard Candy four day lash stain defies the elements. Paint Lash Ink on and don’t reapply for up to 4 days. Shower, go in the pool, cry, rub your eyes, or get rained on – your lashes will stay flawless no matter the circumstances! Perfect for a weekend away or partying all night long.

Mrs. Blacksten Says:
Um, from the name alone, you immediately get the wrong impression. I saw an ad for this in a magazine, and like I said didn’t do any research before purchasing. So of course I thought it was an actual lash stain. I was wrong.

It’s more accurately and hellishly difficult to remove waterproof mascara. If waterproof mascara has a staying power of 8 on a scale of 1-10, then Lash Ink is a 14. Seriously. So of course it has all the drawbacks of regular mascara; potential for clumping, looking unnatural, flaking, etc. And since it’s basically semi-permanent, once you sleep on it, your lashes get funky creases which aren’t really fixable.

The brush for Hard Candy Lash Ink is pretty basic, and definitely not designed for volume or thickness. So the results were basically like applying mediocre mascara and then being unable to remove it, having to rock it for 4 days.

Hard Candy Lash Ink is not a stain in any sense of the word, and will not stain or tint or in any other way alter your natural lashes. Unless you mistakenly apply it thinking it’s a stain, and then subsequently try to remove it. In which case the only difference to your natural lashes will be that you hardly have any left, because you’ve accidentally pulled them out trying to remove this.

Needless to say I was severely disappointed in Hard Candy’s Lash Ink, and wouldn’t repurchase it. However, I’ll take my fair share of the blame, I should’ve known to get all the information I needed beforehand, and I wouldn’t have been in semi-permanent mascara hell at all.

So ladies, Have you tried Lash Ink? What were your thoughts on it?

Review: Ramy Beauty Therapy

Hello Beauties!

I’m back again! I should really quit taking so long between posts, my apologies.

Today it’s all about makeup. Ramy Beauty Therapy products to be more accurate. I got a chance to check out some of the Ramy Summer Fling 2011 Collection and a classic Ramy product which includes; On-The-Go! Face Gloss, Perfect Lip Tint, and Alive! Blush. In all honesty I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I didn’t have high expectations going in. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

The On-The-Go! Face Gloss is a hybrid of sorts, it’s a cream-to-powder formula that can be used on your cheeks, eyes, or lips. It produces a very sheer, buildable flush of color. It’s one of those products that anyone can use, it’d definitely be difficult to overdo. The color is gorgeous, and looks like a natural flush, not your typical blush.

The Perfect Lip Tint is precisely that. It has a sheer flush of color that would compliment any skin tone. It’s neither a lipstick or a lip balm. I really liked it, I’m not a lipstick kinda gal, I use Carmex, Burts Bee’s, and Yes To Carrots, religiously. This is a great option for someone like me who just isn’t a fan of lipstick, or for a No-Makeup kinda day.

Now to my absolute favorite product in the line; Alive! Blush. This blush is half bronzer, half blush. It’s got a perfect combination of pink, gold, and brown that just wakes your skin up. I’ve used it on my cheeks and eyes, as a blush, as a bronzer, and a light contour, etc. It’s a versatile product, and if you’ve read much of my blog you know how much I adore multi-use products. If it’s gonna save me time, and produce results I like, then I’m all for it. 

Any of these products can be purchased at Ramy.

If you’ve tried any Ramy products, or you have any questions, leave me a comment.

Disclaimer: These products were sent to me for consideration. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: Dinair Airbrush and Makeup

Hello Ladies!! I’m super excited to review this product. I’ve been dying, dying I tell you, to get my hands on it. I spent probably 6 months trying to make my mind up about buying it and I finally broke down. I’m talking about a Dinair airbrush kit! 

I got my Dinair Foundation Deluxe Kit way back in May, for Mother’s Day. I wanted to give myself plenty of time to use it, before I reviewed it. I don’t want my reviews to be anything short of honest and accurate, and when we’re talking about a product that costs $200, I want to be able to stand behind what I tell you. 

So let’s get to it. You all probably have seen Dinair, whether it be on Youtube or Makeup Alley, or somewhere else. If you’re at all familiar with airbrushing, Dinair has probably come up. I initially became interested in airbrushing after staying up too late one night and getting sucked into an infomercial for Luminess. After doing my requisite research into Luminess, I decided that my money would be better spent elsewhere. So of course, I googled airbrushing and voila there was Dinair. And me being the product junkie that I am, I wanted it….bad. So fast forward to Mother’s Day, and I got it. 

