Essie's Mochacino

I was a little skeptical about the way this color would look on my nails, despite its beauty in the bottle.  However, it looks absolutely beautiful on my nails.  The pictures do not do it justice.  I have already gotten so many compliments on the color.  A lot of people think it's shellac, since the finely granulated shimmer gives it some dimension.  I think it's going to be my go-to taupe color! It definitely needs a minimum of two coats to get a opaque color.  I also added a top-coat for extra shine.

 natural light, no flash
(This picture makes it appear a bit darker than it really is)

 Without sunlight, with flash

I know it has been so long since I've posted, but school has been dominating my life even more than usual lately.  I had 5 exams in the past 2 weeks.  I guess that's what happens when you take 18 hours!  I asked for it, but I'd do whatever it takes to expedite my graduation! I'm going to play catch-up on posting these next few days because I am currently on "Fall Break".  Fall Break, meaning that I don't have class on Thursday or Friday.  Why they make it seem like a big deal and call it Fall Break, I don't know, but I guess I can't complain that I got out of two days of class. 

 

Until later today,

 

Jillian 

Mani Monday: Essie's Angora Cardi

As promised...

I think this has easily become my go-to color.  It is such a unique color, and I'll probably have this on my nails way too much this season!

p.s.
I just noticed that my blog is very nail polish-dominated right now.  I'll work on that; I've been a bit of a nail freak lately. 

-Jillian

Essie Fall Haul: Chinchilly, Mochacino, Merino Cool, & Angora Cardi

So, I went a little nail polish crazy at Target yesterday.  While my Target was all sold out of the new Fall line Essie just put out, I found some great colors for Fall that are part of their permanent collection that I've had my eye on for a while.

 Top to bottom: Chinchilly, Mochacino, Merino Cool, & Angora Cardi

A Closer Look

Chinchilly 

as gray as gray gets.  The photos don't differentiate it well enough from Merino Cool, but the difference is that Chinchilly is slate-gray, whereas Merino Cool has a purple undertone.  The Essie site describes it as a sleek granite gray.  Sleek granite, huh? Trust me, it's that classic gray you need in your Fall nail polish collection.

Mochacino 

a taupe color with silver shimmer.  Essie's site describes it as "a perky gray with shimmer."  I am still apprehensive about how this color will look on, but it sure does look pretty in the bottle.

 Merino Cool

You can never have too many versions of gray, I suppose.  This is another gray, except this one is more of a smoked dark purple to me. What separates it from Chinchilly is that it is a darker charcoal gray with a purple undertone. 

Angora Cardi 

This one is my favorite of the bunch (spoiler alert: guess which one I'll paint my nails first).  It is a gorgeous color.  I would describe it as a burgundy-maroon color.  The Essie site, however, describes it as a creamy dusty rose.  I was curious about what Angora was and how it could be a type of cardi, so I Googled it.  It's a type of wool (along with many other definitions, but I assumed the wool went best with "cardi").  I'm very curious as to who gets paid to come up with these names and descriptions! What a job!

Of course, the O.P.I. names are a lot more ambiguous.  I'm convinced there's a jar of puns they just pull out of when they come up with a new color.  There's a color called "Uh-oh Roll Down the Window." I hardly find names that actually reflect the corresponding color.  Like that matters...

Anyway, I have only swatched the colors on individual nails, but stay tuned to see what they look like on!

-Jillian

Happy October!

I didn't even realize that today was October 1st until I got a little reminder on my phone to pay the rent (yippee).  I am really bad at remembering which months have only 30 days, and usually the first of the following month always sneaks up on me.  Anyway, it was a pretty day today, until it rained.  I do enjoy the rain, but only if I'm at home, cuddled up in bed, watching movies.  I don't particularly enjoy the rain when I'm having to drive to-and-from and walk around campus (without an umbrella). I wore my new Merona scarf for the first time today, making it obvious that I was excited for the mere five degree-drop.

I love the month of October!  Texas is pretty Summer-dominated, so it does still feel like Summer in the beginning of October.  But, it's actually cooling down sooner this year, and I am so eager for the cooler weather. I should probably bite my tongue because it's likely to be in the mid 90's by the end of the week.

