YES PLEASE!
Redken Color Extend Shampoo ($14.50) – Ulta
I've used several of the other Redken shampoos and conditioners and it's a brand I return to again and again. Everything I've tried from them thus far has been fabulous. I got a small shampoo and conditioner sample of this from my stylist a while back, and since then I purchased a full size version. It definitely helps delay fading for color treated hair.
Orofluido Elixir ($29.99) - Ulta
I got a small sample of this in my Birchbox and from the moment I used it, I fell in love! It has a sexy amber/vanilla scent and can be used on dry or wet hair. The instructions are to apply generously but I feel that less goes a long way. It's great to tame fly aways and it has staying power. If you have particularly dry hair, this is an item you may want to consider. It's probably the best hair oil that I have used, to date.
Unite Eurotherapy 7 Seconds Leave in Conditioner and Detangler ($22) – Available at Salons
I first read about Unite Eurotherapy online about two years ago and I was completely sucked in by the fact that celebrities like Demi Moore have used it - for real. She tweeted a photo of herself and there it was in her bathroom. I found a salon near me that carries the brand, and stocked up on some goodies. Since then I have been a devoted slave to the brand, because I do think that their products really work. I've made it a mission to attain the best hair and nails that I can, and I know that my hair is in far better condition now than it has been in years. I feel that this leave-in condtioner is partly the reason. A few spritzes after each wash (and after the use of the Redken conditioner) and my hair is suitably nourished until the next wash. I often use this conditioner alternately to the days when I use my Orofluido hair oil.
Fresh Sugar Lychee Shower Gel ($18.50) – Sephora
A product that I repurchase time and time again. It smells good enough to eat - sexy, sweet and sugary - and it leaves your body feeling squeaky clean and your entire being invigorated. It washes off the body without leaving any kind of greasy residue, yet is moisturizing. It's truly as luxurious as shower gels can get.
Neutrogena Rainbath Revitalizing Shower and Bath Gel ($7.99) – Target
Another item I've used on and off for years - Rainbath. It makes you feel like you are showering in a warm mist of amber and spices! It leaves your skin beautifully moisturized and squeaky clean. You can use it for shaving and as a bubble bath, so it is a multi-use product.
Boots Botanics In Shower Facial Polish ($9.39) – Target
For a simple, gentle skin polish, use this product a few times a week. It lathers up wonderfully and has a lovely, clean scent. I've replenished this item several times already, and the last time I purchased two just to make sure I don't run out of it again. The little beads feel silky against the skin, not at all like some of the other rough scrubs out there.
Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation ($8.49) – Ulta
One morning I rushed out of the house, intending to put on my makeup a little later on in the morning – but I forgot my foundation! I ran into the nearest store and grabbed something off the shelf. It turned out to be the Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse foundation. My first purchase was actually one shade too light for my skin tone. But once the foundation settled I had a much more even and smooth looking appearance. You do have to set the foundation with a little powder though, or else you’ll end up with slightly tacky skin throughout the day. The other issue I have is that it is difficult to get the last bit of foundation out of the bottle. There always seems to be some left in there and it’s extremely annoying to have to dig around in there to get the last bit of product out.
UH, MAYBE.
Fresh Sugar Hand Cream ($18.50) – Sephora
While I do love the scent of this hand cream, I’m not convinced it’s as moisturizing as other hand creams I use – like the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, or the Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream. It sometimes felt slightly greasy, which is something I don’t experience with the other hand creams. Although I would use this if it was bundled with other products I purchased (Fresh sometimes sells several packs of their products together), I wouldn’t order this hand cream on its own.
HELL, NO!
OPI Base Coat ($8.50) – Ulta
I’ve used this base coat for several years, and while it does help - for the most part - to prevent staining. I always felt that it was an acceptable base coat and did the job it was designed to do – help polish stay on the nails. But over the years I’ve noticed my nails have become dry and they tend to flake on the tips. While I was on vacation I had a mani/pedi the manicurist suggested that my base coat might actually be the culprit. She thought that it was drying out my nails too much. I had always believed my nails were dry simply because I wear nail polish pretty much all the time. Suddenly, I began eyeing this product with resentment and suspicion. I stopped using it that day, and now over a month later (and even after Shellac nails!), the condition of my nails has improved considerably. I find that nails require daily maintenance, however. Applying hand cream, using cuticle oils and pushing back cuticles are things that need to be done often, if not daily. A good multi-vitamin also helps.
Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara ($26.00) – Sephora
Although this mascara gave me thick, soft and fluffy lashes, it also dried and flaked within 3 – 4 hours after application. No matter how good a mascara looks on your lashes, flaking is a no-no. You shouldn’t have to worry about having to check your makeup repeatedly to brush flakes off your cheeks. Especially not at $26 a pop!
Estee Lauder Take it Away LongWear Make-up Remover Towelettes ($18.00 for a 45 pack) – Macys
While the EL makeup wipes are good for a quick swipe when you are in a rush, they aren’t good enough to warrant the $18 price tag. I also found that they didn’t do a good enough job of removing my Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara. And just as I find the MAC wipes scent very chemical and overpowering, so too do these wipes have a strong scent. Most people don’t seem to be bothered by the smell of the MAC wipes though, so if you like those the EL ones would probably smell okay to you.
Dirt Sow + Reap Luxe Salt Scrub
Another item that I received in my Birchbox as a sample. I finally got around to using it and it was vile! It smelled like something from the ocean had died in my shower. I had to use a body wash to get the scent off me and then I had a greasy layer of this stuff on my skin! This product has to be one of the all time worst that I have ever used.
- The Sassi Wench