So on to the good stuff, the actual review. The compressor really is tiny. It’s not exactly quiet, but it isn’t loud either. The gun (airbrush) is just your typical airbrush, nothing spectacular to say about it. I used the entire kit as soon as I got it, I airbrushed my foundation, blush, bronzer and concealer. The first time I did it, I was impressed but not completely sold. The airbrush makeup seemed to accentuate the fine lines under my eyes, and large pores on my nose. So of course, I talked to a friend of mine who also has a Dinair system, and I talked to Dinair. To solve the problem I use eye primer under my eyes, and on my nose before airbrushing. It was recommended to me to use the Moist & Dewy that came in my kit, which also works. I use the ELF eyelid primer, and since it’s only $1 it’s definitely more cost effective then the Moist & Dewy.

The Dinair foundation really does make my skin look flawless, but it doesn’t look like I have makeup on at all. The coverage starts sheer, but can be layered to full. With every layer of foundation you spray, your skin imperfections just blur and eventually disappear. I watched every single Youtube video I could find about Dinair and airbrushing makeup in general before I ordered my kit, so I didn’t find it difficult at all. If you’re thinking about buying an airbrush, I strongly recommend you do the same. Going from regular foundation or mineral foundation to airbrushing is a huge change, and the more you understand it, the better the results will be. 

I can honestly say that I’ve loved every single item that I’ve tried from Dinair; foundation, blush, bronzer, Moist & Dewy, shimmer colors (highlighters), etc. Everything can be used for more then one application; foundation for concealer or contour, blush for lipstick or eyeshadow, shimmer colors for highlighters or eyeshadows, etc.

The prices for the actual makeup are actually really affordable. The smallest size you can buy of anything is ¼ oz., which ranges in price from $8-$18 depending on what kind of makeup it is. The ¼ oz. foundation lasts about a month give or take. I mix two colors (vanilla & light golden beige) for my perfect foundation color, so it’s lasts me about 1 ½-2 months. The ¼ oz. size of blush will probably last me 4-5 months. 

I realize how expensive the initial investment is to get an airbrush, Dinair being one of the cheapest you can buy. But for me, it was well worth it. I never have to worry about a line of demarcation again, or washing my face brushes weekly to make sure I’m not rubbing bacteria into my skin, or how my foundation will photograph (beautifully btw), or my makeup melting or rubbing off. I will say I have yet to test the claim that Dinair makes about it’s foundation lasting 24 hours. I’m usually washing my makeup off within 8-10 hours of application. It definitely has better staying power than anything else I’ve ever used.

With all those positive things being said, I have to be 100% honest with you ladies. I had the absolute worst customer service experience of my life with Dinair. After speaking with a lady at Dinair about my problem with fine lines and pores being accentuated, I have sent 3 separate messages through their website, about 3 separate things, and have yet to get a response to a single one. The first message I sent to them was shortly after I ordered, so it’s been at least 2 months. I have never been so disappointed in a companies customer service as I have been with Dinair. I’ve never been completely ignored by a company either. If someone over at Dinair responds to me, I’d still be happy to have the situation handled in a professional and courteous manner…..I won’t hold my breath.

So ladies, have your tried Dinair, or any airbrush?

If you have any questions about the kit or makeup, or anything airbrushing related leave me a comment and I’ll either post about it, or try to answer it here. J

Review: Roux Lash & Brow Tint

Hey ladies! I’m back again, and have a ton of new products, not just hair products, to tell you all about. But today’s post is directed to all those gorgeous gals out there, who like me, have invisible eyelashes and brows.
Yes ladies, you know what I’m talking about, if I don’t have on full makeup I look freaky, because it appears as though I have no eyebrows or eyelashes. So everyday, if I want to look like a human being, I have to fill in my brows at the very least. If you have to color on an entire eyebrow, let’s be honest, it never looks natural.

 So……….I’ve been dying to get my brows and lashes tinted. I know as much as I talk about products and buying stuff, etc. it seems like I spend money like a crazy person. In reality I’m a cheapskate, I always look for the best deal I can find before purchasing, and if something is expensive, chances are I’ll think about it for months before purchasing. I do tons of research, and read reviews before I shell out any cash. With that being said, I am not willing to pay the amount of money they want at salons for lash/brow tinting services. So of course, I browsed and came across Roux Lash & Brow Tint at Sally’s.