When I think of October, I think of the obvious... pumpkins.  I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one.  I get a little too excited when they put out the pumpkin display at the grocery store.  I WILL carve a pumpkin this year! We used to do it all the time back home, and my mom would bake the pumpkin seeds.  Since I've been feeling so nostalgic lately, I think I'll carry on the tradition.  Plus, it's really fun to play around with all the mushy stuff inside the pumpkins.  Yes, this is what I look forward to all year...

Happy October!   May you all pay your rent on time and carve a pumpkin!

-Jillian
 

Just another Mani-c Monday: Essie's Ladylike

I know I said the next color I was going to paint my nails was Berlin There Done That by O.P.I., but I can't find it anywhere right now!  Then, I remembered how much I loved Essie's Lady Like, so I saved myself a few bucks and used a Fall color I already owned.  I bought this color back in January, and I am in love with it!  It's the perfect shade if you're looking to do a classy nude nail for Fall, but don't wanna go in the khaki direction; this color is far from khaki with it's pretty pink undertone.  Essie's site describes it as an elegant soft mauve, but I have a feeling that Essie just likes the word "mauve" because it seems to be in the description of most of their colors that, to me, do not even remotely resemble mauve.  Mauve is more purple than pink, and this color is definitely a muted or grayed pink shade.

I did just learn in my physio psych class that we all have different versions of colors.  If you were spoiled as a kid, and your parents bought you the biggest box of crayons, you have a much wider array of colors your eyes can distinguish.  If your parents didn't love you as much, and you got the box of eight colors, you just can't see as many colors... (joke).

Aside from all the color confusion,  I think Lady-like is the perfect name for this color because lady-like indeed it is.

Also, I just bought this cuticle remover by Sally Hansen.  Having horrible cuticles, I can't believe I'm just now deciding to tend to them. This stuff is pretty cool.  I think the thing I love most about it is the smell.  Smells like cucumbers.  It's extremely moisturizing and, for the most part, you can just massage your cuticles away!  It doesn't work miracles on the first use, but I can tell that with continuous use, I should have some good-lookin' cuticles.

Since I'm new to cuticle care, does anyone have a good cuticle remover/cuticle care they recommend?

September Favorites: Beauty

Fa la la la Fall is here, and I couldn't be more excited!  The colors, the smells, the weather, the cozy clothes...I could go on and on about the things I love about the Fall.  Oh yeah, can't forget, your's truly is graduating this semester.  It hasn't hit me yet and probably won't until I start actually doing graduation things...pictures, invitations, etc.

Here are the things I've been loving recently (and some for quite a while now).

I separated my beauties into categories: face, lips, and eyes, so you could get a closer look. 

Face

• Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer palette - I just recently purchased this, but I didn't need to use it but for a few days to know this would become my favorite concealer of all time.  It comes with 2 concealer shades, a neutralizer, and a setting powder.  Can be found at Target for about $11.
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - I love this powder to set my foundation.  It's non-comodogenic, oil free, and doesn't look cakey at all.  I use the the color beige, but it's honestly just a translucent powder 
• Real Techniques Powder Brush and Stippling Brush - They are so incredibly soft and are of professional quality. The best part: they are both only about $10 (Ulta). 
• Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation - some stiff competish for Makeup Forever's HD Foundation (still not sure which I like better).  Nevertheless, UD's Naked Skin is great and worth a try.  I use the color 4.0.
• NARS Laguna Bronzer - my perfect au naturale bronzer; bronzer is definitely a year-round staple product
• NARS Orgasm Illuminator - I apply this to my cheekbones on top of my foundation, and it gives me the prettiest glow.  I like this especially in the summer, as I think the gold shimmer looks especially pretty when I'm more on the tan side.  However, I do like it even in my paler months.
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed - perfect year-round blush, but I particularly love this color for Fall... a beautiful bronzed rose with mauve undertones.  Lovely, just lovely. Plus, it has proven to be long-wear for me, even as humid as it's been here lately.
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - great creamy under-eye concealer!  (see full review here)

Lips

• Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Sunbaked - sheer mauve color, perfect consistency (not sticky at all but not too watery). 
• Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Honeysuckle - a hint of nude tint for the lips; very moisturizing
• Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze in Eternal Rose (top) and Timeless Nude (bottom) - these glazes are comparable to the NARS lipglosses, and I don't think they get enough hype!  I can wear Eternal Rose alone, but I sometimes mix Timeless Nude with other colors since it's a bit peachy for my taste.  It's still a nice color, but I prefer pinky nudes as opposed to peachy.  These are great longwear glosses and are very moisturizing.  Been a cult favorite of mine for years.
• MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Modesty - my very first MAC lipstick.  I'm sold on their cremesheens! Amazing! This is the perfect nude pink for Fall; MAC site describes it as a muted pink
• L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Nourishing Nude and Plush Plum - For me, these were so much better than the Revlon Lip Butters!  L'Oreal only came out with 8 colors in this collection, and I have fallen in love with every single color I've purchased (I own 4).  These 2 happen to be my favorite.  These are so moisturizing! My lips have never been in better condition because I'm constantly slathering these on my lips.  BEWARE: not long-lasting at all (but I suppose I wouldn't expect that of a balm anyway).

Eyes

• Urban Decay NAKED Palette - The greatest eyeshadow palette known to man (woman) needs no justification.  I've had this same palette since it first came out a couple years back (hence the fading of the gold letters), and I am just now running out of my favorite colors.
• Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in Spiced Chocolate - the perfect brown liner. I like this on my waterline, or smudged on my lower lash line.  This product is genius because it comes with the smudger on the tip, and you can pull off the smudger to reveal a handy sharpener.  Why don't all crayon liners have this?
• Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackened Brown - easiest-to-use liquid liner award... seriously, I don't have the steadiest hand, and I can create the perfect winged eyeliner with this
• Tweezerman Eyelash Curler - I was in need of a new eyelash curler being that I had been using my Revlon one since the 8th grade (whoa).  This one works great!  I've noticed that my eyelashes keep their curl.
• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige - great worn alone or as an eyeshadow base in conjunction with the NAKED palette
• NARS Pro Prime Eye Shadow Primer - crease-proofs my eyeshadow like no other, and I have the oiliest lids
• Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara - great every-day volumizing mascara for clean definition
• Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara - slightly less dramatic than the Lash Perfection; I like this better than the Maybelline Megaplush
• Jemma Kidd I-Design Eye Color in Vintage - perfect all over lid color
• P.S. Jemma Kidd went out of business, and all these shadows were $4 at Target, compared to the original $16-$18.  Talk about a steal!

Also, I recently decided to donate my favorite Target coffee mug to my makeup brushes!   I got this mug on clearance for $2!  Multi-purpose at it's finest.

Welp, there you have it...the many beauty items I've been loving.  Sorry so lengthy. Let me know your thoughts and some of your favorites for Fall.

The scarf I used as the background for the products is from Target and is currently on clearance for $10.48.  I adore the pattern and love the Fall colors!

Now, if only Texas would hurry up and get cool! 

Happy Fall!
 -Jillian

Nail of the Moment: O.P.I's Manicurist of Seville (my perfect Fall red)

I picked this beautiful color up the other day.  I wanted a new red for fall to replace my dried up Chick Flick Cherry (OPI), and this color caught my eye.  What I love most about it is that it has a magenta undertone to it.  With 2 coats, this color turned out to be really beautiful.  After painting my nails, I realized that I usually don't transition into the reds until November-December.  For some reason, it's always been that way with me.  I just think I was so anxious for Fall this year that I kinda jumped the gun.  Usually for September-October, I like wearing a lot of taupe and gray shades on my nails.  Weird that I have this sort of schedule, I know.  Anyway, if you are looking for the perfect red color that's far from the orange-red spectrum, I say go for this one!

Next to try: O.P.I Berlin There Done That 

...a beautiful taupe color from the Germany collection. Stay tuned!