Roux Lash & Brow Tint isn’t exactly cheap at $36.99 a box, but you get around 40 applications per box, so it’s only $.92 an application. Where I live lash tinting services start at $15 and so do brows. So if I were to go to a salon and get both done, it’d be at least $30 before tip. No thanks, I’ll do it myself.

The Roux Lash & Brow Tint isn’t quite as simple as at-home hair color, but it isn’t rock science either. It’s a 2-step process, and the kit comes with a bottle of stain remover, eye shields, for the under eye area and these little wooden sticks, that look like toothpicks that got thrown in the discard pile. The sticks are for the actual application, you’re supposed to cover the tip in cotton and dip it in the bottle. Um….no thanks. I bought disposable mascara wands for easier application.

You simply dip an applicator into the Step 1 bottle, and apply it to whatever hair your trying to color. Be very careful not to get it on your skin. Step 1 deposits finely divided silver onto the hair strand. Then you wait for it to dry, around 3 minutes, and apply Step 2 in the exact same way. Step 2 is what actually does the tinting, so be very careful not to get it on your skin. It will color anything it touches instantly.  Until the 2 solutions come into contact with each other they’re both clear, but as soon as they touch the dye is apparent. Then you wait about a minute, and wash it off. Done.

It’s literally as simple as it sounds, but it takes a bit more time than you’d think. You really have to be careful to not get it on your skin. The directions recommend applying Vasoline to skin around the brows and lashes so it won’t take color if you mess up. I used Ion Color Brilliance Stain Barrier Creme, also from Sally’s, just around my brows.

I have to say, I really love the results. I didn’t have any idea what to expect, but I’m happy to say that Roux Lash & Brow Tint did exactly what it was supposed to. My upper lashes and brows are now a deep brown, and I no longer look like a weirdo. I opted to leave my bottom lashes alone, as I was nervous about getting dye everywhere. The eye shields that come in the kit are for covering your under eye area, but they’re a joke.

Anywho, Roux Lash & Brow Tint……Yes! If you’ve tried it, or get yours done at the salon, leave me a comment!

Review: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Night Formula

Hey ladies! It’s time for another product review. I’ve been using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Night Formula for over 2 years, and just realized today that I’ve never reviewed it. I have absolutely no idea why, I guess I tend to forget about products that have been a part of my regular routine for so long. Anywho, let’s get on with it…

Neutrogena Says:

Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream Night is a dermatologist recommended Retinol anti-wrinkle cream clinically proven to visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging.

This patented formula contains Retinol, Vitamin A in its purest form, to work deep within skin's surface where wrinkles develop. A combination of Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and special moisturizers work with skin's natural mechanisms to even out skin tone and build moisture levels. Lightweight and non-greasy, it absorbs quickly into skin.

Skin is softer and smoother. Fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging are visibly reduced.

Mrs. Blacksten Says:

If you’ve read very many of my skincare reviews, you’re probably aware that while I don’t get pimples often, I do get clogged pores and blackheads, etc. While I may only be 25, I do have a few fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead. A couple years ago, while browsing the internet for clogged pore solutions I came across a site, that unfortunately I cannot remember, that said that retinol is great for acne of all types. So of course, the next trip I made to Wal-Mart I ventured over to the skincare aisle and began looking for anything that said retinol.

The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream was literally one of the only moisturizers that said anything about retinol surprisingly. Don’t gasp, but I hate SPF moisturizers, they never really soak in all the way, leaving my skin oily, and causing more clogged pores. So I picked up the night formula.

Since that day I’ve used Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Cream on and off. I may pick up a different moisturizer to try occasionally, but I always come back to this. It makes my entire face look smoother, my pores look smaller, and while it hasn’t cured my blackheads and the like, it’s made their occurrence less frequent and less prominent. For the $12-$13 it costs, it’s well worth it.

I’ve also tried the Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Night Moisturizer. It’s basically a more potent version of the Healthy Skin Anti- Wrinkle, with Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol SA. Honestly I loved it too, and it’s definitely more effective at making my skin more even and smooth. However, there’s a big price difference between the two. I’m not positive, but I think it’s about twice the cost of the Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Either way, they’re both great products.

Have any of you tried Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream?