-Jillian

Dry Shampoo 101: Pssssst, Batiste, Suave, and Tresemme

I know I'm not alone when I say that dry shampoo has to be one of the greatest inventions in the beauty world. My hair has always taken the longest in my beauty routine.  When I have to do all the works (wash, blow-dry, and straighten or curl), it can get up to over an hour spent on just my hair.  This is why I rely so heavily on dry shampoo, especially since my hair seems to get oily by the day after washing.

TRESemme Fresh Start was the very first dry shampoo I tried.  This dry shampoo resulted in a very skewed perception of what a dry shampoo should do.  It made my hair even more oily-looking with the nasty residue it left behind.  I realize that most dry shampoos go on gray, but it was particularly difficult to blend in the powder with this one, making it impossible for me to completely get rid of the gray hue on my hair.  Having black hair, this didn't go over well with me. This was a complete MISS for me.  

After about a year of practically boycotting dry shampoo from the bad first impression, I came across the Suave one and decided to give it a shot.  Hallelujah! This is a great drugstore dry shampoo, costing only about $3.  The smell really caught me offguard after trying the TRESemme.  I was expecting the same hairspray alcohol-y smell, but it ended up smelling like apricots (to me...it may smell like some other fruit to the next person).  This was extremely easy to blend in the gray color and did not leave a heavy residue behind.  My only con for this one is that it seems to run out extremely quickly!  I think they need to recall their packaging also because their spray can is faulty.  I took this on a trip twice, and each time, the entire can leaked.  When I took it out of my travel bag, I had an empty can and a bunch of apricot-smelling products.  I thought it was maybe the particular can I bought, but it happened to me with two different cans.  I just had to be sure it was kept upright if I took it with me on trips (which is harder than it sounds).  Other than that, it's excellent value for the price.

Based on some great reviews on the Batiste dry shampoo, I decided to give it a try.  This one quickly became the best I'd tried, blowing the TRESemme and Suave out of the water.  It is a little more expensive than the typical drugstore dry shampoo brands, running about $7-8, but I found it to be worth it.  I have only tried the original scent/formula, and it smells so fresh.  They do have a rose scent also, but I stay away from anything rose-scented since it anything rose screams "old lady" to me.  It is easy to blend the powder, and it's long-lasting (a quality I had yet to experience in the two I'd tried).  I have found that with the Suave, my hair will regain its oiliness within hours, while this one usually lasts me all day.  So, you pay more, but in the end, it evens out since you don't have to keep reapplying it.  Usually this is how it works with all products you find yourself paying more for.  I have repurchased this dry shampoo 3 times.  This brand can be found at Ulta or HEB (Texas).

I just recently purchased the travel size Pssssst dry shampoo at Ulta for only $3.  I had heard amazing things about this one, but I was stubborn to try it since I felt I'd found my match with the Batiste.  However, I ended up liking this one more.  I am still working on the travel size, but I've been meaning to pick up a full size of this because it's truly amazing.  This totally embodies the perfect dry shampoo for me.  From the scent to the formula, it's great.  If I were to recommend any dry shampoo to anyone, it'd be this one.  While the Batiste is still a great contender, this one seemed to prevail!  To me, this one goes on the least gray and has the freshest scent (even better than the Batiste).The best part is, it is only $6 for the full size can, so it ends up being a little cheaper than the Batiste.  I have only seen this brand at Ulta so far.  

So there you have my experience with dry shampoo.  Hope this helps you decide which one to try. 

Until next time,
Jillian

It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask Vs. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

 

Starting with the It's a 10 Miracle Mask...I must say, this is indeed a good product.  As for doing all the things it says it's supposed to do, maybe not so much.  You can only assume that it's supposed to work miracles if it does all the things it claims to do: detangles, restores moisture balance, instantly restores elasticity, softens, smoothes, imparts luminous shine, enhances natural body, nourishes, defrizzes, improves color vibrancy.  That's everything anyone could ever want from a hair product.  This retails for about $25.  I got mine at Target, but I've also seen this brand at HEB (if you're in Texas) and Ulta.

Most of it's claims do go hand-in-hand (smoothness, softness, detangling). Well, I would HOPE that it would detangle my hair, but I would expect that of just about any conditioner.  I suppose the 10 promises are all a part of the cheesy brand name.  Anyway, this is a great deep conditioner.  However, I don't think it is as great a MASK as the Macadamia.  For me, a mask should be buttery and thick.  The consistency of this is exactly like that of your typical every-day conditioner, so I used this more as an oomph every other wash rather than a deep-penetrating hair mask. To me, a hair mask should be used less often due to its effectiveness and intensity, which brings me to... 

The winner: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

 

First of all, it uses the fancy French spelling for "mask" ..."masque."  Well, that's appealing (who cares?).  You will find yourself paying a bit more for Macadamia (retails for about $30: at HEB, Target, and Ulta); however, it is truely worth the splurge if you're in the market for a miracle.  Yes, I know the It's a 10 is called "miracle mask", but I think it falls short of a miracle in comparison to the miraculous macadamia masque.  It is extremely buttery and thick and has a pretty similar smell to the It's a 10.  Both fragrances are soapy to me, but still pleasant nonetheless.  I use this mask once a week, leaving it on for seven minutes.  I still use my regular conditioner beforehand to get all the tangles out.  Afterwards, my hair feels so soft and flexible!  I've noticed that when I use this, my hair air dries more gracefully, with less fro and frizz. I would not repurchase the Miracle Mask by It's a 10 because I feel that the Garnier and Aussie deep conditioners work just as well, if not better, and you pay a fraction of the price for those alternatives. 

Ulta offers a sample size of the macadamia masque for about $4, and it's good for about 3-4 uses, which allows you to gauge whether or not you'll like it enough to spend the $30 on the full size (I find myself really taking advantage of Sephora and Ulta's little sample sizes). 

until next time,

Jillian

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Product Claim
When it comes to faces with dry and oily places, it takes a clever cleanser to balance the two. This gentle, frothy face wash carefully does both jobs without canceling each other out. Skin feels comfortably refreshed after cleansing, never tight, pulled or parched.
Broad leaf kelp extract discourages excess oil production while wheat protein balances and protects dry-prone zones.

My experience
This product got so many "OMG, THIS IS THE BEST FACE WASH EVER" reviews on the Origins and Sephora sites.  Welp, can't say it was as magical for me as it was for those ranters.  I do feel that we all have different skin types, so I understand that what works miracles for someone else may not work miracles for me and vise versa.  I still like trying products that people rant about, since they are more likely to be good than bad.  Although, this product did not exactly do what it claims to do.  It claims to balance out your dry and oily spots, so it is presumably for the combo skin people like me.  This product does indeed foam up nicely, BUT the thing that scared me the most was that, upon rinsing it off, my skin felt so stripped of moisture.  When I see a product that claims to give me balance, I don't expect to be stripped dry.  My hands even felt extremely dry while rinsing this product off (there was some intense friction when I rubbed them together).  My skin is more on the oily side of the combo skin spectrum, so you would think I would like this aspect.  The product claims that it "discourages excess oil production".  This, it does NOT do!  I felt that my skin produced more oil because it was stripped completely dry.  While the nice non-shiny face looks good right after washing your face, it doesn't last very long at all once your sebaceous glands realize that they need to crank up the oil production to compensate for all the oil that was just washed down the drain.  As for the drier parts of my face, obviously, they just became drier. I did not feel like my skin was any clearer with this product nor did it prevent new breakouts from forming.  So, overall, I would not repurchase this product. I definitely don't recommend this cleanser for people with dry skin.  I guess I wouldn't recommend it period. Bummer!

Okay, I'll give it some credit: Perks
you get 5 fl. oz for $20, which is a pretty good deal for a higher end product!

It's formulated without all those "harsh" chemicals (Parabens, Sulfates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, petrochemicals, Pthalates, GMOs, and Triclosan).  Let's be honest though, most of us don't even know what most of that is or what harm it actually does or doesn't do. Although, it's nice that it doesn't have any fragrance or dyes. since those can be known to irritate the skin.  As for the other chemicals, maybe they're necessary for a good product...maybe not.  I have found that shampoos/conditioners that I have tried that lacked those "harsh" chemicals did not work for me and left my hair feeling dull and sad, to say the least.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser: My favorite under-eye concealer!