Review: Queen Helene Royal Curl line

It’s product review time again! Today I’ve got something to share with you ladies, a brand new product line that I was given the opportunity to check out and review, Queen Helene Royal Curl. Yes ladies, that Queen Helene that you’ve seen and used for years. The Royal Curl line consists of 4 products currently; Stay Clean Shampoo, Moisture Rich Conditioner, Curl Shaping Crème, and Smoothing Oil. I got to check out all 4 products, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

The Queen Helene Royal Curl line is natural, free of harsh and drying chemicals like alcohol, sulfates, petrolatum, parabens and phthalates. Each product contains Royal Jelly. So what’s Royal Jelly you ask? It’s what worker bees feed the Queen!

The Royal Curl Stay Clean Shampoo is sulfate-free, as I mentioned. It contains sea kelp, mandarin orange extract, and green tea. It smells good, lathers nicely, and didn’t leave my hair feeling like a rat’s nest.

The Royal Curl Moisture Rich Conditioner contains jojoba seed oil, olive fruit extract, and green tea. Honestly, I was expecting a bit more from this conditioner, because the first ingredients after water are fatty alcohols and behentrimonium methosulfate. For me, BTMS is usually a great detangling agent, and it’s something I look for. While this conditioner smelled good, and felt good in my hands, it had almost no slip in my hair. I will say however, it did have a nice amount of foam to it when rinsing, so it might make a good cowash. I haven’t tried it yet, when I do I’ll give you ladies an update.

The Royal Curl Curl Shaping Crème is my absolute favorite product in this line. I am in love with it, and want to run away with it. It contains glycerin, aloe vera gel, agave nectar, and green tea. I’ve used this as my sole styler in all sorts of weather conditions, and it’s held up to whatever I’ve thrown at it. My hair has been outrageously shiny and bouncy and I’ve had volume galore. When I first opened the container of this and did a scan of the ingredients, I didn’t think it would have enough hold for me tastes, but for me, it’s been perfect. It dries to a soft crunch, which is easily scrunched out.

The Royal Curl Smoothing Oil contains meadowfoam seed oil, corn oil, and green tea. Most of the time when I apply oils to dry hair, it creates atleast some amount of frizz. I use them all the time, don’t get me wrong. I use coconut oil or Vatika Oil as a pre-poo, I’ve added grapeseed oil and/or coconut oil to deep treatment, I’ve used coconut oil to scrunch out the crunch when my hair is completely dry, and the list goes on. This oil hasn’t caused any frizz to speak of, whether I’m using it on wet or dry hair.

The Queen Helene Royal Curl line has been a fantastic addition to this product junkies arsenal. Each product in the line is around $8 and should be available initially at a Whole Foods near you in the next week or so.

For more information on the Royal Curl line of products and where you can buy them, please visit http://www.queenhelene.com/

Disclaimer: I was sent the products mentioned in this post for consideration by Beautystat.com. The opinions are 100% my own.

Review: Biotera Styling Gel

Most curly girls realize the importance of a good gel. Gel is what gives the hold we need to combat frizz and just generally unruly hair. The other day I mentioned that I picked up a few things on my most recent Sally’s trip. In addition to the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner that I reviewed, I picked up the Biotera Styling Gel. So of course, it’s review time again!

Sally’s Says:

Biotera Styling Gel create soft, natural looking curls and styles. Compare to Biolage and save!  

• Nettle strengthens and adds luster to over-worked hair
• Arnica soothes scalp
• Restores body and bounce
• Sunscreen protects hair from sun’s harmful rays
• Never sticky or flaky

 The world isn’t always kind to your hair - let Biotera’s restorative botanicals defend your hair’s beauty. This styling gel is specially formulated to strengthen dry, brittle hair and restore natural body and movement. Won't leave hair sticky or flaky but creates healthier looking hair.

Mrs. Blacksten Says:

The Biotera Styling Gel is another affordable product, at $6.79 for 13.5 oz. Like most of the Biotera products, you can also get it in liter size for $10.49.

So first things first, it smells great, just like the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner, and the GVP Conditioning Balm. It’s a sweet smell, but it’s not overpowering. It smells like a high-end salon product. I’ve never used the actual Matrix Biolage line, so I can’t say whether or not it smells like them. Score 1 for Biotera.

 

The consistency of the Biotera Styling Gel is different than most gels I’ve used. It isn’t runny, but it isn’t thick either. It’s almost similar to the consistency of a clear shampoo. Immediately when I saw the consistency I knew it’d be easy to distribute, but I had some concerns about the amount of hold it would have. 

The Biotera Styling Gel is labeled as a firm hold gel, I have to disagree. On a scale of 1-5, I’d rate the hold as a 3. It has more hold than Devacurl Angel or Devacare ArcAngel, but less hold than L.A. Looks Sport or Power Spikes Gels. For me it’s more than enough, but it’s really gonna depend on your personal preference and hair needs. Score 2 for Biotera.

As I said before, it’s really easy to distribute, almost sort of slippery. With that being said, I do use a bit more Biotera Styling Gel than many of my other gels. In all fairness, most of my other gels are true firm hold gels though.

After applying and scrunching to my hearts desire, and of course diffusing, I got really great results. I get an ample amount of body, shine, and hold with Biotera Styling Gel. My hair lasts all day, and is really soft. Score 3 for Biotera. 

 

I should mention if your hair hates glycerin, than this isn’t going to be a good gel for you. Glycerin is pretty high on the ingredients. Awhile back, I thought my hair was disagreeing with glycerin, as it turns out it wasn’t. Maybe it was just a hair slump or something.
 
All in all I’d repurchase this is a second. On a scale of 1-5, I’d rate the Biotera Styling Gel a 3.5-4. 

Have you tried the Biotera Styling Gel or any of the other Biotera products? Leave me a comment about your experiences.

Review: St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser

 

 

Hey ladies, I'm back again and today I'm focusing on skincare. The product I'm going to be talking about is St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser. Let's get straight to it.

St. Ives Says:

• Gently removes make-up and cleanses skin
• All Skin Types
• Pure Swiss Glacial Water nature's pure form of moisture
• Swiss Botanicals
• Skin nourishing Chamomile
• Smoothing and softening
• Dermatologist Tested
• Hypo-Allergenic

Discover The Swiss Secrets For Visibly Healthy Skin

 

Now St. Ives captures these secrets in a gentle, non-drying cream formula that effortlessly removes even the heaviest makeup. Deep cleans for soft, smooth, visibly healthy skin

Mrs. Blacksten Says:


I've been on a hunt to replace my Philosophy Purity Made Simple, which I absolutely adore. It removes every trace of makeup on my face, and leaves my skin feeling soft. So on yet another Wal-Mart excursion I stopped off in the skincare aisle to check out the facial cleansers. Almost immediately my eyes drifted over to the St. Ives products, generally they're affordable, smell decent and work.

I purchased the St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser. Normally, I read labels religiously. I tend to be picky about what I put on my face. For whatever reason, I didn't do that with the St. Ives.

Every night before bed, I wash my makeup off. I cannot stress enough how important it is to wash your makeup off every night, no matter how tired you are. Skin needs to breathe, and sleeping with makeup on is a HUGE no-no.

So that night I used the St. Ives to wash my makeup off, or started to atleast. I have to say this product was the biggest disappointment I've had in a long, long time. It felt awful, like rubbing a mixture of baby oil and lotion on my face, just heavy and gross feeling. And frankly, my makeup still appeared very much intact. Immediately I washed my face with a regular foaming cleanser to get the St. Ives off, and to my astonishment, I had to wash my face twice to get it feeling clean and non-greasy.

So of course the first thing I did was read the ingredients, low and behold mineral oil was the second ingredient. I don't care if it's the finest quality/grade mineral oil, I don't want it on my face. Mineral oil, for me anyway, is like begging for a breakout. It's a cheap, filler ingredient. So ladies, you can safely assume, I would never have bought the St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleaner had I taken the time to read the ingredients. It went straight into the trash, The End.

Have you tried the St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser, or have a product horror story of your own?

Review: Biotera Volumizing Conditioner

I’m always on the lookout for affordable hair products that I can get on the ground. I hate ordering things if I can avoid it. I don’t have the patience to wait for it to arrive. So on my last trip to Sally’s I picked up a few things, and one of them was the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner. So let’s get straight into the review:

Sally’s Says: 

• Enhances volume without adding weight
• Gives hair exceptional shine
• Infuses fullness and thickness to each strand of hair
• Natural botanical extracts help to add body, bounce and shine 

A lightweight conditioner that replenishes moisture while detangling hair without weighing it down. Natural botanical extracts help to add body, bounce and shine. Hair looks and stays beautiful and healthy.