It's inevitable, my fellow busy gals, we all have those dreadful tired eyes that no product seems to alleviate...until Maybelline came out with this genius product!

Description: small tube (0.2 oz.) with sponge applicator tip; consistency: light, velvety, smooth

Application: twist the tip to supply product to sponge, apply sponge directly to area and blend

Product Claim: Super concentrated formula with goji berry + haloxyl (whatever that is) helps to erase the appearance of dark circles and fine lines, while visibly diminishing the appearance of puffiness around the eyes

Price: about $8 at drugstores

Cons: product seems to run out quickly with every-day use (will last a month and a half at the most)

Detailed Impression of Product:

I have been using this product for about 3 months, and I absolutely love it!  I love how smoothly it goes on.  The sponge applicator is extremely convenient, making application really easy.  I apply the sponge directly to my under-eye area and eyelids, and I blend out with my fingers.  The product is just the right thickness (not too thick, but thick enough to cover), so it blends out without any tugging; I find this is ideal for the sensitive skin under the eyes. I do not feel that this product reduces the appearance of puffiness at all, but I do not ever expect a concealer to do that for me.  I expect an eye cream or cold eye roller to do so.  As for the discoloration under the eye, it does live up to its claim.  You can assume by its light consistency that it is not exactly a full coverage concealer, but it does provide just the right amount of coverage and is completely invisible.  The full coverage concealers are typically thick in consistency, difficult to blend, and visible, so I prefer not to use those for my under-eye area.  As for reducing the appearance of fine lines, I don't have too many prominent fine lines around my eyes, but I feel this moisturizing formula does NOT accentuate the lines I do have like some concealers tend to do.

I have found that my under-eye area does need a different concealer than the rest of my face.  Although, I really don't use concealer anywhere on my face, since my foundation usually suffices.  I will use concealer to cover up a blemish every now and then, but this concealer is definitely NOT for that.  It is formulated specifically for the under-eye area.  I do not feel that it minimizes the redness of blemishes whatsoever (I've tried), so I wouldn't recommend even trying it as a dual concealer for your under-eyes and face.

Which shade is right for you?
Maybelline offers 6 shades: Fair, light, medium, honey, neutralizer, and brightener.
I use the medium shade, which matches my skin tone perfectly.  I am VERY fair-skinned, so be careful with the lighter colors, as they are probably extremely light.  I have heard so many mixed things about what color you should get for your under-eye area.  I have heard that you should get one shade lighter than your skin tone, one shade darker, and the exact match.  So, which is it? I think that you should do whatever works best for you, but here's my opinion anyway...  In my opinion, one shade lighter is NOT the way to go.  I believe that it makes it too obvious that you are wearing concealer, and I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say that nobody wants that.  Hence the name, concealer.  For me, what works best is getting a shade that matches my skin tone perfectly.  Another trick is to first neutralize the area prior to applying the concealer and then apply the concealer that matches your skin tone over the neutralizing shade.  There is a neutralizer shade in this line, which I also have.  This shade is really light, which I just told you not to do, right?  BUT, this shade has that yellow hue aspect that will neutralize the blue under-eye discoloration.  I only use the neutralizer under the medium shade on days where it appears obvious this girl did not sleep at all.  However, I do NOT recommend wearing this shade alone because you'll look like this...

...and who wants to look like they're wearing war paint? (Sorry, Eva!) Here are the swatches of the two shades, and remember to choose your shade wisely.  Chose the wrong one? Don't be afraid to take it back to the store as many times as it takes for you to find the winning shade!  They practically know me at Target Customer Service, since I return/exchange so often (hey, us college girls gotta be economical, so I have no shame in doing so!)  This product is definitely worth a shot if you've got those pesky tired eyes.  Who doesn't love a good drugstore find?

Left: Medium, Right: Neutralizer

AVEENO NOURISH+ SHINE Shampoo & Conditioner: Good Stuff!

My hair has been going through some weird changes in the past year.  It all dates back to this dreadful haircut I got last September that is still haunting me to this day.  I haven't yet figured out if maybe my hair just started changing due to stress, hormones, etc., or if I can blame the crazy stylist that thought she'd "try something different" on me....