Mrs. Blacksten Says:

At only $7.29 (without a Sally’s card) for a 16.9 oz. bottle, this is probably one of the cheapest rinse-out conditioners that I own. I should mention I’m a bit of a product snob when it comes to my hair care. I immediately assume, if it’s inexpensive, that I won’t like it as much, as I like my more expensive hair care products. I don’t know why, and I know it’s silly, but it’s the truth.

Like a true product junkie, I tried the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner as soon as I got it home. The first thing that I noticed was the consistency, it’s creamy and rich, with an almost identical consistency as Devacurl One Condition. Score 1 for Biotera.

The second thing I noticed was the smell. The Biotera Volumizing Conditioner smells great, sweet but not floral or fruity, just a really nice clean smell. If you’ve used the GVP Conditioning Balm, the smell is virtually identical. Score 2 for Biotera.

So per my usual routine, I cleansed then used the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner as my rinse-out. It went on smooth and gave my hair a nice amount of slip. I was able to detangle effortlessly. When I rinsed it out, my hair was still smooth and felt moisturized. Score 3 for Biotera.

As far as being volumizing, I don't know about that. It contains proteins, so if you have fine hair, or porous hair, it'll probably help perk your hair up a bit. I didn't notice a big difference in the amount of volume I had one way or the other.

I’ve had the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner for a little over a month now, and I’ve used it as a regular rinse-out, as a leave-in, and mixed it with other conditioners for a deep treatment. I really like it, and would definitely repurchase it. It’s silicone-free, boasts decent ingredients, and is readily available. As a disclaimer, I should mention it contains alcohol, near the end of the ingredients list, although I’m wondering if it’s for preservation purposes. Whatever it’s reasons for being in the conditioner, it hasn’t had any effect on my hair.

On a scale of 1-5, I'd give the Biotera Volumizing Conditioner a 3.5.

If you’ve used the Biotera Conditioner, or any of the other Biotera products, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought. :)

Review: Darcy's Botanicals

Hey ladies, it's review time again. You can probably guess, it's haircare. Darcy's Botanicals offers natural, yet affordable hair care. Most of the time when I look at the natural beauty products out there, they're ridiculously overpriced. I’ve used the line before, and loved the products, so when I heard they released some new items, I reached out to Lysandra, the owner, about trying them. The products I tried include; Pumpkin Seed Curl Moisturizing Conditioner, Shea Butter Curl Moisturizing Cream, Daily Cleansing Conditioner Cream, and the Curling Cream Gel.


So let’s get started with the review:



• Pumpkin Seed Curl Moisturizing Conditioner ($12): This smells awesome, like pumpkin pie or something. It’s thick, but thankfully it comes in a bottle with a pump. It makes detangling easy, and leaves my hair soft and moisturized. I’ve used some conditioners that feel great on, but once you rinse, the great feeling is gone and it’s almost like you never conditioned to begin with. This isn’t one of those conditioners. Love it!
• Ingredients: Distilled Water, BTMS (a mild conditioning emulsifier), Pumpkin Seed Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Japanese Camellia Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Botanical Oil Complex, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol and Fragrance.

• Shea Butter Curl Moisturizing Cream ($12): This is a cross between a leave-in and a curl cream. For thicker, coarse hair I’d guess it’d be a better leave-in. For hair like mine, it’s a great curl cream. For me, it didn’t have a tremendous amount of slip, but that works in my favor. The less slip my leave-in/curl cream has, the better curl enhancement I get.
• Ingredients: Distilled Water, Unrefined Shea Butter, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Conditioning Emulsifier, Cetyl Esters, Silk Protein, Copaiba Balsam, Gotu Kola Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Botanical Extracts, Vitamin E, Paraben Free Preservative, Fragrance

• Daily Cleansing Conditioner Cream ($12): This is great! It’s a true cowash, so it’s not something that will remove silicones or mineral oil (neither of which I use). This is probably the most foamy cowash I’ve ever used. I love a foamy cowash, it makes me feel like it’s doing a better job cleansing or something. It also has a good amount of slip and moisture, so I don’t need to follow this up with a separate conditioner, which saves me time.
• Ingredients: Distilled Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Rice Bran Oil, Organic Shea Butter, BTMS, Grapeseed Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Leaf Extract, Cationic Guar Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, and Fragrance.

• Curling Cream Gel ($12): This has a light to medium hold, and it gave me an insane amount of volume, which I adore. I love big hair, I should’ve been born in the 70’s, so I could’ve rocked giant hair in the 80’s. Unfortunately I wasn’t, oh well. I usually use this to SOTC (scrunch out the crunch), when my hair is completely dry. It leaves my hair defined, and smelling delicious. Depending on the amount of hold you like, you could use it as a stand alone styler, or top it with a hard-holding gel.
• Ingredients: Distilled (Aqua) Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Cetyl Alcohol, Organic Wildflower Honey, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (cationic guar gum), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylyglycerin, Fragrance, Astrocaryum Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit (Buriti) Oil and Silk Amino Acids.

If you've used any of these products, or any of Darcy's Botancals other products, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Review: Beautisol Summer Glow & All Seasons Glow

There’s nothing like a sun kissed glow to get a girl ready for summer. I’m not into sun worshipping, but I do enjoy having a nice tan. So what’s a girl to do? Self-tan, unless your into leathery skin, premature aging, and possibly sun cancer. I’m not.

So when I was given the opportunity to check out a new line in the self-tanning world, I jumped. I’m talking about Beautisol, if haven’t heard of Beautisol yet, you will. Beautisol has a full line of self-tanning products, whether your looking to build a gradual tan, or go full force right off the bat. I got to try out 2 products from the line; Summer Glow and All Seasons Glow.

Both products have a few things in common. They both contain a color guide, meaning the lotion itself is tinted, so you can see exactly where you’re putting it. My absolute favorite, and I mean favorite thing about both the Beautisol products is the smell. Let me say, I’ve used some foul-smelling self-tanners. You know the kind I mean, you can smell it on yourself all day, and it smells awful. It makes you self-conscious, because your sure that everyone around you can smell it too. Beautisol has literally solved this, their self-tanners contain Pure Scent odor eliminating fragrance. They smell like high-end body lotion. It smells ridiculously good, if they sold a body lotion with the smell, I’d buy it. Both products are also PETA certified and paraben free.

Beautisol products contain a patented DHA that prevents oxidative stress. If you’re not familiar with self-tanning, DHA is the actual tanning agent. You’ve probably noticed when you cut an apple open, it turns brown relatively quickly. DHA has a similar reaction with the amino acids in your skin.

Summer Glow is a dark self-tanning lotion. When I read the word dark, I thought this wouldn’t be a good idea for someone with my skin tone, which is pale, pale, pale. But once I tried it, it was love at first use. The color was rich, and natural, and definitely looked like a summer tan.

All Seasons Glow is a medium self-tanning lotion. The tan it produced was definitely one that I could rock year ‘round. It’s dark enough that you have a tan appearance, but light enough that it wouldn’t look odd in the middle of winter. It’s gradual, so if the colors too light, then apply it again to deepen the tan.

I used both the Summer Glow and All Seasons Glow on my body and face. The results were a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow. I would definitely recommend both these products. Another great thing about both products, when they start wearing off you don't really notice it. The tan just fades away, with a lot of self-tanners, when the tan wears off it leaves your skin splotchy and gross looking.

If you want more info, or would like to order, check out Beautisol.


Disclaimer: I was sent the products menioned in this post by the brand/pr company for consideration. The opinions are 100% my own.

Review: Wen Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner

Hey ladies! I’m back, and while I’ve been out I’ve started a new product affair, and I’m not ashamed to say it. The product I’m talking about is none other than, Wen Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner. Wen Pomegranate is the newest addition to the Wen lineup, and if you’ve read my blog before, you may know Wen is how I got hooked on a “No-Poo” routine.


Months ago, I was up late one night, watching QVC, and Chaz Dean was on. I’ve used Wen products multiple times in the past, but when I saw Chaz talking about a new product, I was hooked. I wanted to try it then, but it was only being released on QVC, and only in a 6 oz. size. Now, for me, I don’t have any desire to try a product, love it, and then not be able to get it in a size that will last. So I flipped the channel. Well, thankfully a few weeks ago I was sent the 16 oz. size to try and review for you ladies.

According to ChazDean.com, Wen Pomegranate is a universal cleanser, for all hair types. It gives moisture, hydration, shine, bounce, and builds body, and volume.