Anyway, over the past year, my hair has gone from being healthy and shiny to dull, brittle, and oily.  I have tried so many things, but haven't found anything that alleviated my hair dilemma.  Finally, after many many disappointments, I decided to give trusty Aveeno a try.

This nourishing line has a variety of shampoo and conditioners:

• nourish + Shine
• nourish + Strengthen
• nourish + Moisturize
• nourish + Volumize

...and then there's the Pure Renewal and Color Preserving

I have yet to to try the others in the line, but the nourish + shine has proven to be a success, so I plan on trying the Nourish + Strengthen next. 

VERDICT:

Product Description:

Infused with Nourishing Wheat Complex and Shine Enhancing Palm Extract, this shampoo effectively removes dirt and oil and prevents build up, replenishing moisture and enhancing reflectivity of dull or damaged hair.

my hair type:

black, thick, dry ends, oily scalp (after 1 day)

The part that attracted me was its claim to remove dirt and oil and prevent build up.  I feel like my hair has been extra oily, so I was hoping this would alleviate that problem.  It didn't exactly keep my hair from getting oily any quicker than usual.  I can never go more than a day without washing my hair, which has become extremely annoying, but then there's dry shampoo for that (that's another story). 

Although, I did feel like it did, indeed, live up to it's claim of replenishing moisture and making dull/damaged hair shiny.  I finally feel like my hair is soft again!  With regular trimming and the help of Aveeno, I hope to restore my hair back to its original healthy state. 

I found that a lot of people complained about the price of the shampoo and conditioner (roughly $5 for ea.), but I don't think it's too much of a splurge, especially since it turned out to be a good product.  Honestly, if I had the money to buy the high-end salon brands, I would.  For now, this will suffice!

Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara Review: What's the hype about?

 

I have been really antsy to find a new go-to daytime mascara, since I have been using the same mascara for the past 4 years or so for day and night (L'Oreal's Teloscopic).  After hearing and reading great things about this product, I decided to give it a shot. 

VERDICT:

My lashes: 

• black
• thick 
• long

The product:

• Brush: large
• Consistency: light and watery
• Cost: $6.50 at Target
• Manipulation: extremely difficult (had to work with it and made a mess in doing so)

The packaging is extremely appealing, which usually does not reflect the product's adequacy.  I have found (most of the time) that products that aren't that great compensate in their eye-catching packaging.  Great marketing strategy...BUT, while the colors of this mascara tube are pretty and cute, this mascara did not do it for me, and I returned it immediately. 

This product claims to not have less of the "waxy stuff" that makes our lashes hard and stuck together, but after trying this, I realize how necessary that "waxy stuff" actually is.  For me, I wanted a lighter mascara that wasn't so dramatic for daytime wear.  

Application:
The brush is pretty large, so you have to be careful with getting it on your lids.  It transfers to the lashes weirdly.  I felt like I wasn't putting anything on, and my eyelashes weren't changing much in their appearance.  After adding a second coat, I began to notice more separation, not volume.  It did not clump, being that the consistency was extremely watery, so that was a plus...or so I thought.  After applying it and letting it dry, I touched my lashes with my fingers; I thought it felt a bit like the way mascara feels after you've been wearing it all day and half of it has fallen off, contributing to your raccoon eyes.  I suppose I like my lashes to have that "hard" feeling that the wax provides.  I feel like this ensures it's staying power.  With the way my lashes felt with this, I just knew it was going to flake BIG TIME, and that it did.  

I think we all need to realize that we are all different.  My lashes are different than so-and-so's, who loved the mascara.  Although, I do feel that anything with a good reputation is worth a try, so I do encourage that you give it a shot.  I am most likely contributing to the small percentage of people that did not like the mascara.  

Also, another note I'd like to add.  A lot of people don't realize that you can return products you do not like.  Obviously, you have to try something to decide if you like it or not.  Even if it's been used once or twice, they will take it back (I'm talking major retailers: Target, Wal-mart, Sephora, Ulta etc.).  There is no sense in wasting money on products that you will never use.  As a college student, looking to save money, I return every product I am dissatisfied with.  I encourage everyone to do the same!