So, of course I used it as soon as I got it. I immediately noticed some differences between the Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner, and a few of the other Wen Cleansing Conditioners that I’ve tried. The first thing I noticed was the smell, it smells good, but definitely has a more minty/menthol smell then the Sweet Almond Mint. The second thing I noticed was that once you add a smidge more water to it, it’s a lot more foamy/frothy than the other Wen products. If you cowash, or have used Wen, you probably know what I’m talking about. So I did my normal shower routine, and then rinsed. I used about half a pump as a leave-in, and continued with my normal hair routine. I have to say, the smell of the Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner lingers, which I like. I could still smell it in my hair after my hair was completely dry. It wasn’t a strong smell, just clean.

Wen Pomegrante Cleansing Conditioner boasts some great ingredients; Aloe Vera leaf juice, Pomegranate Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Chamomile Extract, Marigold Flower Extract, and Wild Cherry Fruit Extract, to name a few.

I have to say I really liked Wen Pomegranate. It did what it said it would. My hair felt soft and moisturized, without being weighed down. I’ve been using it now for 3 weeks or so, and the results are great.

If you want more info check out ChazDean.com.

If you’ve tried Wen Pomegranate, or have questions about it, feel free to leave a comment…

Review: L.A. Looks Power Spikes Gel

Most curlies will tell you that our hair changes as the seasons change. During the summer my hair has volume, it’s bouncy, it’s generally manageable and easy to style. During the winter, it’s another story all around. The loss of moisture in the air seriously affects my hair, and I have to tweak my routine to get the curls I want. Lately, I’ve noticed that my hair seems to have developed an aversion to glycerin, in my stylers anyway. Glycerin seems to turn my hair into a rat’s nest. It’s loses definition, it gets crazy frizzy, and looks a hot mess. So…….it was time to hunt for a new glycerin-free gel. Enter L.A. Looks Power Spikes Gel.

L.A. Looks Power Spikes Gel is a seriously hard-hold gel. It’s a 12 hold, on a scale of 1-12. L.A. Looks didn’t even have a 12 point scale until they came out with this gel, it only went to 10. In my opinion, Power Spikes is a fantastic alternative to Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee. It’s got just as much hold, and you get more than 3x the product for a fraction of the cost. I paid around $2 for a 20 oz container of Power Spikes at Wal-Mart, and in comparison I paid around $13 for a 6 oz container of Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee at CVS.

So how do I use L.A. Looks Power Spikes Gel? So far, I’ve only really used it in the winter, when my hair need more moisture. I typically use Boots Curl Crème, aka Pink Boots, right after my leave-in. Then I take a dime size amount of Power Spikes and start scrunching it in. Usually I do this 3 times, so I end up using probably slightly more than a quarter size amount of gel. Some days maybe a little more or a little less, depending on the weather and how my hair is behaving. Then I continue with the rest of my usual routine.

Power Spikes is one of the only drugstore gels that I've found that can give me the hold I need. The only drawback I've noticed is that it sort of smells like a man. Like men's bodywash or something. However, I don't mind, because the smell dissipates as soon as my hair dries. All in all, Power Spikes is a keeper.

Have you tried it?

Review: Salon Care Honey & Almond Conditioner

Salon Care Conditioner comes in two varieties; honey & almond, and apple pear. I picked up the honey & almond on my last trip to Sally’s. It’s got decent ingredients for being so cheap, and it smells great. The consistency is a cross between the runniness of V05 and the thickness of Suave Coconut. I bought a pump to go with it, because honestly, who wants to maneuver a gallon of conditioner every time they shower? No one.


So of course, I tried it as soon as I got it, which was right after I henna’d last time, and I wasn’t impressed with the slip, at all. However, I thought that maybe since I’d just done a henna treatment, my hair may need some time to get back to normal, as it always feels a little bit more tangly after henna. I kept trying it for more than a week, and the results have been the same every time; no slip. I need slip, and I need my cowash to get frothy and sort of bubbly. This really didn’t do either one for me, so unfortunately it’s been relegated to a shaving cream. On the bright side, I won’t need shaving cream for a year or more.

If it seems to good to be true, it probably is………
 
Here are the ingredients, from Sally's website: WATER ,BLUE 1 LAKE ,YELLOW 5 ,WATER ,PROPYLENE GLYCOL ,STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE ,CETYL ALCOHOL ,CITRIC ACID ,DICETYLDIMONIUM CHLORIDE ,FRAGRANCE ,HYDROLYZED KERATIN ,DMDM HYDANTOIN ,PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT ,PYRUS COMMUNIS (PEAR) FRUIT EXTRACT ,WATER